My favorite ski area. Most of the Joeys( beginners) stay on the lower mountain. Upper mountains are populated by advanced skiers! Love the "slow" lifts. Lets my 70+ year old legs rest between runs. Groomers are made for high speed (50+ MPH) runs which my kids and I love. Can't complain about the VERY affordable senior season ticket price! Definitely a 10!
Very good review. My only disagreement is the chairlifts. Those slow double chairs are key to the character of the mountain and help keep the out of state big money tourists at other places (Stowe, sugarbush). The chairs are at least an 8 out of 10.
That's a wonderful review! Bogus Basin is my home mountain in Boise Idaho. I'm loving the ski resort reviews. Hopefully a Bogus Basin resort review soon!
The positive to the slow ski lifts is that it limits how crowded the mountain gets. Both because of the volume limitation and because people stay away.
Yup…I always tell people who complain about Smuggs lifts, “ If you want high-speed quads, you are free to go LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE!” Leave us with our slow lifts that allow you to rest your legs, talk to your lift-partner, and not have the good snow skied-out by 10:00 a.m.
Great review and I agree with you on all of it! The only thing I can’t comment on is the lodging because I’ve only taken day trips there because I only live 40 minutes away. The terrain is awesome, all the people that work there are awesome, it’s a great place if you’re just starting to ski or snowboard and excellent LOL.. for families, but just as good for advanced and expert skiers. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been there but if you just go there for a couple of hours and are just looking to unwind you can get a Morse mountain pass which is all green terrain with a couple of blues at a very good price. No greens on Sterling & Madonna mtns. Like another reviewer stated route 108 over the mountains is closed in the winter so you have to enter smugglers notch from the north from Jeffersonville into Cambridge. You cannot drive from smugglers notch to Stowe on route 108 in winter (October thru April usually). However I believe you can still purchase a thru-pass which lets you ski from Sterling Mountain (I think) to Spruce Mountain at Stowe. I hear it’s difficult! I don’t know if it’s still there but when you come down to the bottom of Route 108 and make a right onto Route 15 there was a deli/bakery that had fantastic sandwiches and excellent baked goods at reasonable prices. There’s also a large mobile station for gas at the bottom which has clean restrooms and the last time I went I guess about 10 years ago you could actually purchase your lift tickets at the mobile station then just drive up to the parking lot and walk up to the slopes. But again it’s been a while. Happy trails everyone! 👍🙏❄️⛷🏂😉☃️ (P.S. I think it’s still home to a triple diamond run on Madonna for people who ski a lot better than me! LOL.. )
They ended the Smugglers to Stowe connection decades ago. Vail doesn't play that game, so while the interconnect is still there across Sterling pond you can't take a run over and get a ride up Spruce like in the old days with nothing other than a wave to the liftie.
Smuggs has a well-deserved reputation as an excellent place for families, but I do *not* recommend it if you are a solo parent with children in ski school. Between the ancient, slow lifts and the incredibly long skate from the top of Morse to the Madonna/Sterling base, I got in only three runs before I had to go back to pick up the kid from ski school, and that was on a day with zero lines. (There were zero lines because it was incredibly, brutally cold and windy, another thing Smuggs has a reputation for. Kid went straight to the condo and refused to ski again that day and I didn't blame him.)
Smuggs gets tons of snow compared to other areas. Only Jay peak gets more snow. Unfortunately climate change is having an effect on skiing and it is very noticeable in the northeast
I truly did NOT care for the terrain at Smugg's! I found it to be scraggly in appearance, and less enjoyable than other places I've skied at. Chilcoot and Rum Runner were nice blue runs like you said, but Drifter (to the right of the Madonna Lift) had boulders and this was also rated as only an intermediate run. I skied one black run at Smugg's (FIS), but this trail was loaded up with moguls. Although I made it down FIS in one piece, I had trouble with it. The older chairlifts did not bother me and the condo I stayed in (Nordlands) was pretty nice. However, when I arrived, there were almost no places to park. This was because nobody had cleared the snow banks! I finally asked the receptionist, "do you at least have a shovel? I'll clear the snow out of a parking space myself if I have to." The pool was also cloudy and I had a whistle blown at me for swimming in the deep end. I would say that Stowe would be the way to go if it had not gotten SO expensive. Jay Peak is also an option (though it can get very cold). Have you ever tried Jay?
@@beyondthelodge If you time it right, Jay could probably be nice. I went with my dad in January of 2000 and it was absolutely frigid (like -20). 20 above is ideal for skiing. The day I went to Smugg's was close to 45 and I had a similar experience at Sugarbush (and Cranmore too)! Those days were too warm! Some people like spring skiing, but to me, neither scenarios are very pleasant (too warm, OR bitter cold).
ruclips.net/p/PLlJ-GMjFhFrEAiHDoEQt3EdeedumUWNRX - if you click the 2nd video in this playlist you can see how I rate my local ski areas. This series of videos was originally made for Teddy Hubbel (AKA Teddy's Lift World.)
My favorite ski area. Most of the Joeys( beginners) stay on the lower mountain. Upper mountains are populated by advanced skiers! Love the "slow" lifts. Lets my 70+ year old legs rest between runs. Groomers are made for high speed (50+ MPH) runs which my kids and I love. Can't complain about the VERY affordable senior season ticket price! Definitely a 10!
nailed it on this review! Great perspective from someone who doesn't call Smuggs their home mountain.
Very good review. My only disagreement is the chairlifts. Those slow double chairs are key to the character of the mountain and help keep the out of state big money tourists at other places (Stowe, sugarbush). The chairs are at least an 8 out of 10.
Glad you enjoyed it! They definitely do add to the character but just trying to keep the reviews objective.
Any more ski videos? Five areas in New England (Jay Peak, Killington, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, and Sunday River) are still open.
A few Loon videos coming out soon. Killington maybe in a few weeks
Thanks for your review!
That's a wonderful review! Bogus Basin is my home mountain in Boise Idaho. I'm loving the ski resort reviews. Hopefully a Bogus Basin resort review soon!
Would love to get to Idaho some day!
Can you do Sun Valley please?
The positive to the slow ski lifts is that it limits how crowded the mountain gets. Both because of the volume limitation and because people stay away.
Are there ever unduly long lines at Smugglers Notch? I'm considering a trip and I detest lift lines.
Yup…I always tell people who complain about Smuggs lifts, “ If you want high-speed quads, you are free to go LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE!” Leave us with our slow lifts that allow you to rest your legs, talk to your lift-partner, and not have the good snow skied-out by 10:00 a.m.
Also remember the road down to Stowe is closed in the winter. I just stayed in Smuggler's Notch at the Sycamore's and the 3BR condo's are beautiful.
Great review and I agree with you on all of it! The only thing I can’t comment on is the lodging because I’ve only taken day trips there because I only live 40 minutes away. The terrain is awesome, all the people that work there are awesome, it’s a great place if you’re just starting to ski or snowboard and excellent LOL.. for families, but just as good for advanced and expert skiers. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been there but if you just go there for a couple of hours and are just looking to unwind you can get a Morse mountain pass which is all green terrain with a couple of blues at a very good price. No greens on Sterling & Madonna mtns. Like another reviewer stated route 108 over the mountains is closed in the winter so you have to enter smugglers notch from the north from Jeffersonville into Cambridge. You cannot drive from smugglers notch to Stowe on route 108 in winter (October thru April usually). However I believe you can still purchase a thru-pass which lets you ski from Sterling Mountain (I think) to Spruce Mountain at Stowe. I hear it’s difficult! I don’t know if it’s still there but when you come down to the bottom of Route 108 and make a right onto Route 15 there was a deli/bakery that had fantastic sandwiches and excellent baked goods at reasonable prices. There’s also a large mobile station for gas at the bottom which has clean restrooms and the last time I went I guess about 10 years ago you could actually purchase your lift tickets at the mobile station then just drive up to the parking lot and walk up to the slopes. But again it’s been a while. Happy trails everyone! 👍🙏❄️⛷🏂😉☃️ (P.S. I think it’s still home to a triple diamond run on Madonna for people who ski a lot better than me! LOL.. )
They ended the Smugglers to Stowe connection decades ago. Vail doesn't play that game, so while the interconnect is still there across Sterling pond you can't take a run over and get a ride up Spruce like in the old days with nothing other than a wave to the liftie.
What NYS ski resort is best for beginners and novice skiers/riders & has activities for kids?
Haven't been to all of them but Belleayre is pretty good!
Awesome! Keep those reviews coming!
Nice review buddy
Smuggs has a well-deserved reputation as an excellent place for families, but I do *not* recommend it if you are a solo parent with children in ski school. Between the ancient, slow lifts and the incredibly long skate from the top of Morse to the Madonna/Sterling base, I got in only three runs before I had to go back to pick up the kid from ski school, and that was on a day with zero lines. (There were zero lines because it was incredibly, brutally cold and windy, another thing Smuggs has a reputation for. Kid went straight to the condo and refused to ski again that day and I didn't blame him.)
It’s a nice place, I haven’t skied there yet but I always see it from Stowe. If they had a high speed quad/ lift that would be real good
Do they search you for contraband and is there anyone around it. I’m going with my school ?
Smuggs gets tons of snow compared to other areas. Only Jay peak gets more snow. Unfortunately climate change is having an effect on skiing and it is very noticeable in the northeast
Thank you.
I truly did NOT care for the terrain at Smugg's! I found it to be scraggly in appearance, and less enjoyable than other places I've skied at. Chilcoot and Rum Runner were nice blue runs like you said, but Drifter (to the right of the Madonna Lift) had boulders and this was also rated as only an intermediate run. I skied one black run at Smugg's (FIS), but this trail was loaded up with moguls. Although I made it down FIS in one piece, I had trouble with it. The older chairlifts did not bother me and the condo I stayed in (Nordlands) was pretty nice. However, when I arrived, there were almost no places to park. This was because nobody had cleared the snow banks! I finally asked the receptionist, "do you at least have a shovel? I'll clear the snow out of a parking space myself if I have to." The pool was also cloudy and I had a whistle blown at me for swimming in the deep end. I would say that Stowe would be the way to go if it had not gotten SO expensive. Jay Peak is also an option (though it can get very cold). Have you ever tried Jay?
I have been to Jay, it's nice!
@@beyondthelodge If you time it right, Jay could probably be nice. I went with my dad in January of 2000 and it was absolutely frigid (like -20). 20 above is ideal for skiing. The day I went to Smugg's was close to 45 and I had a similar experience at Sugarbush (and Cranmore too)! Those days were too warm! Some people like spring skiing, but to me, neither scenarios are very pleasant (too warm, OR bitter cold).
skill issue, smuggs isnt a beginner resort, especially madonna.
…yeah, those moguls on FIS.😢
I would argue that the mountain estates condos are fairly luxurious
Gotta pull up to Sugarbush next season !! I prefer Mt Ellen over Lincoln but Lincoln’s definitely bigger
I will be! Got Ikon for next year!
ruclips.net/p/PLlJ-GMjFhFrEAiHDoEQt3EdeedumUWNRX - if you click the 2nd video in this playlist you can see how I rate my local ski areas. This series of videos was originally made for Teddy Hubbel (AKA Teddy's Lift World.)
If you want luxury lodging can just stay at stowe and then there is a trail you can ski into smugs from over there. might be annoying to hike it tho
You would then need a lift ticket for both resorts, as well as the fact that it is against Stowe's rules and could lead to your pass being pulled
Wait till you come to Utah. Deer Valley would be an easy 10/10.
Deer Valley’s fantastic. Park City’s my favorite Utah ski resort so far.
PC is absolutley amazing. But having gotten altitude sickess on both trips there, I'm stayin back east this year!@@TwinSkiingLiftsRides
Blackhole is so scary bro
Smuggs would be amazing if they had two high speed lifts.
Smugglers Notch would not be the same with high speed lifts….go somewhere else if that’s what you’re looking for!
Dude, are you a kidddo? your voice 🤣
Cap