Things to do in Stowe, rain or shine.

Gondola SkyRide

Enclosed cabins carry you up Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, close to (but not quite at) the summit. At the top: hiking trails, lunch at Cliff House Restaurant, the Summit Gift Shop and treats at The Waffle. Open to all visitors, with free parking at the resort; it runs as a ski lift in winter.

Daily 10 AM–4:30 PM, mid-June to mid-October 2026, weather permitting; last ticket 4:15 PM. Tickets in person, card only. Check Stowe.com for alerts.

Toll Road

The historic 4.5-mile gravel Stowe Mountain Auto Toll Road climbs to the “nose” of Mount Mansfield at about 3,850 feet, with views of the White Mountains, Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. About 20 minutes up without stops, with three designated pull-offs. The road is narrow with sharp switchbacks; uphill traffic has the right of way.

End of May to end of October, weather permitting, typically about 9 AM–4:30 PM. About $37 per car plus $14 per extra passenger. Leashed pets allowed.

Stowe Bowl

A stylish, boutique 8-lane bowling venue with a full bar, lounge seating and a menu of appetizers, burgers, flatbreads and craft cocktails like The Lebowski. Family-friendly, with bowling dinosaurs for kids. Inside the Sun & Ski Inn and open to the public.

Lanes are mostly first-come, first-served; parties of 12+ can reserve, with a two-hour minimum.

The Swimming Hole

A great option for rainy-day swimming: a 25-meter, eight-lane lap pool with a diving board at set times, and a heated children's pool with a water slide and fountains.

Call ahead for exact hours.

Spruce Peak Arts

A not-for-profit that runs the 420-seat Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, known for excellent acoustics. Year-round concerts, dance, comedy, theater, film and family workshops.

Buy tickets directly from sprucepeakarts.org to avoid inflated third-party prices.

Stowe Community Church

One of the most photographed churches in the U.S., in New England colonial style, with a 75-foot spire repaired and reinstalled in 2025. It united several local congregations into a non-denominational church in 1918. A nearby viewpoint frames it against the Green Mountains, especially in fall foliage.

Services Sundays at 9:30 AM.

Stowe Golf Park

Golf in miniature with real putting challenges rather than flashy decorations. Family-friendly and wheelchair accessible, with restrooms.

Open seasonally, April through October.

American Flatbread

Wood-fired flatbread pizzas made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, served hearthside with craft cocktails and local brews. Housed in the former Rusty Nail music venue, with a rustic warmth that suits couples, families and groups. Vegetarian and vegan options.

Reservations for larger parties and outdoor seating are available. Expect longer waits at peak hours.

Cork Restaurant and Natural Wine Shop

A vibrant, seasonal menu built on mostly local ingredients and a wide list of natural, organic and biodynamic wines, in a cozy mid-century modern room. The wine shop sells natural wines, local craft beer and artisanal provisions.

Restaurant and bar Thursday to Monday, 4–9 PM; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Wine shop 4–10 PM on restaurant days.

Plate

A small, popular dinner spot with California-inspired, farm-to-table cooking. The menu changes with the seasons: crispy pork belly, wood-smoked burgers on homemade buns, flavorful salads. Great food and drinks, but we wouldn't take the kids!

Whip Bar & Grill

Inside the Green Mountain Inn: American comfort food from fresh Vermont ingredients, from steak to pan-seared Ahi tuna and Faroe Island salmon, plus artisanal cheese plates and the famous Sac de Bon Bon, a chocolate bag filled with mousse. Full bar with New England craft beers and an extensive wine list.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, plus Sunday brunch. Reservations recommended for dinner; takeout available.

The Bench

A full-service restaurant with classic ski-town charm: wood-fired pizzas, burgers, ribs, chicken tenders and salads, an extensive draft list, creative cocktails and a long wine list. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Sushi Yoshi

Chinese and Japanese cuisine, from sushi to hibachi and Asian fusion, in a family-friendly room. Known for fresh food, generous hibachi portions and a good selection of craft beers.

Closed Wednesdays. Reservations strongly recommended, especially for hibachi.

Piecasso

Pizza, rotating local craft beers and an eclectic Italian menu, with attentive staff and a fun, colorful atmosphere. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Ranch Camp

A trailside fast-casual eatery, tap room and mountain bike shop in one. Burritos, protein bowls, salads and seasonal dishes, with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options and a well-curated local tap list. Eat inside, on the patio or from the to-go window; the bike shop rents, services and sells mountain bikes.

Restaurant generally open daily 11 AM–8 PM.

Café on Main

A popular breakfast and lunch café serving fresh, local food: outrageous sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, muffins, coffee and pastries.

The Round Hearth Cafe and Market Place

Breakfast and lunch all day, every day: grilled sandwiches, local salads, coffee drinks, beer and wine. A former ski dorm with a large hearth at its center and rooms to browse art, antiques and finds from more than 70 local vendors and artists.

The Roastery: Movement Coffee Roasters + Bakery

A specialty café and bakery just across the street from Skog & Snø. We love the small-batch, single-origin coffee roasted on site. Espresso, pour-overs and seasonal specials, plus pastries and breakfast, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Cozy and community-minded, with on-site parking.

Open every day, 7 AM–3 PM. Their coffee and tea are stocked in the house.

Black Cap Coffee & Bakery

Specialty coffee, including a famous maple latte, and fresh pastries baked in-house with local ingredients. Breakfast sandwiches and lunch, with vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan-friendly choices.

GiraKofi

A locally owned, giraffe-themed coffee shop with specialty espresso, drip coffee, fresh pastries and a build-your-own breakfast sandwich bar. Friendly staff and alternatives for dairy and gluten allergies.

Open daily from 6:30 AM, closing at 1 or 2 PM depending on the day.

Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe

A beloved bakery and café with all-natural pastries, cakes, breakfast and lunch specials, scratch-baked in an open kitchen by chef-owners. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Woodland Baking and Coffee

A cozy café and bakery for croissants, biscuits, scones, bread pudding and other pastries, with specialty coffee drinks. Vegan options available.

Stowe Recreation Path

A scenic, mostly flat 5.3-mile paved path from the heart of Stowe Village to a covered bridge, along the Little River and through open meadows, with ten bridges and plenty of places to stop. Cleared for winter use and groomed for Nordic skiing. The walkers-only Quiet Path extension allows dogs off-leash, unlike the main path.

Parking at Lintilhac Park (behind Stowe Community Church), Chase Park, Thompson Park and Topnotch Access near Brook Road.

Bingham Falls

A stunning waterfall reached by a short, steep quarter-mile walk from Route 108, about 6.4 miles from the Route 100/108 junction. The trail runs close to the gorge's edges, and the pool at the base is used for swimming at your own risk. About 30–60 minutes round trip with a 200-foot climb.

Wet and slippery near the bottom: wear hiking shoes with good tread, not flip-flops, and take care with children. Dogs allowed under control.

Moss Glen Falls

Cascades dropping about 125 feet through a scenic gorge, reached by a half-mile round-trip trail of packed earth and boardwalk. About 3 miles north of downtown Stowe on VT-100, via Randolph Road and Moss Glen Falls Road. No fee or permit.

Paved lot, plowed in winter. Steep and rocky near the falls.

Mill Trail

A peaceful, wide 1.1-mile trail to Bingham Falls through mixed forest along the West Branch of the Waterbury River, past stone cellar holes from an 1840s farm, the site of the Orlando Turner Saw Mill and Tub Factory and a restored early-1900s log cabin. Open to hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Limited pull-off parking on Notchbrook Road. No mountain bikes.

Barnes Camp Boardwalk

A 600-foot raised boardwalk across wetlands and beaver ponds, with interpretive panels, part of the 1.5-mile Barnes Camp Loop. Accessible for wheelchairs and strollers; beyond it, the trail climbs moderately to meet the Long Trail.

Park at Stowe Resort's hiker lot and cross Route 108.

Wiessner Woods

A 79-acre protected forest with about 2.1 miles of easy to moderate trails, great for families and dog owners. Look for the historic sugar shack, early 19th-century stone walls and a whimsical gnome home.

Open daily, dawn to dusk. No bikes or motorized vehicles.

Cady Hill Forest

A 258-acre town forest with about 11 miles of well-kept trails for mountain biking, hiking, trail running, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, from beginner to advanced. Don't miss the Green Chair Overlook. Connects to the Rec Path; dogs welcome.

Main trailhead on Mountain Road, across from the Town and Country Resort.

Outdoor Center at von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort

2,600 acres with over 30 miles of mountain bike trails, more than 65 km of hiking trails and one of the country's best Nordic centers. Also an 18-hole disc golf course, clay tennis courts, a climbing wall, seasonal carriage rides and lessons or guided tours.

Some activities require a property pass if you're not staying at the resort.

Long Trail

Stowe's section of the Long Trail climbs Mount Mansfield through hardwood forest to alpine tundra, pristine ponds and big views. The classic route starts near the Barnes Camp parking area, with a stop at the Taft Lodge shelter before the summit; the Profanity Trail is a variation from the top. Follow the white blazes.