Trav's short answer
Smugglers’ Notch has joined Indy Pass for the 2026/27 ski season, adding a major Vermont mountain to the independent-resort pass.Indy Pass holders receive two lift-ticket days at Smuggs and can buy a third day at 25% off the window rate. The resort is listed with no blackout dates, although advance reservations are required.
Major Vermont addition
Smugglers’ Notch becomes Indy Pass’s 60th new resort for 2026/27
Indy Pass Director Erik Mogensen announced Smugglers’ Notch as the 60th new resort added since last season. The expansion means the pass now spans four continents, 15 countries, 30 US states and six Canadian provinces.
Why this matters: Smugglers’ Notch is not a small satellite hill. It is a substantial Vermont destination with 78 marked trails and a 2,610-foot vertical drop, making it one of the most notable additions to Indy Pass for the coming winter.
The Indy Pass expansion at a glance
Official Indy Pass figures · September 2026What passholders get
Indy Pass holders get two days at Smugglers’ Notch plus a discounted third day
The core Indy Pass benefit at partner alpine resorts is two all-day or night lift tickets. Smugglers’ Notch is now part of that network for the 2026/27 winter, so eligible Indy Pass holders can redeem two days at the resort.
Indy also includes the option to buy one third day at 25% off the resort’s window lift-ticket rate. That third-day discount is a standard additional benefit on Indy Base and Indy+ products rather than a Smuggs-only promotion.
Indy Pass access covers normal lift-ticket use. Resort events, special programmes and other activities are not automatically included simply because a skier holds an Indy Pass.
Plan before you go
Smugglers’ Notch requires Indy Pass reservations but lists no blackout dates
The current Indy Pass resort profile for Smugglers’ Notch states “Reservations Required” and “No Blackout Dates”. That makes the reservation step the key restriction passholders need to watch before travelling.
At the time of publication, Indy Pass says to check back soon for the detailed Smugglers’ Notch reservation procedure. Skiers should therefore avoid assuming that simply owning the pass guarantees a walk-up redemption on any chosen day.
No blackout dates listed
Smugglers’ Notch is currently shown by Indy Pass as having no blackout dates for passholder access.
Advance booking required
The resort profile specifically marks reservations as required, with more redemption details still to be published.
Smugglers’ Notch limits daily ticket sales to protect its comfortable carrying capacity. The reservation requirement gives the resort a way to manage Indy Pass visits alongside normal ticket and season-pass traffic.
What Smuggs adds
Smugglers’ Notch brings three mountains, 78 trails and serious Vermont vertical
Smugglers’ Notch is a much bigger addition than its family-resort branding might suggest. The ski area spreads across three mountains and lists 78 trails over roughly 310 skiable acres.
The Indy Pass resort profile lists a 2,610-foot vertical drop, with a summit elevation of 3,640 feet and a base elevation of 1,030 feet. It also lists eight lifts and terrain ranging from beginner areas to advanced and expert skiing.
For 2026/27: Smugglers’ Notch says it is investing in snowmaking upgrades including new mobile snow guns, pipe replacement, pump and motor work and other reliability improvements ahead of its first full winter under Bear Den Partners’ ownership.
Indy keeps expanding
The Smuggs deal pushes Indy Pass beyond 300 resorts and triggered another public sale
Indy Pass had already promised a network of more than 300 resorts for 2026/27, but the Smugglers’ Notch announcement takes the confirmed coalition to 304 resorts. Indy says those partners now stretch across four continents and 15 countries.
The extra capacity created by the 60 new resort additions also allowed Indy Pass to reopen 2026/27 public sales on 8 September. The company says the sale is deliberately limited and will close again once its capacity threshold is reached.
A stronger New England option
Smuggs adds a large, established Vermont resort to a pass already designed around independent ski areas rather than a small number of corporate destinations.
A statement addition
Indy has described Smuggs joining as evidence that major independent resorts can collaborate while maintaining separate ownership and identities.
It combines substantial terrain, a major Vermont location and independent ownership with the pass’s standard two-day access model. The main practical detail still to watch is how Smuggs will operate its required reservation system once winter redemptions open.
Trav's final summary
Smugglers’ Notch is now part of Indy Pass for 2026/27
Smuggs has joined Indy Pass as its 60th new resort since last season, helping take the independent-resort network to 304 partners worldwide.
- Two included days: Indy Pass holders can redeem two lift-ticket days at Smugglers’ Notch and buy a third day at 25% off the window rate.
- Reservations required: Smuggs currently lists no blackout dates, but advance reservations will be needed and the detailed process is still to come.
- Big Vermont terrain: the resort has three mountains, 78 trails, eight lifts and a 2,610-foot vertical drop.