Smugglers' Notch to Join the Indy Pass

Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Indy Pass today announced a new partnership for the 2026–27 winter season, allowing Indy Pass holders to experience one of Vermont’s largest independent ski areas with no blackout dates.

Smugglers’ Notch is America’s Family Resort, located in Jeffersonville, Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains. Home to three mountains and 78 trails, Smugglers’ Notch Resort offers skiing and riding for all ability levels, an award-winning Snow Sport University, and a winter resort village with slopeside lodging, dining, shopping, and family activities. A four-season destination, Smugglers’ Notch Resort also offers extensive summer and fall recreation and programming.

The partnership adds Smuggs to more than 300 independent alpine and Nordic destinations included on the Indy Pass and aligns the iconic destination with the other mountain resorts in the Bear Den Partners’ roster.

Erik Morgensen said "I couldn’t be happier to announce that Smugglers Notch in Vermont has joined the Indy Pass as our 60th new resort for the 26/27 season. These additions give us the capacity to reopen sales to the public for a very short period of time, starting this morning. Once we reach capacity, the waitlist process will again be reinstated.

"Assembling a coalition of 304 resorts is no easy task, especially for a small team like ours. The Indy Pass now spans 4 continents, 15 countries, 30 states and 6 Canadian Provinces. While the pass has grown remarkably, we remain focused on getting more people to independent areas and preserving the sport and culture of skiing. Never will the Indy Pass be oversold or overpriced. While Smuggs joining the Indy Pass is a clear statement that independent resorts continue to band together and push back on the more recent corporatization of skiing, there is another story here.

"Every inch of my childhood bedroom was plastered with ski area trail maps, and Smugglers Notch was squarely over my bed. I had it memorized. When I was 10 years old the ski area advertised a naming contest for its first terrain park. Fascinated by the legends of booze being smuggled from Canada and stored in caves in the notch during Prohibition times, my entry of “Prohibition Park” was selected as the winner. The prize was an all-inclusive trip to Smugglers’ Notch that ended up being our family’s first-ever ski trip. Smuggs became my first “big mountain”. My mom recently found a copy of the thank-you letter I wrote to the resort in 1998.

"That trip made us a ski family, and cemented the sport and culture of skiing as the focus of my life. I distinctly remember meeting longtime owner Bill Stritzler on that first trip, and quickly idolized his ownership of my favorite ski area. When Bill was quietly considering selling the ski area in 2025, I had the privilege of spending time with him at the resort and advocating for an independent future for the mountain. 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. 28 years after my first visit, we snapped a picture together in the same spot where my winning trail sign hung.

"I’m thankful that Bill and Smuggs found the perfect buyer in the Bear Den group, and that is the biggest story here: a world-class ski area is choosing to stay independent and aggressively invest in its future. I am also thankful Indy Pass can be a small part of that story; the revenue our partners' resorts receive from us very much matters. I continue to have more and more meaningful conversations with other owners who share these goals, and you can expect the Indy movement to keep growing and evolving. We are not done announcing major partners.

"The Indy Pass is now a viable alternative to the corporatization of skiing for consumers. For the more casual skier, Indy is an accessible entry point that opens up an incredibly diverse lineup of ski areas to explore. For season passholders of partner resorts, the combination of your home mountain pass and an Indy Add-On delivers a season that competes with any pass on the planet.

"It is inspiring to see people voting for the Independents with their wallets and demanding a different and better experience out of skiing. This is my life’s work, and I care deeply about making Indy the best that it can be; both for our resorts and passholders. We won’t get it right all the time, but you can bet that this story has a few more chapters that will be worth reading."

Located in north-central Vermont, Smugglers’ Notch Resort is positioned as a natural hub for an Indy Pass ski trip, with 13 participating alpine and Nordic ski areas approximately two hours or less from the resort, giving guests the opportunity to experience Smugglers’ Notch Resort while exploring the greater network of Indy destinations across the region.

“Indy Pass gives us an opportunity to invite a new group of skiers and riders to come experience Smuggs for themselves,” said Smugglers’ Notch Resort General Manager Brandon Swartz. “Smuggs, Bear Den and Indy share a commitment to independent mountains, families, affordability and protecting the character of the skiing and riding experience. We believe this partnership can introduce more people to what makes Smuggs special while preserving the experience our resort guests, passholders and homeowners have valued for generations.”

Indy Pass holders can redeem two days of skiing or riding at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, plus a third day at 25% off, with no blackout dates. Advanced reservations will be required for Indy Pass visits. This process will allow the resort to uphold its longstanding Comfortable Carrying Capacity (CCC) and preserve the uncrowded mountain experience it is known for.

Current Smugglers’ Notch Unlimited Core Season Pass holders are eligible to purchase the Indy Add-On Pass at a discounted rate, providing access to the Indy Pass network. The 26/27 Indy Pass Public Sale resumes today, Sept. 8, and is expected to sell out quickly. Once the 26/27 Indy Pass sells out, a new waitlist will again be established.

The announcement comes as Smugglers’ Notch Resort enters its 70th year of operation and its first full winter under Bear Den Partners’ ownership. Established in 2025, Bear Den Partners is focused on long-term ownership and investment in the people, infrastructure, and operations that support each mountain’s future.