Stowe Church Viewpoint: How to Get to this Iconic Stowe Photo Spot

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One of the most iconic images of Stowe, Vermont, is of the Stowe Church. Nestled around the Green Mountains of Vermont Before my road trip to Vermont, I had seen plenty of photographs of this beautiful church set among a mountainous landscape. I knew I had to find it. And I knew it couldn’t be that hard because everyone seemed to have a photo of this church. But when you Google ‘Stowe Church,’ it brings you to the location of the church itself. However, if you’re like me, you want that beautiful photo with the church in the background, and I’m here to help. The Stowe Church Viewpoint is easy to find, yet I wanted to share some tips from my experience.

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About Stowe Church

If you’re in the beginning stages of planning your trip to Vermont, you may be curious to learn more about Stowe Church and its location. Stowe Church is a quintessential New England church located in the charming mountain town of Stowe. Stowe is one of the top tourist destinations in Vermont. There are so many incredible things to do in Stowe in addition to photographing this idyllic church.

The church’s origins can be traced back to the early 1800s when the first settlers of Stowe began to gather for religious services in private homes and makeshift meeting halls. As the town grew and prospered, the need for a dedicated place of worship became increasingly apparent, and in 1818, the Stowe Congregational Church was officially founded.

The white-steepled New England colonial-style church on this plot today was completed in 1863. Today, Stowe Church is a nondenominational church that accepts all, but I’m enthralled mainly by its charm.

The Stowe Church is one of the top photo spots in Stowe, Vermont. While you can take some great photos from the village, the view from the viewpoint will blow you away!

Where is the Stowe Church Viewpoint

It is very easy to find this viewpoint. If you search for “Stowe Community Church View Point,” you’ll be routed directly to this spot. The viewpoint can be found adjacent to Salon Salon, a hair salon in Stowe. Be aware, though, that there is a separate parking lot for the viewpoint. Upon entering the parking area, you’ll find a dedicated lower lot for the viewpoint. Please don’t park in the top parking lot, as that is for the businesses this viewpoint shares its lot with.

You can easily walk to this viewpoint from the village of Stowe. The walk takes 6 to 10 minutes, depending on where you are walking from in town. However, the walk is uphill, which may slow you down if you find inclines difficult.

We opted to drive to this spot as we were already exploring other areas of Stowe by car. However, it’s important to remember that this parking lot is fairly small. If you are visiting during peak season, the lot may be full, especially if you plan to photograph the Stowe Church at sunset.

Best Time to Photograph Stowe Church

While the Stowe Church view is beautiful year-round, the best time of year to visit and photograph is in the Fall. (Okay, the church surrounded by a fresh blanket of snow would be beautiful, too.) There’s just something so special about seeing the Stowe Church surrounded by vibrant fall foliage.

Fall and winter tend to bring many overcast days in New England, which can be beneficial when photographing Stowe Church. If it’s a cloudy day, you can choose any time to check out this viewpoint. On a sunny day, the harsh mid-day sun can be too bright to get great photos from this viewpoint. As the church is white, the sun tends to wash out the church. While it is still worthwhile to visit if that’s the only time that will fit into your schedule, you’re better off visiting this spot near sunset.

Sunset is the best time to visit the Stowe Church Viewpoint. Golden hour enhances the vibrant colors of the foliage and makes the church pop in photos. However, you will not be alone on your quest to photograph Stowe Church at golden hour. Many visitors flock to this viewpoint to get sunset photos. If you want to avoid the crowds but still get an incredible photo, I recommend arriving approximately an hour before sunset.