MONTPELIER, Vt. –Favorable weather conditions over the weekend will be ideal for fall foliage viewing as the leaves continue to change into stunning shades of red, orange and yellow.
 Multiple stages of brilliant fall foliage are on display across Vermont, and state foresters predict that the Northeast Kingdom and sections of central Vermont will peak by the end of this week. Near peak foliage can also be found in the higher elevations near Rochester, Brandon and Killington.
“With a sunny forecast for this weekend, there should be some spectacular viewing along all major travel routes,” says Bennington County Forester Nate Fice.
Best Bets: A ride along any of the numbered highways in the northern tier will bring excellent viewing this weekend. Suggested routes include Route 108 from Stowe through Enosburg Falls, Route 102 from Gilman to Canaan, Route 14 from Hardwick to Irasburg, and Route 5A from West Burke to Westmore.
Brilliant color can also be found on Route 2 between Richmond and Marshfield, Route 100 from Warren to Stowe, Route 302 between Montpelier and Wells River, Route 15 from Essex to Underhill, Route 78 from Alburgh to Swanton, and Route 2 between North Hero and Alburgh.
Farther south, try Route 125 between East Middlebury and Hancock, Route 116 between Bristol and Starksboro, Route 100 from Pittsfield to Granville, Route 17 east from Addison to the Appalachian Gap, and Route 30 from Bomoseen to Whiting. Mid-stage color can be found south of Middlebury on Route 7 with scattered pockets of near peak color in moist, low-lying areas.
Route 100 from Bridgewater to Rochester and Route 4 near Pico and Killington is at about 75 percent full color with shades of red, orange, and gold. The Killington access road has full color, and Route 73 from Rochester to Brandon is spectacular and near full peak on the eastern facing slopes at the higher elevations.
Mountain ridges on Route 140 from Wallingford to Poultney and south to Dorset are between mid-peak to near peak color. Foliage that is also near mid-peak can also be found between Mount Holly and East Clarendon on Route 103.
Look for vibrant foliage along Route 4 between Woodstock and Quechee, Route 12 from Woodstock to Bethel, Route 100 from Jacksonville to Plymouth, Route 100A through Plymouth Notch, and Route 131 through Cavendish.
Widespread areas of fall foliage are developing throughout Bennington County with the higher elevations turning rapidly. There is a 50/50 mix of bright colors and green foliage in most areas.
Suggested routes include Route 7A between Shaftsbury and Manchester, Route 7 from Bennington to Wallingford, Route 11 from Winhall to Chester, Route 30 between Bondville and Newfane, and Route 9 between Brattleboro and Bennington.
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:
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