Fall Adventures in Vermont: Vistas and Foliage

The Trip

Vermont, the Green Mountain State, (literally, “ver mont” in French, “green mountain” ) shines in just about every season, but Vermont in the fall is special. Its natural beauty comes alive with vibrant colors, cool mornings and sunny days great for exploring and sightseeing. Join us as we revel in Vermont's scenic views of lush mountains, waterfalls, covered bridges, and valleys adorned by the palette of autumn colors.

The focus of our adventure is northern Vermont and the charming small town of Stowe, located deep within the verdant Green Mountains at the foot of Mt Mansfield, the state’s highest peak. Named by TripAdvisor as the “#1 Fall Foliage Destination in the U.S," Stowe is also named as one of the Top 10 Small Towns in America — famous for its vibrant village and downtown surrounded by stunning natural landscapes.

 At the end of each day, we’ll relax in a cozy inn, noted for charm, modern convenience, and Vermont hand-crafted furnishings. Located in the heart of Stowe, the inn is a great location from which to explore northern Vermont, enjoy daily hikes and soak in the awesome scenery of fall colors. The highlight area in northern Vermont for vistas and activities is Stowe Mountain Resort, lauded by two ski magazines as #1 in the East. We will visit there, but not for the snow, of course; rather for the spectacular views near the top of Mt Mansfield. Instead of a day-long hike up Mt Mansfield, we’ll enjoy the Gondola SkyRide to the top where we’ll access hiking trails and incomparable views.

The premier attraction to all of Vermont is its forests, which we’ll be visiting each day. In fact, more than 75% of Vermont is woodlands. The signature tree is the sugar maple which accounts for more than 50% of U.S. maple syrup production. Unfortunately, “tapping” sugar maples occurs in the spring, but we will be able to enjoy the awesome and vivid fall colors.

Our adventure will explore northern Vermont on delightfully different day hikes. Carpooling will be necessary to reach the trailheads. Participants should plan to use their own vehicles or ride share and reimburse drivers for mileage.

The leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the itinerary outlined below. Please keep in mind that weather, group preferences or other conditions may cause changes the itinerary for the safety and enjoyment of the group.

Day 1: Arrive at our hotel in Stowe by 3pm. Begin our appreciation of the scenery and classic small Vermont town with a ten-minute walk to the trailhead for Sunset Rock; and then only a short hike to the panoramic view just above the town. Followed by dinner, introductions, and trip overview. 

Day 2: After breakfast, we'll depart on a five-minute walk to the start of the Stowe Recreation Path: a paved and flat greenway passing through town, farm land, and woods. A delightful natural setting along the river, often shaded, yet with mountain views. Criss-crossing the West Branch of Little River, the trail is five miles long one way, but we’ll leave before the end to visit a local farm and amble through the Percy Farm Corn Maze. (Goal is to beat the record of 10min)

 Day 3: Stowe Pinnacle Meadow Trail, only ten-minute drive from the hotel. Shady and wooded along its route before arriving at the viewpoint beneath Mt Putnam for amazing views of the foliage in the surrounding mountains and the valley below. Comment on AllTrails website: “Absolutely beautiful, the 360-degree view is amazing! Pretty steep & rocky in some parts, but a fun climb.”

 - More adventures and sights in the afternoon: we’ll go west on Gold Brook Rd to Emily’s (aka Gold Brook) Covered Bridge. Built in 1844, and soon associated with jilted romance, suicide, mystery and apparitions. None of this expected during our visit.

 - Continue west to Lake Mansfield/Nebraska Notch Trail: Something for everyone—sweeping valley views, a crystal-clear glacial pond, vibrant tree-covered hills, and even a small waterfall. While less well-known than some of Stowe’s more-popular intermediate trails, the Lake Mansfield Trail offers exceptional beauty in a secluded, serene setting.

Day 4: Gondola to Mt Mansfield Summit: Fifteen-minute drive to Stowe Mountain Resort for the less strenuous and wondrously scenic ascent on Stowe’s famous Gondola SkyRide. There are several trail options at the top, most prominently just one mile to the site known as the Chin of Mt Mansfield. And if we’re still motivated, there’s the moderately challenging round trip to the Nose, with incredible 360-degree views of the Stowe valley to the east and Lake Champlain to the west, along with abundant fall foliage colors stretching along the length of the Green Mountains.

Day 5: Bingham Falls (via Mill Trail): Ten-minute drive north through Stowe toward Smuggler’s Notch State Park to a marvelous trail with lovely fall colors. The trail goes deep into the woods along a well-maintained path. With the Little River running alongside, we are soon at the top of Bingham Falls. Upriver, the water has carved out unique formations in the rocks and a series of cascades plummeting through the gorge like a slot canyon.

 Day 6: Our delightful adventure comes to a close. Before departure, we have one final enjoyment: Near the entrance to the Stowe Recreation Trail is the Quite Path, only for walkers and joggers. The natural surface path meanders along the West Branch of the Little River. Interpretative signs and beautiful panoramic views make for a relaxing stroll.

Getting There

Our trip begins at our hotel in Stowe, Vermont. The nearest major airport is in Burlington, about 30 miles away. Participants should plan to use their own vehicles or ride share and reimburse drivers for mileage. Your trip leader may be able to assist you in making travel plans, and in finding other participants for carpooling.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Our hotel is located in the heart of Stowe. Built in 1833, there is an exceptional historic character, yet with modern conveniences and amenities in the fully equipped apartments and townhouses. Participants may share a double room with private bath; possible roommates may be a spouse/partner, a friend or friends, or another participant or participants. We’ll try to accommodate individual preferences, depending on the group’s composition.

Vermont inns are known for their excellent cuisine; in fact, Vermont inns compete with each other for favorable food reviews. All meals are provided, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day. Our inn will provide a selection of take out sandwiches and snacks for lunch on the trail.

Trip Difficulty

Our daily hikes vary from easy to moderate, with some steep, rocky sections which may be challenging in rainy weather. Length is one to five miles and an elevation gain of as much as 1000 ft.

This trip is designed so everyone experiences our adventure in an organized group environment. Sierra Club travelers are known for cooperative efforts. Expectations are that all participants will be considerate of others, arriving on time for scheduled activities, for example. To fully enjoy this trip, you should be comfortable traveling in new areas. You should recognize you may find yourself in closer quarters or be less comfortable than you are used to. You should make it a priority to help others on the trip and contribute to their having a great time. If you do that and have an all-around good attitude and friendly, cooperative manner, you will have a great time. 

Health and Safety

The leaders’ number one trip priority is to ensure you have a wonderful, memorable experience and return home safely. Your trip leaders have Wilderness First Aid certification and will carry a first aid kit. You should carry your own personal basic first aid kit and any medications in a waterproof container. In addition, you should be in proper condition for the challenges outlined above and equipped with the appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved and conduct yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

 Weather: The main message about Vermont and the Green Mountains is that weather will change, sometimes quickly. Temperatures can drop or rise, clear days can turn stormy, and we can experience three or four seasons within 24 hours. While we’ll check each day’s weather forecasts, it is important to carry an extra layer and rain gear when we are away from the lodge.

Equipment and Clothing

We’ll provide a full list of required and recommended items later, but the essentials are:

• Broken-in, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support 
• Layers of clothing for protection from rain and variable mountain weather,
• Full rain suit
• Day pack to hold extra clothing, food, and water 

We also recommend hiking poles, cameras, and binoculars. We’ll be happy to discuss clothing and equipment details with applicants.

References

Books:

• Moon Vermont (Travel Guide) Paperback – May 2019 (Amazon)
• Vermont . . . Who Knew?: Quirky Characters, Unsung Heroes, Wholesome, Offbeat Stuff, 2018, Robert F. Wilson
• Vermont Perspectives Paperback – July 2022 (Amazon)
• Meeks, Harold, Time and Change in Vermont, A Human Geography.

Websites:

• State facts and history: infoplease.com
• Vermont Tourism: http://www.vermontvacation.com

Conservation

A 2023 study assessed that Vermont has the lowest carbon emissions per capita; and most electricity comes from renewable sources. The study also found that Vermonters recycle more than the average American; it’s State law. Yet, environmental issues still challenge these successes: habitat loss and degradation due to development and fragmentation of the forests and farmland. Construction of roads and rural residences poses a significant threat to wildlife habitat and ecological integrity, especially when coupled with the anticipated environmental impact of climate change. Climate change is expected to continue exacerbating the threats that invasive plants, insects, and diseases already pose to the health of Vermont's forests. These threats are compounded by other climate-related factors, such as worsening storms and increasingly irregular precipitation, with drought as a factor too. 

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and, when applicable, will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.