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Big Cottonwood Boulder in Smugglers Notch

By eterral

By Eric Terral

Description: Route 108 and Smugglers Notch is a rather famous spot for leaf peeping and rock climbing. While I love leaf peeping, I mainly chose this spot for its rock climbing. I have been climing for eight years and would consider it a passion of mine. Even though this spot is an hour away I means a lot to me and I make a trip up every weekend to climb.

Directions: The Big Cottonwood Boulder is located just before Stowe Resort on Route 108 near Smugglers Notch. It is about a 55 minute drive away going North on I-89 for about 18 miles, take exit 18 then turn left onto VT-104 for about 13 miles. Next is a right onto Route 108 for about 5 miles until you reach the Big Cottonwood Boulder.

This is a photograph of me standing next to the Big Cottonwood boulder to demonstrate the sheer size of this magnificent rock. I chose this location because I am a rock climber and find myself on this same rock every weekend. I have been trying to climb it for a few months now and I have yet to succeed. 

Vegetation and surrounding area: This is a close up image of where I was standing in the first picture. The majority of the landscape is made up of White Birch, Yellow Birch and really big rocks. There is also the occasional Sugar and Norway Maple scattered among the birch. The landscape is also split in half by a narrow road that goes all the into downtown Stowe.

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