Stowe Mountain Resort

About

Stowe Mountain Resort sits at the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, in the heart of the Green Mountains. Known worldwide as a premier ski destination, Stowe has steadily expanded its offerings to welcome visitors of all abilities across every season.

During warmer months, the resort transforms into a hiking and outdoor recreation hub. The Auto Toll Road climbs to just below the summit of Mount Mansfield, offering breathtaking views without a strenuous hike. The gondola ride to the top provides another way to experience the mountain, and the resort has made its Mansfield Gondola cabin wheelchair-accessible. At the base, the charming village of Stowe offers restaurants, shops, and a recreation path that winds along the West Branch River.

Nearby Smugglers' Notch features a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk connecting the Barnes Camp Visitors' Center to a portion of the famous Long Trail. This 1/8-mile boardwalk lets visitors experience Vermont's forest environment on a stable, level surface. The Green Mountain Club also maintains interpretive trails in the region, including one with a 0.3-mile boardwalk section suitable for wheelchairs and walkers.

Winter brings world-class skiing and snowboarding, but also adaptive snow sports through partnerships with organizations like Green Mountain Adaptive Sports. These programs provide equipment and instruction for skiers and riders with physical and cognitive disabilities.

The village of Stowe itself is worth exploring. The Stowe Recreation Path stretches 5.3 miles on a paved, mostly flat surface perfect for walking, cycling, or rolling. Local breweries, creameries, and farm stands dot the surrounding countryside. The area's covered bridges and white-steepled churches make it one of New England's most photographed towns.

Whether you're riding the gondola above the tree line, rolling along a forest boardwalk, or simply taking in the mountain views from the lodge deck, Stowe delivers a genuine Vermont mountain experience.

Accessibility

Stowe Mountain Resort has made targeted accessibility improvements in recent years. The Mansfield Base Area features an ADA-compliant ramp from the parking lot to the upper level of Mansfield Lodge, providing wheelchair access to both the lodge and the Sunrise Lift. The upper level of the lodge includes an accessible restroom. The Mansfield Gondola cabin has been modified for wheelchair accessibility, allowing riders to experience the mountain from above.

Nearby, a 1/8-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk at Smugglers' Notch connects the Barnes Camp Visitors' Center to a section of the Long Trail. This boardwalk provides a flat, stable surface through the forest. Additional accessible trail options exist in the region, including an interpretive trail with a 0.3-mile boardwalk section suitable for wheelchairs and walkers.

The Stowe Recreation Path is a 5.3-mile paved path that runs through the valley and is generally flat, making it suitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. Adaptive winter sports programs are available through Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, offering sit-skiing and other modified equipment with trained instructors.

Contact Stowe Mountain Resort directly for the most current details on accessible parking availability, additional restroom locations, sensory accommodations, and any seasonal changes to accessibility features.

More accessible places in Vermont

• Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home (Manchester)
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock)
• ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Burlington)
• Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (St. Johnsbury)
• Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich)
• VINS Nature Center (Quechee)