12 Great Places to View Vermont’s Fall Foliage

Upwards of two million visitors come to Vermont each year to view our vibrant fall foliage colors. Tens of thousands of state residents also go “leaf peeping,” taking a day trip to see the reds, yellows, and oranges while they are at their peak.

Most take in fall foliage scenery from the seat of a car. Our 8,000 miles of dirt roads and 7,000 miles of paved highways and byways are well traveled in fall, as visitors and locals alike seek out the most beautiful vistas. But we think the best way to enjoy this special time is not on four wheels — it’s through activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and canoeing.

To help you plan a fall foliage outing, we’ve compiled this list of 12 places where you can hike, bike, or paddle and get great views. You’ll still use your vehicle to travel there, but once you leave it behind and get out on the trails or water, you’ll have a direct connection with nature and can fully experience Vermont’s fall foliage glory.

When to Go

The annual show begins when cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours signal the trees that it’s time to start going dormant for winter. The green chlorophyll in their leaves begins to fade way, allowing other pigments to be fully visible.

The leaves turn earliest in the colder spots — the higher elevations and the Northeast Kingdom (Orleans, Caledonia, and Essex counties). Those places tend to show vibrant color towards the end of September or the beginning of October. During the next couple of weeks, colors descend into the valleys and sweep across other regions of the state, typically peaking in many places in mid-October. The Champlain Valley, protected from chilly nights by the relatively warm waters of Lake Champlain, is usually the last area to peak, often in the latter part of October.

The weather can greatly influence when actual peak conditions occur and how long they last. Frosty mornings can hasten the appearance of colors, while the lack of a frost and warmer daytime temperatures can delay their onset. Calm conditions help the colorful leaves stay on trees longer, while wind and rain can quickly send leaves to the ground. To find out where the colors are at their best, several websites track the foliage conditions, or you can subscribe to the state’s weekly fall foliage report.  

Recommended Hikes

Nothing beats the sound of fallen leaves crunching underfoot as you ascend to a mountain’s summit to take in a sweeping view. There are hundreds of places across Vermont where you can hike and see the foliage, but here are four recommended hikes with outstanding views.

• Mt. Pisgah, Westmore — This 2,751-foot mountain forms the eastern side of the famous gap framing Lake Willoughby, the state’s deepest lake. At first, the 1.7-mile South Trail climbs moderately and has several lookouts where you can peer over sheer cliffs to see the lake below and the carpet of brilliant foliage draped over Mt. Hor on the other side of the gap. As it nears the summit, the trail becomes steeper and scrambles over bare rocks. This part of the trail may be difficult for novice hikers. The summit offers sweeping views of the lake and the Northeast Kingdom. The South Trail begins at a parking area on Vermont 5A, about half a mile from the south end of the lake.
• Owl’s Head, Groton — A free auto road climbs most of the way up this mountain in the Groton State Forest, leaving only a short hike from the parking area to the summit. The trail is easy and perfect for small children, which makes it a very popular family outing. If you are in the mood for more exercise, there is an easy 1.9-mile trail through the forest from the New Discovery Campground. Either way, at the top of Owl’s Head you’ll find a broad vista that includes Kettle Pond in the foreground and the Green Mountains beyond. If you have time, check out the mostly-level 3.2-mile loop around Kettle Pond. The Owl’s Head access road is off Vermont 232, about 5 miles south of the junction with US 2. 
• Elmore Mountain, Elmore — Starting at Elmore State Park, the 2.1-mile Fire Tower Trail climbs gradually to a lookout over Lake Elmore, and then continues a short distance over rocky terrain to a fire tower on the summit. The first part of the hike (to the lookout) is suitable for beginners, while the remainder of the trail to the tower is rougher and more difficult, especially if the rocks are wet. If you reach the fire tower and climb its stairs, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view which includes the rest of the Worcester Range, Mt. Mansfield, and the Lamoille River Valley. Many hikers choose to descend from the summit on the Ridge Trail, rather than climb down the rocks on the Fire Tower Trail. Elmore State Park is on Vermont 12, about four miles east of Morrisville.
• Stratton Mountain, Stratton — If you are looking for an unobstructed view in southern Vermont, there is probably none grander than the lookout tower on Stratton Mountain. The 360-degree view from the renovated fire tower includes Mt. Equinox and the Taconic Range to the west, Killington to the north, and Mt. Ascutney to the northeast. Access is via the Long Trail, starting from a parking area on the Stratton-Arlington Road, about 3.5 miles west of Stratton village. It’s 3.8 miles from the parking area to the tower, following a route with moderate grades.

For more suggested fall foliage hikes, visit the Green Mountain Club’s website. The club also publishes many guidebooks and maps, available for purchase on its website.

Favorite Paddling Spots

Fall foliage season is the perfect time to go kayaking and canoeing. The water is still fairly warm, summer crowds have disappeared, and the colors reflecting off the water’s surface are dazzling. Here are four favorite places to paddle.

• Lake Willoughby, Westmore — This is one of the most unique and wonderous fall paddles in Vermont. You’ll glide past Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor on either side of the lake, which rise steeply from the water’s edge. Both mountains are heavily forested so there’s an abundance of color. Put in at South Beach, on Vermont 5A at the southern end of the lake.
• Green River Reservoir State Park, Hyde Park — There are very few places in the state where paddlers don’t have to share the water with motorboats, and the Green River Reservoir is probably the best. Motorboats are prohibited on the 653-acre reservoir, which offers miles of forested shoreline to paddle along with hardly any development. Loons are the stars of the show at this quiet lake where they thrive. To get there, take Garfield Road off Vermont 15, about two miles east of Morrisville. Turn right onto Cleveland Corner Road and take the next left onto Green River Dam Road, following it to the state park entrance.
• Chittenden Reservoir, Chittenden — Unlike the Green River Reservoir, motorboats are not banned from Chittenden Reservoir. But motors are limited to 15 horsepower and there is a 5-mph speed limit, which keeps the 721-acre reservoir fairly quiet and enjoyable for paddlers. The hillsides above the reservoir are mostly forested and undeveloped, which makes for breathtaking leaf peeping from your craft. The parking area is next to the Green Mountain Power dam, which is about two miles from Chittenden village on Dam Road.
• Somerset Reservoir, Somerset — Surrounded by undeveloped forest and offering fantastic views of Stratton Mountain, the 1,623-acre Somerset Reservoir provides a remote paddling experience in southern Vermont. This lake is 5.6 miles long, so plan on spending plenty of time to explore it all. To get there, take Road 71 (Somerset Road) north from Vermont 9, about 2.1 miles east of the intersection with Vermont 8.

Suggested Bike Rides

Earlier in this article, we made the case for not using four-wheeled road vehicles for leaf-peeping. However, riding through the Vermont countryside on two wheels lets you cover a lot of ground while still being in touch with nature. Here are four suggestions for fall foliage bike rides.

• Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Swanton to St. Johnsbury — This is the longest rail trail in New England, winding 93 miles through northern Vermont. There are multiple places where you can park and access the trail, so it’s easy to ride a section. One segment that is particularly beautiful in the fall is from Morrisville to Cambridge, running along the Lamoille River with views of the mountains. Parts of the trail have sustained damage from recent flooding, so be sure to consult the state’s trail map for information on parking and trail conditions before heading out.
• Colchester Causeway, Colchester — A unique Vermont biking experience, this 3.2-mile gravel path built on a former railroad causeway takes you across Lake Champlain between Colchester and South Hero, with water on either side and 360-degree views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. There is a gap in the causeway at about the 2.7-mile mark, which will limit your journey. However, Local Motion operates a bike ferry on the weekends (until October 14) to carry bikers to the other side of the gap so they can continue their ride into South Hero. Start at Causeway Park on Mills Point Road in Colchester. If you’re interested in a longer ride, from Causeway Park the bike path heads south and crosses the Winooski River on a bridge, continuing along the lakeshore to downtown Burlington.
• Kingdom Trails, East Burke — Offering more than 100 miles of non-motorized recreational trails around East Burke, the Kingdom Trails Association is a non-profit that has an outstanding reputation in the mountain biking community. The terrain varies from challenging trails on Burke Mountain to easier rides along the Passumpsic River. Trails are only open to members, but the association does offer short-term memberships for purchase if you only want to ride the trails for a day or two.
• Green Mountain Trails, Pittsfield — This is a 25-mile network of multi-use trails in Pittsfield and Stockbridge that includes mountain biking singletrack. Class one ebikes are allowed. The entire trail system is open to the public without charge, although donations are accepted. A highlight is visiting Shrek’s Stone Hut and taking in its panoramic view of the Green Mountains from Pico Peak to Camel’s Hump. For more information and trail maps, check out Trailforks or the Green Mountain Trails website.

Enjoy The Show

We hope this article has inspired you to get outside and enjoy some activities during fall foliage. While the season only lasts a few weeks, the memories of hiking, biking, and paddling among the gorgeous colors will stay with you all winter!