Best time to ski Smugglers' Notch
From Burlington via VT 108. Status: Likely not open yet (resorts here usually open around Nov 21, an estimate).
Quietest: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, especially in March. Busiest: Saturdays, plus Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas to New Year's, New Year's weekend, MLK weekend.
This week at Smugglers' Notch
Crowds by day of the week
Typical non-holiday weeks this season, from the SkiWhen crowd model.
Holidays and school breaks to know
| Period | Dates | Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving weekend | Nov 26–29 | Packed |
| Winter break (VT) | Dec 21–25 | Busy |
| Christmas to New Year's | Dec 26–Jan 1 | Packed |
| New Year's weekend | Jan 2–3 | Packed |
| MLK weekend | Jan 16–18 | Packed |
| Presidents' Day weekend | Feb 13–15 | Packed |
| February vacation (est.) (VT) | Feb 16–19 | Busy |
School break dates marked (est.) are estimates.
Month by month
| Month | Quiet days | Packed days |
|---|---|---|
| December 2026 | 18 | 2 |
| January 2027 | 19 | 5 |
| February 2027 | 18 | 2 |
| March 2027 | 23 | 0 |
| April 2027 | 12 | 0 |
Calmer mountains nearby
Magic Mountain, Burke Mountain, Mad River Glen, Bolton Valley usually draw smaller crowds than Smugglers' Notch on the same day.
Questions skiers ask
When is Smugglers' Notch least busy?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays outside holidays and school breaks, especially in March.
Is Smugglers' Notch busy on weekends?
Yes. Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week at Smugglers' Notch. Arrive before the lifts open or go on a weekday.
When is Smugglers' Notch busiest?
Saturdays, plus thanksgiving weekend, christmas to new year's, new year's weekend, mlk weekend.
Will Smugglers' Notch be busy this weekend?
Check the live 7-day crowd forecast for Smugglers' Notch on SkiWhen. It updates every morning with snow and weather.