Best Time to Visit Vermont for Fall Foliage
What time of year in the fall is best to visit Vermont? An autumn trip is all the more enticing and provides a certain element of excitement to the entire trip-planning process because fall is so seasonal and nature-dependent. Early October is typically a great time to visit Vermont. Since Vermont’s prime foliage season only lasts a few days, it is crucial to plan your trip accordingly. Leaf gazing is a combination of impromptu preparation and meticulous tracking. Being able to see the leaves requires good timing because the colors change according to nature’s whim. The day we chose to visit ended up being gloomy, which only helped the colors look more vibrant. Since the fall in Vermont is one of the busiest times of the year, reservations for lodging must be made in advance. In our search, we discovered that side streets and dirt roads are undiscovered fall treasures, filled with breathtaking foliage patterns and no tourists crowding the area. So to help you experience the splendor of the time of year, here are five recommended Vermont fall foliage destinations.
Stowe
This formerly dairy town transforms into one of the East’s premier ski destinations every winter, but by arriving a few months early, you can avoid the crowds, make dinner reservations more easily, and take in some of the grandeur of the Green Mountains without having to brave the freezing temperatures. From downtown, there are several treks to choose from, but the pleasant and straightforward Stowe Recreation Path is a terrific location to start and become oriented. Regarding where to stay, there are many wonderful hotel choices in Stowe, but the Austrian-inspired Trapp Family Lodge has long drawn tourists for its association with the Von Trapp family’s tale, which served as the basis for the Sound of Music. If you’re looking for something a little more upscale with on-site fine dining and a spa, consider The Lodge at Spruce Peak, or consider the unassuming Field Guide. Whatever you do, arrive hungry and reject the notion that this town serves nothing but traditional New England cuisine; eateries like Umami, Plate, and Hen of the Wood in nearby Waterbury demonstrate that this location is one of Vermont’s most vibrant gastronomic hotspots.
Manchester to Bennington
Looking to take a road trip to see all of the gorgeous colors? Go on a drive from Manchester to Bennington. Take the entire drive, which includes a gorgeous side detour to the Somerset Reservoir, or just a portion of it. There are many stops along this drive for eating and drinking. Decide and delight! In order to explore the charming town of Williamstown, this route also makes a brief detour into northwest Massachusetts. Manchester and Bennington in Vermont loved for their classic New England-style architecture as well as their first-rate museums, restaurants, and shops. There is no loop to this drive in Vermont’s southwest; you must go back the same way you came to get to the starting point or detour to another location. Want to get on the water? You can also stop at Somerset Reservoir and Somerset Reservoir Trail, which are close to Wilmington. This lake is pretty remote. There are no nearby stores, ranger stations, or private homes. This lake is for canoeing and kayaking.
Smugglers’ Notch
This fall, turning south along VT-108 in Jeffersonville, Vermont, and heading toward the region’s most well-known ski resort: Stowe, will be a thrilling trip. Via Smugglers’ Notch, a mountain pass named after the cunning individuals who utilized this path to sneak things from Canada into Vermont in the early 19th century, you’ll be traveling a narrow, twisty, seasonal road. In the 1920s, during alcohol prohibition, Smugglers’ Notch was for smuggling. As you travel up this road on Mount Mansfield’s eastern face, you should adhere to the established speed limits, especially when the distractingly colorful fall foliage is present. Fall pleasures abound in Stowe, including the Percy Farm Corn Maze.
Quechee State Park
The park is a well-liked tourist destination because of its location alongside US Route 4 and its proximity to several upper-valley destinations. Annually, hundreds of thousands of tourists pause to admire the Quechee Gorge’s stunning views. The park’s wide campsites are easily accessible to other guests looking for an overnight stay. The deepest gorge in Vermont, glacier made from around 13,000 years ago, serves as the park’s main point. Viewing areas along Route 4 allow visitors to gaze down at the Ottauquechee River, which is running 165 feet beneath them. Camping, climbing, swimming, stream fishing, picnics, wildlife viewing, and winter sports are among the available activities. There are 45 tent/trailer sites, 7 lean-to sites, two restrooms with showers, and a sanitary dump station among the camping amenities. In addition to the picnic area with a pit toilet adjacent to Quechee Gorge and the huge field and play area, there is also a hiking trail that runs beside the gorge.
Southern Vermont
Go on a 140-mile road trip in the southern part of the state! Route 100, sometimes known as “Vermont’s Main Street,” traverses the state’s middle from Wilmington in the southwest to Waterbury Village in the north and south, skirting the Green Mountains and providing a spectacular view of lowlands, farm fields, and quaint towns. In addition to the Mount Snow, Stratton, Okemo, Killington, and Sugarbush ski slopes, Route 100 traverses numerous state and local parks. The towns along the road are lovely and calm, keep in mind that many activities, like walking, mountain biking, and enjoying the greenery, may be occurring at ski resorts during no-snow seasons. One of the 23 Vermont towns with a culturally notable downtown is Waterbury, the town near the northernmost end of this trip.
Woodstock
Get your groovy music, tie-dye clothing, and peace signs ready, because we’re going to Woodstock! The beautiful greenery along the two-hour trip from Burlington International Airport to Woodstock is reason enough to pause. In the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, travelers trek the routes up and around Mount Tom for a birds-eye perspective of the changing seasons or visit the mansion and gardens from 1805. Downtown Woodstock is quaint and full of independent stores and eateries that provide a setting fit for a Hallmark film. The crab cakes and cheesecake at The Prince and the Pauper Restaurant are delightful, so don’t miss out on dinner there. Be advised, bookings for trips to this well-liked autumn location are required in advance. Plan to reserve your stay at one of the inns several months in advance. As an outstanding example of New England-style architecture, we recommend Woodstock Inn & Resort.
Honorable Mention: Middlebury
The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, a mile-long unpaved road honoring Frost’s poetry, is located in Middlebury and makes the perfect spot to enjoy an autumn day. The trail is decorated with several of his writings, but in the fall, the central field with its brightly colored trees in red and orange is what really stands out. Another path in Middlebury is the TAM, a 16-mile “Trail Around Middlebury” that offers beautiful fall scenery for riding or walking. Because of Otter Creek’s thundering falls, the charming stores, and a variety of eateries, including Fire & Ice, the downtown area has its own special autumn charm. The Middlebury Inn, which has been open since 1827, is a great place to stay.
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