Upper Green Mountains in the Fall
Top Picks in the Upper Green Mountains
Vermont is world-renowned for its bright, colorful fall foliage, making the season a celebration. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Upper Green Mountains offer in autumn.
Regionwide, Vermont
Green Mountain Byway
Vermont Route 100 has been called the Skiers’ Highway because it connects Vermont’s big resorts—Snow, Okemo, Killington, Sugarbush, Stowe, Jay—like knots on a whip. But it’s in autumn, not winter, that this road really comes into its own, serving up peak fall-foliage views as it runs past stretches of national forest. In the Upper Green Mountains, Route 100 is the backbone of the region’s signature foliage drive, the Green Mountain Byway. This 71-mile loop takes visitors through towns and villages such as Waterbury, Stowe, and Morrisville, with plenty of options along the way for a foliage hike, including Smugglers’ Notch State Park and Mount Mansfield State Forest.
Waterbury, Vermont
Cold Hollow Cider Mill & Ben & Jerry’s
Just 10 miles south of Stowe is a pair of destinations that are essential stops for any visitor with a sweet tooth. At Cold Hollow Cider Mill, you can watch apples being processed on a vintage rack-and-cloth press, and then load up on ultra-fresh cider, apple cider jelly, apple cider doughnuts, and other treats made for crisp fall days. Then see ice cream being made at the Ben & Jerry’s factory, which is the only facility run by the world-famous Vermont brand that’s open to the public. Hit the scoop shop for a shake, cone, or sundae, and stop into the Flavor Graveyard to pay your respects to long-gone Ben & Jerry’s flavors (known as “the dearly de-pinted”) such as Wavy Gravy and Rainforest Crunch.
Stowe, Vermont
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Rocks!
In 2020, one year after Governor Phil Scott signed a bill into law officially recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day, Stowe hosted its first-ever Indigenous Peoples’ Day Rocks! celebration. Free and open to the public, the annual event is organized by the Abenaki community, whose roots in what is now the state of Vermont go back at least 13,000 years. Each October, they invite everyone to share in that heritage with live music, dancing, speakers, storytellers, and amazing drumming performances. Crafts, games, and other family-friendly activities round out a day that’s as much about learning as it is about fun.
SUGARBUSH SOARING
– Warren, Vermont
The jewel-like colors of autumn are beautiful from any angle, but taking to the skies in a glider aircraft lets you see the majesty of Vermont’s fall foliage in a thrilling new way. Founded by local soaring enthusiasts in 1978 as a not-for-profit corporation, Sugarbush Soaring operates 20- and 30-minute tours in high-performance gliders with FAA-certificated commercial pilots. Passengers can feel the rush of swooping through the air like a bird, propelled by air currents instead of engines, as they take in views that can stretch from the Adirondacks in the west to the White Mountains in the east. Based at the Warren Sugarbush airport, Sugarbush Soaring offers flight instruction, aero tows, and youth programs, too.
VON TRAPP BREWING
– Stowe, Vermont
Opened in 1950 by the von Trapp family (yes, that von Trapp family, of The Sound of Music), the Trapp Family Lodge is today a 2,600-acre resort filled with activities for both overnight guests and day visitors. There are hiking and mountain biking trails, farm tours, disc golf—and, as of 2010, a signature brewery. Inspired by Johannes von Trapp’s trips to Austria, Von Trapp Brewing is a rare U.S. craft brewery that specializes in authentic Austrian lagers. Add in the resort’s spacious bierhall, and you have what might just be the best place in Vermont to celebrate Oktoberfest. Typically held on the third Saturday in September, the event includes oompah bands, stein-holding competitions, German food, and plenty of great beer.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In Fall
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in autumn statewide.
