MONTPELIER, Vt. – With sunny weather and cooler temperatures forecast through the upcoming weekend, this season’s foliage viewing is expected to be bright and beautiful throughout Vermont.
Best Bets: The Northeast Kingdom has near peak color throughout the region.  Cold temperatures at night and bright sunshine filled days stepped up the foliage progression everywhere. Route 118 to Route 105 into Richford is showing strong color, as is Route 114 between East Burke and Canaan. If you happen to find yourself in Victory this coming weekend, be sure to head out along the Moose River to Damon’s Crossing, where the view across the basin to Hobart Ridge is spectacular. Serious leaf peepers will also want to head up the Burke Mountain Toll Road to scout for pockets of near peak foliage.
Central areas of the state are showing strong color, especially on Route 12A in Roxbury, Route 12 in Putnamville, and Route 14 between North Montpelier and Woodbury. Colors are developing along Routes 100 and 100B in the Mad River Valley, as well as Route 2 in the Bolton area and Interstate 89 between Northfield and Montpelier.
Spot color can also be found along Interstate 89 from Bolton to Colchester, while muted shades of gold and russet can be seen in the hills surrounding Richmond and Williston.
In southern Vermont, early fall colors exist over most of Bennington County, but things are changing rapidly. By this coming weekend, there will be near peak conditions in the higher elevations around Woodford, Searsburg, and Readsboro. Brilliant reds, yellows, and golds can be found along Route 9 east of Bennington and along Route 8 toward Stamford and Readsboro.
Dozens of continuing and special events—from farmers’ markets to craft fairs—are listed for the coming week and weekend
in the Vermont Travel Planner, check the Events Calendar in the Travel Planner for interests from foot races to corn mazes, and farmer’s markets to crafts fairs.
Also available on this Web site are several tools for planning a Vermont Fall Foliage tour:
The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing advises making advance reservations because the most popular lodgings may fill early on busy weekends in late September and the first two weekends in October. Some innkeepers may require a minimum two-night stay, especially on busy weekends. Foliage viewers can avoid the reservations’ squeeze by visiting mid-week. |
