Historic Downtown

Stowe

Four people use a crosswalk to cross the street on a sunny day.

Seen from above, a lodge at the base of a mountain lit up at dusk.

Historic. Beautiful. Charming.

STOWE, Vermont

A walkable downtown Vermont’s Upper Green Mountains region with well-preserved historic buildings wraps around the base of Vermont’s tallest mountain. From there, Mountain Road is six miles of boutique shopping, local dining, and family-friendly attractions, which can also be accessed from the five-mile paved recreation path. Ski and ride down Mount Mansfield’s rugged profile. The dramatic Smugglers Notch frames the town and the road winds over the Notch from Stowe to Cambridge.

Featured Attractions

Stowe is stacked with plenty to do for the whole family. From rock-climbing, hiking, or sightseeing at Smugglers Notch State Park to exploring contemporary visual art at the Current, there’s always something new going on downtown. Whether you choose to explore the town on the Stowe Recreation Path, find flow at Cady Hill Forest, or take in the views at Moss Glen Falls, Stowe is home to incredible four-season recreation.

Trapp Family Lodge 

The first Nordic ski center in the U.S., Trapp Family Lodge has 40 miles of groomed trails and an additional network of backcountry terrain. The Lodge also offers mountain biking, hiking, and a bierhall.

Stowe Recreation Path 

At just over 5 miles, the Stowe Recreation Path makes it easy and convenient to explore Stowe on two feet or wheels, stopping to shop or dine.

Stowe Theatre Guild

Local performers stage seasonal adaptations of classic and modern shows in the historic Town Hall Theatre.

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

Explore Vermont’s ski and snowboard history, including the nation’s oldest organized ski patrol in Stowe and a look back at ski culture and art.

Stowe Land Trust Conserved Properties

Stowe Land Trust’s conserved properties span the town, offering quiet places to walk, bike, and explore.

Mansfield Auto Toll Road

4.5 miles of awe-inspiring natural beauty by car up Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak.  

Percy Farm Corn Maze

This family-friendly corn maze is accessible from the Stowe Recreation Path and opens in late summer and early fall.

Cady Hill Forest

Stowe’s flagship mountain biking network features 11 miles of trails, the iconic Green Chair Overlook, dreamy downhill and a flowy descent on Florence. Riders can also connect to other trail networks through Cady Hill Forest.

Moss Glen Falls

A short walk on boardwalks and maintained trails leads to a stunning waterfall to view from above or the ground.

The Current

Contemporary art from around the world exhibited both inside the gallery and seasonally outdoors in town.

Smugglers Notch State Park

A narrow, winding road, open spring, summer, and fall for scenic drives, cuts through the Green Mountains. Lined with thousand-foot cliffs, Smugglers Notch makes for dramatic hiking, climbing, and camping with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk.

Stowe Mountain Resort

116 ski trails served by 12 lifts beckon skiers and riders to this Epic resort. Scenic gondola rides, a restaurant at the top of Mt. Mansfield, and an adventure add to the skiing experience at the top of Vermont’s highest peak.

Stowe Performing Arts

Stowe Performing Arts brings live music to the meadow and to the downtown in the spring.

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center

This contemporary theatre space attracts live music, lectures, and performances from around the world.

Orange and yellow fall leaves cover mountains.

Cars stopped at the side of a road with yellow and orange trees in the background.

Attraction Spotlight

Smugglers Notch

Smugglers Notch is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. The road is a scenic drive between Stowe and Cambridge, with the road nestled tightly between rugged, high cliffs. Nearby, recreation opportunities abound, from cross-country skiing to hiking to rock climbing to camping and picnicking. An accessible boardwalk allows everyone to experience a segment of Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail, which includes Smugglers Notch. The notch road is closed to traffic in the winter months, but opens as a recreation destination for skiing, ice climbing, and snowshoeing.

Smugglers Notch

A man uses a chainsaw to carve an ice sculpture.

Ice sculptures adorn a snowy field outside of a building in winter.

Event Spotlight

Stowe Winter Carnival

Annually in January 

Celebrate the winter season in historic downtown Stowe. As darkness sets in early, get cozy with hot cocoa and see the beauty of the season; during the day, enjoy snow sports, watch the work of master ice carvers, and get to know winter in its original state.

Stowe Winter Carnival

A person in an orange vest stands next to an orange canoe by a river. They are holding a paddle upright and smiling.

A person smiles in the inside of a restaurant, arms outstretched.

Itinerary Spotlight

A Long Weekend in Stowe

Join outdoor adventurer Tyrhee Moore for a long weekend in Stowe, where he paddles at the Waterbury Reservoir, discovers Vermont’s world-class craft beer scene, and learns how to mountain bike at Trapp Family Lodge.

Things to Do in Stowe, Vermont

Learn more about what Stowe has to offer in this downtown guide.

The Vermont Vacation Directory

See the Vermont Vacation Directory to search by category, services, and resources for more of what Stowe offers visitors. Here’s a sampling:

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See More in the Directory

Eat, Shop, and Stay in Stowe

Dining

Shopping

Lodging

Transportation Options

For Stowe

Airport

Morrisville-Stowe State Airport 2305
Laporte Rd, Rt 100, VT 05661

Local Transportation

Taxi Service and/or Rideshare:  Blazer Cab, Stowe Taxi, Peg’s Pick-up, Patriot Transport, and Uber
Bus services:  Green Mountain Transit Mountain Road Shuttle