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Smugglers Notch

Vermont Historic Marker

Smugglers Notch historic marker in Vermont.  Photo by Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution/no derivative works).

Smugglers Notch Historic Marker

Erected by Vermont Division for Historic Preservation in 2005, the Smugglers Notch historic marker is located near Stowe, Vermont, in Lamoille County on Vermont Route 100.

Inscription

The southern gateway to Mount Mansfield and Smugglers Notch is via Route 100, once a plank road, the bed for Mt. Mansfield Electric Rail Road, and one of the earliest concrete roads. From the village of Stowe, Route 108 meanders past the base of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak at 4393 feet, and climbs through Smugglers Notch, the reputed route for cattle smugglers and hiding place for Lake Champlain pirates. The BIG SPRING has been popular since the 19th century when its waters were claimed to have curative powers. The caves, which retain ice until July, the ski resort and the many trails attract hikers and travelers in all seasons.