Smugglers' Notch State Park
Vermont
Smugglers' Notch State Park is located near Stowe in Lamoille County, Vermont, at an elevation of 2,119 feet near Mount Mansfield, the highest peak of the Green Mountains. The park is named after Smugglers' Notch, a narrow mountain pass historically used for smuggling goods during the early 19th century embargo and later as part of the Underground Railroad. The park features a rugged landscape with caves, large boulders, and vertical cliffs, making it popular for hiking, climbing, and spelunking. It serves as a trailhead for multiple hiking trails into Mount Mansfield State Forest, including the Sterling Pond trail which leads to a scenic pond suitable for fishing and swimming. The park was developed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, with original CCC structures carefully preserved and relocated during a 2003 expansion to modernize facilities. Open year-round, the park offers camping with lean-to shelters and campsites, though winter access is limited to snowmobiles and skiers. Its location within the Appalachian Mountain range and proximity to the Long Trail make it a significant destination for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
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Tipp: Visit during late spring to early fall for full hiking access and camping opportunities. Winter visits are best suited for snowmobiling and skiing. It is recommended to reserve campsites in advance during peak seasons. The park offers a variety of trails for different skill levels, and visitors should prepare for rugged terrain and variable weather. Check the official Vermont State Parks website for current conditions and any alerts before visiting.
Interessante Fakten
- •Smugglers' Notch was a key smuggling route during the Embargo Act of 1807, used to bypass trade restrictions between the US, Britain, and Canada.
- •The notch’s caves served as hideouts for smugglers and later as part of the Underground Railroad network for escaping slaves.
- •The park was originally developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, a New Deal program providing jobs during the Great Depression.
- •The Long Trail, which passes near the park, is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States.
- •Sterling Pond within the park is a popular spot for fishing and swimming, accessible via a steep trail from the campground.
Geschichte
Smugglers' Notch was named for its use as a smuggling route during the early 1800s embargo imposed by the United States to avoid involvement in the Napoleonic Wars.
Vermonters used the notch’s remote terrain and caves to smuggle goods from Canada, circumventing trade restrictions.
The area later served as a route on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves seeking freedom in Canada.
In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the state park near the notch, constructing facilities that were preserved during a 2003 relocation and expansion.
The park’s road was improved in 1922 to accommodate automobiles and was used during Prohibition to transport liquor from Canada.
OrtsfĂĽhrer
Sterling Pond Trail
A hiking trail that ascends 900 feet through dense secondary forest to Sterling Pond, a serene mountain pond open for fishing and swimming.
Mount Mansfield Climbing Routes
Several trails from the park ascend Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, featuring rugged terrain, vertical cliffs, and opportunities for mountain climbing.
Civilian Conservation Corps Structures1936
Original park structures built in 1936 by the CCC, preserved and relocated during the 2003 park expansion to maintain historical conservation efforts.
Kontakt
Telefon: (802) 253-4014