Live · updated todayTypical peak look

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermontfall foliage

No reports yet this season for Smugglers’ Notch.

Fall foliage
Best spots

Statewide timing

Sep 15–Oct 15

Wikivoyage's Vermont guide says foliage season across the state begins in mid to late September and peaks around the first or second week of October. Not this place's own timing, and not a forecast.

Next 7 days

Windy · winds up to 26 mphThursday Night, Friday
Rain likely · up to 73% chanceThis Afternoon, Tonight

National Weather Service forecast, issued Mon 2:21 AM (Eastern). Frost: a low of 36°F or less; wind: 20 mph or more; rain: 60% chance or more.

Frost near Smugglers’ Notch

First frost usually arrives this week

Sep 30Average first fall frost

May 23Average last spring frost

The day a 32°F night is as likely as not, 1991–2020, at NOAA's Mt Mansfield station (2.3 mi away, 3,950 ft). Source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Smugglers’ Notch through the year

Best spots around Smugglers’ Notch

The notch on Route 108The pass between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak and the Sterling Range
Sterling PondA trail from north of the state park campground climbs 900 feet through dense forest to the pond

Around Vermont this week

Best days to go: Tue–Sun

All of Vermont: region map, peak windows and the week ahead →

Trees this fall (Sep 15–21). Across New England, red maple is ahead of a typical year; the rest are close to typical. Which trees turn when →

Smugglers’ Notch in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions

Steep forested slopes in fall colors dropping into a narrow mountain pass, with ridges beyond — Smugglers' Notch in fall, seen from the south, high on Mount Mansfield. Photo: Aiken1986 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

How we know

All our sources and how we use them →

Questions people ask

When is peak fall foliage in Smugglers’ Notch in 2026?

We don't have local timing for Smugglers’ Notch yet. Wikivoyage's Vermont guide says foliage season across the state begins in mid to late September and peaks around the first or second week of October: Sep 15–Oct 15. That's for the whole state, not a forecast.

How is the fall color in Smugglers’ Notch right now?

There's no official report yet this season.

Can I visit the state park in winter?

Yes, Smugglers' Notch State Park on Route 108 is open all year, but in the winter months access is limited to snowmobiles and skiers.Source: Wikipedia, Smugglers' Notch State Park ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How long is the climb to Sterling Pond?

The trail starts north of the state park campground and rises 900 feet to the pond, through dense secondary forest. The pond is open to fishing and swimming.Source: Wikipedia, Smugglers' Notch State Park ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How cold is October near Smugglers' Notch?

At NOAA's Mount Mansfield station, about 2 miles away at 3,950 feet, October averages a high of 48°F and a low of 35°F (1991–2020 normals), and in half of years the first fall freeze (32°F) has come by September 30. That station sits far above the notch, so the road is usually milder. Long-term averages at one station, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (monthly) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, station query) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Smugglers’ Notch?

The notch on Route 108: the pass between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak and the Sterling Range; Sterling Pond: a trail from north of the state park campground climbs 900 feet through dense forest to the pond.

What is Smugglers’ Notch like through the year?

Green-up (Apr–May), Mud season across Vermont (Mar–Apr) and Fall color across Vermont (Sep–Oct).