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There are four seasons of fun in Vermont, but autumn may be the most wonderful. Fall in Vermont is cozy, beautiful, exciting, and memorable. With countless things to do, places to visit, foods to enjoy, and sites to see, you’ll have a full calendar here, whether you’re a local or just planning a Vermont fall trip!
Fall is the perfect time of year and if you’re looking for fall leaves that are all but guaranteed to turn vibrant shades of gold, orange, and red, then the fall foliage in Vermont will not disappoint because autumn is the best time of year to visit Vermont.
Though some years the VT fall foliage will be more vibrant than others (conditions change depending on the year’s weather), you are pretty much assured strong pops of color and a chilly autumn atmosphere. Here’s a few Vermont in fall pictures to get you feeling those Vermont fall vibes:
FAQ About Vermont’s Fall Foliage
Where are the best places to see fall foliage in Vermont?
There are few places in this gorgeous state where you won’t get to experience the magic and splendor of the fall colors Vermont has to offer, but the season does look particularly nice in certain spots: impressive mountain peaks, postcard villages, waterfalls, winding roads. The road trips below cover all of those destinations for where to go in Vermont in the fall for scenic views.
When is the best time for fall foliage in Vermont?
Fall foliage in Vermont generally peaks (hits its brightest point) around early October. Peak lasts for several days to a week, and then the leaves begin to quickly fade. While peak is the best time to see fall foliage in Vermont, the weeks leading up to that point are also stunning. If you want to see the vibrant fall colors in Vermont, aim to come before peak or as close to it as possible. If you’re looking for the best time to see fall foliage in Vermont, mid-October is cutting it close, but Vermont is particularly beautiful in early October.
You can check out a fall foliage prediction map here and real-time updates on this New England peak foliage tracker to increase your chances to see the best fall foliage in Vermont!
Feeling ready to enjoy a Vermont fall? Let’s get reading. There are so many Vermont in the fall things to do that every region offers something worth checking out. I can’t possibly include all of the fall activities in Vermont in this post, so I’ve narrowed it down to 25+ essential places to go and things to do in Vermont in the fall.
Table of Contents
Attend a classic Vermont fall fair
Can’t you just smell the kettle corn? Vermont fall festivals come in all sizes and September is a particularly popular month for these. Some have carnival rides and games, while others are simpler, with crafts, baked goods, and live music. Check out the Peru Fair for a quaint, old-fashioned country fair or the Harvest Festival in Woodstock for some historic harvest time activities like cider pressing and a barn dance!
Hop in the car and go leaf peeping
Vermont autumn leaves will likely always be the main attraction during a Vermont fall trip! The colors are so vibrant in New England and in Vermont, in particular, the fall foliage is spectacular. Your best bet is to visit during the peak of fall foliage in Vermont. This is typically early to mid-October, but Vermont colors vary depending on conditions each year. Check out this map to get a general overview of when is fall in Vermont as far as the dramatic color progression of the season goes.
Read Next: The Perfect Vermont Road Trip: 5-7 Day Itinerary | 8 Amazing New England Fall Road Trip Ideas
Stay in a cozy cabin
Looking for where to go in Vermont in the fall? Grab your partner, family, or friends and book a cozy cabin for the perfect Vermont fall weekend. You’ll definitely feel rejuvenated after settling in surrounded by vibrant Vermont fall colors!
Eat your fill of cider donuts
Fall’s #1 food—and likely the cause of my annual fall weight gain—is the apple cider donut. I had never had these before moving to Vermont, but let me tell you, they are incredible.
There are spots all over Vermont where you can find the best cider donuts, but one of my favorite places to get them is the Sugar Shack in Arlington. Yes, Vermont fall leaves are beautiful, but cider donuts are beautiful and delicious!
Get lost in The Great Vermont Corn Maze
When the corn is done being harvested each year, many farmers turn their fields into intricate corn mazes for guests to wander through. This traditional Vermont fall activity gets even better when you tackle the biggest corn maze in New England, located in Danville, VT.
Experience Dead North: Farmland of Terror
Come back at night and you’ll find a different experience on the corn maze property. If you like to get spooked, you can sign up for this unique October event. Check out Dead North. This is definitely on the list of what to do in October in Vermont for all the thrill-seekers out there!
Walk to a Waterfall
An autumn hike in Vermont out to a waterfall is basically a twofer—2 must-see natural wonders for the price of 1! There are several waterfalls across the state that offer a lovely walk through fantastic VT fall foliage to get out to them.
Visit the possibly haunted Emily’s Bridge
Maybe you don’t like haunted houses and haunted corn mazes but you’re interested in real, potentially haunted spots? As you might imagine, Vermont (and New England) is full of them. One of my favorite local legends is Emily’s Bridge. At this spot in Stowe, VT, you can see a lovely covered bridge and perhaps have a supernatural experience as well; this is another good Vermont in October activity!
Drive up a mountain
Want to reach the top of a mountain without hiking up? You might like Equinox Skyline Drive in Manchester, which takes you up a winding road to the top of Mt. Equinox. You’ll be surrounded by incredible Vermont fall foliage in this magical spot; this is definitely one of the best places to visit in Vermont in the fall.
Wander through a pumpkin patch
I don’t think there’s anything more fall-like than a real pumpkin patch. Go pick out a few pumps to carve into jack-o-lanterns tonight. SpoooOOoOooOky! Here are 7 Vermont pumpkin patches worth exploring while looking for Vermont in October things to do.
Stay on a real working farm
A quintessential Vermont experience involves staying—and helping out on— an actual Vermont farm. My husband and I found an awesome place to do this near Woodstock, on the Fat Sheep Farm! Read about our experience there here; Vermont during fall would be the perfect time to have your own experience there.
Go apple picking
In between eating cider donuts and carving pumpkins, many Vermont farms have apple orchards where you can pick your own harvest. Here are 8 of my favorite places to go apple picking; this is a good Vermont in September activity!
Hike Owl’s Head
Any hike will do on a pristine autumn day, but if you want more bang for your buck (in other words, awesome Vermont fall foliage views as your hiking payoff), you have to check out Owl’s Head in Groton State Forest for beautiful views over a lake and distant mountains to see the best fall colors in Vermont!
Take a Route 100 road trip
Route 100 snakes its way from south to north in Vermont, and passes through a great many fun destinations. Plus, the drive itself is a good time and offers perfect VT fall foliage viewing opportunities and is a strong contender for best place in Vermont for fall foliage!
As a bonus? There are some of the best places to stay in Vermont in the fall along that route, too!
Check out the Cold Hollow Cider Mill
If you are in love with all things APPLE, you’ll FALL for the Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, VT. This is a place I’ve been going to for years, where the moment you walk in it smells and feels like Vermont fall heaven.
Enjoy their delicious cold-pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, and plenty of other treats. They’ve also got hard cider and a tasty lunch restaurant, boasting local Vermont foods. You will not leave this place hungry, and it is definitely one of the best places to go in Vermont in the fall!
Take a scenic fall foliage paddle
Autumn foliage in Vermont looks even more vibrant from the water with all the gorgeous Vermont autumn leaves reflecting off the water. One of the best things to do in Vermont in the fall is to rent a kayak or canoe and head to a nearby lake for a serene autumn afternoon; remember that the best time for fall colors in Vermont is early October, so if you can plan your trip for then you will have the best shot at seeing those peak colors!
Cycle along the Burlington Bike Path
A Vermont fall bike ride sure sounds nice, doesn’t it? There are many places for experienced and beginning cyclists to ride in the state, but one of the most popular is the Burlington Bike Path. This paved lakeside pathway follows the Lake Champlain shoreline all along the Burlington waterfront, but also transforms into the Island Line Trail, and winds all the way up into the Champlain Islands.
If you’ve got the stamina for it, this 6-day bicycle tour is considered one of the best fall foliage tours in all of New England; sounds like a pretty cool leaf-peeping in Vermont experience, right?
Take in the views over Quechee Gorge
Quechee Gorge is impressive in every season, but in autumn it has some of the best fall colors in Vermont. Stop here on a Vermont fall trip, or while visiting the charming town of Woodstock nearby.
Drive (slowly!) up the winding Notch Road in Stowe
Stowe is one of the prettiest places in Vermont (if not all of New England). One of the nicest spots to check out in the fall is the Notch Road that leads from Stowe up to Smuggler’s Notch. In the winter, this road is closed, as it becomes too dangerous and impassable. But it’s typically still open in the fall, giving you a great excuse to see vibrant Vermont foliage at a higher elevation.
Make sure to pay this area a visit. There are trail heads for many of the best local hikes along this road, too. PS: Drive slowly and carefully; this road is incredibly winding and very narrow in some spots, but certainly worth checking out while visiting Vermont in the fall.
Hop on a scenic sunset cruise
Want to see the beautiful Vermont fall foliage at the golden hour as the sun begins to set? Heck yes, you do! Check out the Spirit of Ethan Allen and see the fantastic fall foliage from lovely Lake Champlain, then you can head out to enjoy the fall Burlington scene with its great breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, and cool things to do!
Ride the Gondola up Mt. Mansfield
While you’re in Stowe, visit the tallest mountain in Vermont, Mt. Mansfield. In winter, this is a great spot for skiers, but during the rest of the year, you can ride the bright red gondolas up to the summit. This is a really unique way to see the foliage from a different perspective and a very cool thing to do on a Vermont fall vacation!
Do some fall camping (or glamping!)
Vermont in fall does start to get a little chilly, but if you’ve got the right gear (namely, a warm sleeping bag) you can make the most of these crisp days and chilly nights, especially if you plan it for the early Vermont fall season.
Sip a sampler of seasonal brews
Enjoying craft beer is one of my top 50 things to do in Vermont. With more than 70 breweries (accurate as of 2022), Vermont is a bucket list destination for craft beer lovers, During trips to Vermont in the fall, relish the flavors of the season by seeking out pumpkin ales, autumnal IPAs, and more.
Explore Vermont’s most charming small towns
Vermont’s villages look even more picturesque at this time of year. Framed by the rich fall colors Vermont is so well known for and decorated with pumpkins, they are Instagram-worthy destinations. Make sure to head off the beaten path and find some of these smaller, local gems to explore; small towns somehow become even more charming in the fall in VT!
Hop aboard a Vermont fall foliage train ride
You can board a train from Chester, VT that will take you on a lovely ride through the mountains. On Vermont train rides, fall foliage pops from all directions… what a lovely way to enjoy some autumn colors in VT!
Check out the view from above!
If you’re a fan of adrenaline-inducing activity, consider zip-lining at Smugglers’ Notch, where you can fly through the fabulous VT fall foliage for yourself! If that birds-eye view is calling to you but you’d prefer a little slower pace, check out Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides, where the blazing fall colors will form a carpet below you as you soar through Vermont’s skies. How does a sweeping view of the earth below you ablaze with autumn colors sound?
Cheer Oktoberfest at Mount Snow
Finally, if you’re looking for what to do in October in Vermont, raise your glass at Mount Snow’s annual Oktoberfest, which has been around for more than 20 years.
Read these next:
- Fall in New England: The Best Towns, Orchards, Farms, Foliage, & Festivals
- The Best New England Fall Foliage Tours Worth Your Money
- Fall in New Hampshire: Essential Places to Go and Things to Do
- 6 Charming New England Towns to Visit in the Fall
- 9 Best Vermont State Parks You Can’t Miss
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Amy is the founder of New England with love. A proud Vermonter, she hopes to share her love of New England and help you find the best adventures in the region. Amy is also blogger/founder at Two Drifters, where she writes alongside her husband about romantic and couples travel, relationships, honeymoons, and more. When not working on websites, Amy is probably reading, cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.