MONTPELIER, Vt. – Flares of color are beginning to emerge in typical fashion across higher elevations and in the low-lying areas across Vermont.
A palpable sense of the fall season is evident along the hillsides throughout Vermont. Even the maples along the Vermont State House lawn are displaying a variety of early fall colors. Vermont forestry experts agree with the prediction that a beautiful foliage season is on the way.
“With the current forecast calling for sunny skies and cool nights and the combination of adequate soil moisture and healthy green leaves, this foliage season is shaping up to be one of the best in several years,” says Bennington County Forester Nate Fice. “We are in the very early stages of foliage at this point, and small bits of color can be seen in isolated spots. Despite the storms and high winds of recent weeks, the trees seem to be hanging onto their leaves.”
Best Bets: Lamoille and Orleans County Forester Raymond Toolan says the first indicator of actual foliage season will be seen in the higher elevations in the northerly most parts of the state. Keep an eye on Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, Mount Mansfield and Belvidere Mountain for some of the first actual color of the season.
The foliage is blossoming in the northern reaches of the Northeast Kingdom. Vermont Route 114 from Island Pond through Norton and up along the border to Canaan offers some great early season opportunities for color. Look for low-lying hardwood swamps where cold night air settles, producing brilliant red flares of color.
Route 12 between Morrisville and Montpelier is showing some small bursts of color, and some color is emerging on Route 15 between Jericho and Cambridge. A few spots of color can be seen along Interstate 89 as well.
In southern Vermont, early fall colors can be found around wetlands and bodies of water at higher elevations. Small patches of yellow, orange, and red fall foliage are beginning to show up in the higher elevations of the Green Mountains and Taconic Mountains. Pockets of color can be found in the low-lying areas along Route 4 west of Rutland and along Route 7 south of Wallingford. In Bennington County, roads through the Green Mountain and Taconic Mountain Ranges are showing some reds and yellows in individual trees and small pockets.
In general, higher elevations will offer the most panoramic views of emerging color across the valleys, and many swamp or marsh areas will offer some of the most vivid and varied early season change.
The Vermont Hospitality Association 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.
Vermont tourism officials encourage visitors to take advantage of midweek specials during the foliage season as part of a new statewide “Midweek Peek” promotion. Deals range from discounted lodging to complimentary bike rentals to free Vermont products. For details, visit the Midweek Peek section of our site.
Weekly foliage reports will be available on this web site and also the state’s toll-free visitor information line 1-800-VERMONT. As the season progresses, the reports will be updated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This section of our Web site has several tools for planning a Vermont Fall Foliage tour including:
|
