Smugglers' Notch Joins the Indy Pass for 2026-27

September 8, 2026 · News

The 60th resort

The final, headline addition to the Indy Pass for the 2026-27 season is official: Smugglers' Notch in northern Vermont has joined the coalition.

Smuggs is partner number 60 in Indy's historic 2026-27 expansion wave, officially pushing the network to 304 partner resorts worldwide across 4 continents, 15 countries, 30 US states, and 6 Canadian provinces. To mark the milestone and account for the new capacity, Indy Pass reopened sales to the general public on the morning of September 8, 2026, for a limited window.

For independent skiing in the East, this is as big as it gets. Smugglers' Notch has spent decades proving that a resort can remain fiercely independent, resist corporate consolidation, preserve its classic character, and thrive.

A personal full circle

The announcement arrived with a personal letter from Indy Pass Director Erik Mogensen, who revealed a childhood connection that helped shape his career.

Back in 1998, as a ten-year-old growing up in Massachusetts, Mogensen entered a contest to name Smugglers' Notch's first terrain park. Fascinated by the notch's history of bootleggers stashing contraband in caves during the 1920s, he submitted the name "Prohibition Park" - and won. The prize was an all-inclusive trip to Smuggs that became his family's first-ever ski trip, igniting a lifelong dedication to the sport that eventually carried him into ski racing, coaching, resort operations, and directing the pass.

During that first trip, Mogensen met longtime owner Bill Stritzler and idolized his stewardship of the mountain. Nearly three decades later, when Stritzler was preparing to transition ownership, Mogensen advocated for keeping Smuggs independent. As Mogensen wrote in his letter: "Out of all the adjectives one could use to describe Smugglers' Notch, I did not want to see epic or iconic be one of them." With Smuggs transitioning to the Bear Den group, the resort committed to aggressive reinvestment while staying independent - making its partnership with Indy a natural union.

What makes Smuggs special

Tucked on the northern flank of Mount Mansfield in Jeffersonville, Smugglers' Notch delivers some of the most authentic, challenging, and beloved terrain in North America:

  • 2,610 feet of vertical: The highest vertical drop in northern Vermont, spanning three interconnected peaks: Madonna Mountain, Sterling Mountain, and Morse Mountain.
  • 78 trails across 1,000-plus acres: Ranging from beginner-friendly cruisers off Morse to the terrifying pitches of Madonna.
  • The Black Hole: Vermont's only marked triple-black-diamond run, a relentless 53 percent pitch through dense spruce and rocky drops.
  • Classic double chairs: Smuggs has famously kept high-speed detachable quads off its upper peaks. The slower doubles keep uphill capacity matched to downhill trails, preventing crowded slopes and preserving snow quality long after a storm.
  • Family excellence: While the upper mountain challenges expert skiers, the lower village has consistently earned national awards as one of the best family ski resorts in North America, featuring acclaimed ski schools, children's programs, and self-contained lodging.

How pass access works

Indy Pass holders will receive:

  • Two days of skiing or riding at Smugglers' Notch during the 2026-27 season.
  • A third day at 25 percent off standard window ticket rates.
  • No blackout dates: Both standard Indy Base Pass and Indy+ Pass holders enjoy access without holiday blackouts.
  • Advanced reservations required: To protect what Smuggs calls its "Comfortable Carrying Capacity" (CCC), all pass visits require an advance reservation. This ensures the resort avoids overcrowding, keeps parking organized, and guarantees that visitors experience the unhurried atmosphere Smuggs is known for.

A powerhouse Vermont road trip

With Smugglers' Notch in the fold, Northern Vermont becomes one of the most compelling regional road trips anywhere on the Indy Pass.

You can now string together two days of deep powder and tree skiing at Jay Peak Resort, drop south for two days of big vertical and classic glades at Smugglers' Notch, and hit Bolton Valley for night skiing and backcountry touring. Throw in Nordic days at Sleepy Hollow Inn or the Trapp Family Lodge right over the pass in Stowe, and an Indy Pass holder has a full week of premier Vermont skiing without ever touching an Epic or Ikon resort.

Head south into New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and the network links seamlessly with Cannon Mountain, Waterville Valley, Pats Peak, Magic Mountain, Berkshire East, and Catamount.

Smugglers' Notch is live now in the FirstChair mountain directory, fully mapped and updated on our Indy Pass overview. You can read the official announcement and Erik Mogensen's full letter on Indy Pass News.

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