Fall Foliage Report

Some areas of Vermont are showing peak color, right on schedule with the beginning of October upon us. Interestingly, we have reports of peak fall color coming from both the extreme northeast and southwest corners of Vermont this week. The northern portions of the Northeast Kingdom as well as all of Essex County are putting on a show right now with great fall color. In southwest Vermont near Bennington, colors are either at peak or very close, with higher elevations showing the most saturation. Throughout the rest of the state, color is filling in nicely on the hillsides. The slopes of Mt. Mansfield and other peaks in the Green Mountains were noticeably more colorful over last weekend and will continue to fill in with color this week. In addition to those species that have been changing color over the last few weeks (e.g., red maple, sugar maple), we now have oak and some aspen species that are changing as well. In short, it is an excellent time to be out and about in Vermont right now with peak fall color in many places, and many more places not far behind.

Best Bets For Foliage

Most roads that parallel mountain ridges and provide views of the slopes (e.g., Route 100, Route 7, Route 14). Additionally, the “gap” roads are providing good foliage viewing throughout their lengths (e.g., Lincoln Gap, Appalachian Gap, Middlebury Gap). The Scenic Route 100 Byway and the Shires of Vermont Byway would both be great road trip routes right now. For those in the northern reaches of the state, Route 105 from Jay east to the New Hampshire border has great foliage to see, and for those in the south, Route 9, including the Molly Stark Scenic Byway, continues to have excellent foliage viewing, especially near Woodford State Park/Adams Reservoir.

With warm temperatures and little precipitation, the progression of fall color slowed over the last week. However, hillsides are showing more color around the state than in previous weeks. While fall color could be seen on roadside and high-elevation trees earlier this month, the areas in between are beginning to fill in with yellows on beech, birch, and ash trees, while the sugar maples continue to display a mix of green, yellow, and orange. In most locations, the oaks have yet to change and there is still quite a bit of green on the landscape, letting us know that peak hasn’t quite arrived yet. The Northeast Kingdom is furthest along with fall foliage right now, where drives through the area will yield great hues from old sugar maples that line many of the dirt roads. The forecast this week brings a bit of much-needed moisture, as well as lower daytime and nighttime temperatures. Although heavy precipitation has the potential to strip leaves from trees, light rainfall helps prevent early leaf drop that can occur during dry conditions. The change in temperatures and moisture should help fall color fill in throughout the landscape as we near the end of the month.

Best Bets For Foliage

Landmarks in the north of the state (e.g., Lake Willoughby, Jay Peak) have good foliage viewing, but don’t sleep on the backroads around Orleans county. Roads through Glover, Albany, Irasburg, and nearby towns are starting to put on a show. Mountain summits throughout the state are beginning to offer views of changing color throughout the landscape as well.

Now that mid-September is upon us, fall color is starting to fill in across Vermont. A week ago, fall foliage was only found in the cold and wet areas of the state, but trees are swapping their greens for yellows and oranges in many more locales this week. Every county in the state has some degree of fall color right now, mostly isolated to the tops of trees at higher elevations and along roadsides. The reds and oranges, in particular, are striking where present. It is exciting to see things underway already, but we still have time before peak foliage sets in. Changes in temperature and length-of-day are the major cues for leaves to begin changing color, and as the nighttime temperatures drop, more and more trees will start their annual transition to fall. The sunny days in the forecast for the next week will make for some great foliage viewing statewide. Tree species currently of note include ash and birch (yellows), sugar maples (yellows and oranges), and sumac and red maple (reds). Mixed in with the greens from conifers and late-changing hardwoods, the hues across the landscape are starting to fill in brilliantly.

Best Bets For Foliage

In southern VT, the Route 9 corridor between Bennington and Brattleboro is looking good, as is the Killington area. In central VT, areas with high vantage points are a good bet (e.g., Allis State Park fire tower), as is Route 12A between Randolph and Northfield. And in the north of the state, wetland areas and the Northeast Kingdom still have plenty of great red foliage to view.

Though it’s still early September, in some parts of Vermont, the displays of fall color are already starting. The summer months proved to be wetter than usual in many parts of the state, and those areas that received excess moisture throughout the growing season have seen some trees impacted. However, with no major outbreaks of defoliators this year, there is plenty of foliage out there to paint the landscape throughout Vermont.

As is common in early September, red maples are the first to show off their bright red hues. Parts of the Northeast Kingdom, as well as wetland areas in the northwest corner of the state, have a beautiful mix of reds, yellows, and greens right now. Sugar maples are just starting to change color in Orange, Rutland, and Washington counties, with yellows and oranges poking through here and there. On the slopes of the Green and Taconic mountain ranges, birch foliage is starting its annual transition to yellow, while ash trees have begun their change to deep purples as well. It may only be the start of the foliage season right now, but we can expect some excellent fall color in the weeks to come.

Best Bets For Foliage

It is still early, but for those looking to get out and see the first glimpses of fall, areas in the Northeast Kingdom are a good bet. Areas near Lake Willoughby, Island Pond, and Burke have patches of color to seek out. Any low-lying wetland areas with red maples in the state (e.g. Swanton, Underhill) are looking great too.