MONTPELIER, Vt. –Full color has emerged over broad areas of the state from Orleans County to Bennington County. The ongoing lack of a hard frost continues to moderate color change and has also helped to keep leaves viable and more tightly anchored to trees.
 Best Bets: You’ll find near or at peak color along Interstate 91 from Sheffield Heights north to the Canadian border, as well as Route 58 in Lowell and Route 242 between Jay and Montgomery Center.
Route 2 between St. Johnsbury and East Montpelier is showing bright color, as is Route 15 from Jericho to Walden, and Interstate 89 between Richmond and Montpelier.
Route 100 south from Granville to Killington is at peak with sugar maples displaying brilliant shades of orange and gold. Route 3 between Pittsford and Rutland is outstanding for foliage viewing. You’ll also enjoy peak or near peak conditions in the higher elevations of Shrewsbury and much of the Route 103 corridor between Clarendon and Mount Holly.
Route 7 from Middlebury to Manchester continues to offer beautiful views from east to west with bright fall colors on the hills and distant mountains. You’ll also see a brilliant display of color along Route 30 from Cornwall to Castleton, and Route 22A from Poultney to Bridport.
Also recommended for mid to near peak foliage viewing are Route 4 west from Rutland to Fair Haven, Route 73 west from Brandon to Mount Independence, and Route 74 from West Cornwall to Lake Champlain.
Dozens of continuing and special events for the coming week and weekend are listed in the Events Calendar of the Vermont Travel Planner. 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. |
