Madonna Peak Loop

The Madonna Peak Loop traverses three connected summits — Madonna Peak at 3,640 feet, Morse Mountain, and Sterling Mountain — on the eastern side of Smugglers' Notch State Park, utilizing a combination of ski resort hiking trails and segments of the Long Trail to create one of the more demanding and rewarding full-day outings in northern Vermont. The route ascends through the ski resort's summer trail network before transitioning to the wilder Long Trail character near the upper ridges, where the managed ski glades give way to dense boreal krummholz and open rocky summits. Views from Madonna Peak extend east across the Lamoille River valley to the Worcester Range and beyond to the White Mountains of New Hampshire on exceptionally clear days. The Green Mountain spine is visible to the north toward Jay Peak and south toward Camel's Hump. Ski lift infrastructure visible throughout much of the loop provides context for the mountain's winter economy — Vermont's ski industry is the most economically significant single-season tourism sector in the state. The Long Trail segment near Sterling Mountain passes through undisturbed boreal forest that contrasts sharply with the neighboring resort terrain, demonstrating how quickly natural character reasserts itself beyond the developed ski corridors. This loop is a good objective for hikers who have done the main Mansfield summit and seek a less crowded northern Vermont ridge experience.