Fall Foliage Hiking in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest
Highlights
- Hike in the colorful Green Mountains
- Stay at well-appointed accommodations
- Enjoy gourmet food
Includes
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All meals
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Round-trip shuttle to the Burlington airport
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Naturalist guided hike
Overview
The Trip
Vermont—nicknamed “the Green Mountain state”—is well known for these lovely mountains, as well as for its rolling farmland and charming country inns. The Green Mountains offer natural beauty and an unspoiled habitat for many northern plant and animal species. They also inspired Robert Frost's poetry and still inspire the many artists who call Vermont home. Join us as we revel in Vermont's wildlife and scenic views of waterfalls, stone walls, mountains, and valleys adorned by a palette of autumn colors. At the end of the day, we’ll relax at well-appointed country inns
The Trip
Vermont—nicknamed “the Green Mountain state”—is well known for these lovely mountains, as well as for its rolling farmland and charming country inns. The Green Mountains offer natural beauty and an unspoiled habitat for many northern plant and animal species. They also inspired Robert Frost's poetry and still inspire the many artists who call Vermont home. Join us as we revel in Vermont's wildlife and scenic views of waterfalls, stone walls, mountains, and valleys adorned by a palette of autumn colors. At the end of the day, we’ll relax at well-appointed country inns.
Our day hikes will cover two different areas of Central Vermont and include a variety of woodland trails and groomed walkways. Visiting two areas affords us the opportunity to explore different villages, inns, and trails. Our two inns feature comfortable, well-appointed rooms with private baths and scrumptious meals prepared by kitchens that have competed for "best food" honors.
Vermont's fall foliage is world-renowned for its color and variety. By scheduling this hiking trip during Vermont’s fall foliage season, we’ll be surrounded by plenty of color (although we can't guarantee that the foliage will be at its peak, because many factors influence its timing). We’ll gather on the afternoon of day 1 for orientation and an opening dinner at our first inn, in Brandon, Vermont (near Middlebury).
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Burlington airport by 2 p.m. for pick up and transport to our homey inn in Brandon. Orientation will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner provided by our inn hosts. Relax and have a good night's sleep to prepare for our busy days ahead.
Day 2: After breakfast, we'll depart at 9 a.m. to hike at Rattlesnake Cliffs or Silver Lake; visit Stephen A. Douglas' birthplace; and explore Brandon. We'll have free time in the afternoon before meeting for dinner. We’ll spend our second night in Brandon
Day 1: Arrive at Burlington airport by 2 p.m. for pick up and transport to our homey inn in Brandon. Orientation will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner provided by our inn hosts. Relax and have a good night's sleep to prepare for our busy days ahead.
Day 2: After breakfast, we'll depart at 9 a.m. to hike at Rattlesnake Cliffs or Silver Lake; visit Stephen A. Douglas' birthplace; and explore Brandon. We'll have free time in the afternoon before meeting for dinner. We’ll spend our second night in Brandon.
Day 3: After breakfast, we'll hike the White Rocks or the Ice Beds Trail. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Maple Museum on the way back to our lodging in Brandon, where we’ll enjoy dinner together.
Day 4: We'll pack up the vans and travel northeast to the town of Waitsfield, which is 45 miles from Brandon. Along the way, we’ll delight in three short hikes, including following in Robert Frost’s footsteps to his favorite summer writing cabin at the Breadloaf Campus of Middlebury College; strolling on the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, peppered with Frost’s poems along the way; and picnicking at dramatic Texas Falls with its breathtaking views. We’ll spend our first night at an inn in the Waitsfield/Mad River Glen area, where we’ll dine together.
Day 5: We’ll offer two options for hiking the Blueberry Lake Trail, one longer than the other. Again, we’ll dine and stay overnight at our Waitsfield/Mad River Glen inn.
Day 6: An award-winning naturalist will lead us on a morning hike at Mad River Glen Ski area before we return to the airport for our journeys home. Please plan your return flight for after 2 p.m.
Logistics
Getting There
The nearest large airport for our adventure is in Burlington, about 50 miles from Brandon. The trip leaders will provide round-trip airport shuttle service. This shuttle from the Burlington airport to our first inn is included in the price of this Vermont hiking trip (as is the shuttle back to the airport at the end of the trip). Please plan to be at the airport no later than 2:00 p.m. on day 1 to allow time to get to the inn in time for orientation and dinner on our first night together. Driving directions will be sent to trip registrants who plan to drive to Brandon to meet at the inn. Please do not make travel arrangements until the trip leader has confirmed you as a trip member.
Getting There
The nearest large airport for our adventure is in Burlington, about 50 miles from Brandon. The trip leaders will provide round-trip airport shuttle service. This shuttle from the Burlington airport to our first inn is included in the price of this Vermont hiking trip (as is the shuttle back to the airport at the end of the trip). Please plan to be at the airport no later than 2:00 p.m. on day 1 to allow time to get to the inn in time for orientation and dinner on our first night together. Driving directions will be sent to trip registrants who plan to drive to Brandon to meet at the inn. Please do not make travel arrangements until the trip leader has confirmed you as a trip member.
Accommodations and Food
We’ll stay in two country inns in Central Vermont for this hiking trip. Our first inn is in the town of Brandon, and the second is in the Waitsfield/Mad River Glen area. Both inns have well-appointed rooms with private baths. Accommodations are varied and reflect the nature and feel of our lodgings. 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.) Dinner will be provided on day 1; breakfast and lunch will be provided on day 6; all meals will be provided on the other days.
Trip Difficulty
To enjoy this hiking trip, participants should be in good/very good physical condition and accustomed to hiking several miles at a time.
Having two leaders provides flexibility, so each day we’ll aim to offer hikes of varying lengths (short or long) and difficulty levels (easy to moderate) to accommodate participants’ wishes. Some hikes may involve navigating unpaved, uneven trails with tree roots and rocks. Although none of the hikes is very long, some do include substantial (up to 1,200-foot) elevation gains. Each day, each participant can decide which hike(s) to do.
Our shortest hike is less than one mile, offered on day 4 (the Robert Frost Day), when we’ll take several short hikes. Our longest hike is five miles of relatively flat terrain, offered on day 5, for those who elect to hike the entire Blueberry Lake Trail.
Equipment and Clothing
A detailed list of what to bring and driving directions will be provided to confirmed participants. We’ll also periodically provide updated trip rosters to facilitate arranging carpools, if desired.
You’ll need the following items for the trip:
- layers of clothing for protection from rain and the vagaries of mountain weather, including a full rainsuit
- broken-in, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support
- a day pack to hold extra clothing, food, and raingear
- a personal first-aid kit (Band-Aids, moleskin, etc.), toiletry items, and your medications
We also recommend hiking poles, cameras, and binoculars. We’ll be happy to discuss clothing and equipment details with applicants. Closer to the trip’s date, we’ll provide a full list of items to bring.
References
Books:
- Poetry of Robert Frost.
- Meeks, Harold, Time and Change in Vermont, A Human Geography.
- Vermont Life Magazine: http://www.vermontlife.com
- Vermont Tourism: http://www.vermontvacation.com
Conservation
We’ll hike in and near the Green Mountain National Forest on state and private land. On one morning, a noted local naturalist will lead us on a guided hike to see signs of wildlife. The guide will inform us about forest-related issues. We’ll follow Leave No Trace protocols on all trails.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and, when applicable, will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners