Vermont Fall Visitors Guide

Vermont is famous for its apple cider donuts, and whether you get them at a cider mill or a country store, you should eat as many of these donuts as you can. Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Stowe is an excellent spot for cider donuts. However, you will want to try them at more than one place because each place makes their cider donuts differently. You can find delicious apple cider donuts at

• Shelburne Orchards
• Paradise Farm Sugarhouse
• Adams Apple Orchard & Farm Market

A scenic drive is one of the best ways to explore Vermont in the fall because it allows you to enjoy the beautiful foliage in its glory. The Green Mountain Byway runs along Routes 100, 108, and 15 and is one of New England’s most scenic routes.

This route begins in Waterbury, meanders through Stowe, and makes it’s way through Morrisville and Jeffersonville before returning to Stowe. At just 63.6 miles, you can enjoy vibrant and colorful leaves the entire drive.

Route 100 is one of many scenic drives; you can also road trip on Route 7, which follows the western side of the state and dips into Massachusetts. Make sure to stop in Bennington, Manchester, and Burlington.

If you want to explore the Northeastern side of the state, take a scenic drive on Route 2. This will take you from St. Johnsbury to Montpelier and almost into Canada.

Vermont is a fantastic place to hike in the fall, not only are the temperatures perfect, but you can enjoy the fall foliage in all its glory. Camel’s Hump stands out as the perfect hike to take during the fall season. At a whopping 4,083 feet tall, Camel’s Hump is the third tallest peak in Vermont. The summit offers stunning 360-degree views of fall colors, and you really can’t ask for a better view in Vermont.

There are several trails to choose from that are perfect for different skill levels, including the Camels Hump viewpoint, which is an easy .9 miles. Looking for more of a challenge? Try the Camels Hump Trail via Long Trail Loop, and this hike is a challenging 6.5 miles with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet.

In the fall, there’s nothing more perfect than some apple picking in Vermont. The season begins in mid-September when Vermont‘s apples begin to ripen fully, and people flock to pick these delicious fruits. There are a few different orchards to choose from in Vermont, Hackett’s Orchard is one of the most popular.

Hackett’s Orchard grows an astonishing 47 different varieties of apples. Whether you prefer Honeycrisp apples or McIntosh apples, you are sure to find one that you’ll enjoy. Complete your visit to the orchard by picking up some hardy mums or a bottle of Vermont maple syrup.

A few more honorable mentions include Burtt’s Apple Orchard in Cabot, Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, and Mad Tom Orchard in East Dorset.

Chances are you will be near Waterbury, Vermont, during your fall trip to Vermont, and if you are, you can’t miss the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory tour. During the tour, you watch the iconic and delicious ice cream being made and taste various flavors, including a complimentary sample at the end of your tour.

You can also visit the flavor graveyard, which is an altar that honors flavors that have been discontinued.

One of the most fun ways to experience Vermont in the fall is by finding your way out of the Great Vermont Corn Maze. This unique fall activity holds the illustrious title of being the largest corn maze in New England! With about 24 acres of corn to wander through, this maze takes visitors about two hours to complete.

Keep in mind that the Great Vermont Corn Maze is only suitable for adults or children and teenagers who are accompanied by adults. It’s easy to get lost in the maze, and allowing children to go in alone isn’t advised. If this happens to you as an adult, you can always use the emergency exit trail to escape the maze quickly.

Fall in Vermont not only brings the return of vibrant oranges and reds but also marks the kick-off of apple cider season. While hard cider might be a fantastic option for adults, there is also the sweet and simple, fresh-pressed apple cider that is a seasonal staple for adults and kids alike.

Vermont is home to many cider mills that you can’t go wrong, however, we have a few favorites. Head to Stowe Cider or Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits for hard cider. Check out Cold Hollow Cider for the best sweet ciders or Champlain Orchards for some hard cider.

Get a different take on the vibrancy of the season with a fun fall foliage chairlift ride. You will glide through the Vermont treetops as you check out the vibrant colors from above.

There are several options, including the Bluebird Express that transports you to the summit of Mount Snow. You can also leaf peep into four different states from here making it a can’t miss fall experience. Purchase tickets online to get a better price, and children 4 and under ride the gondola for free with an adult.

Or glide to the top of Vermont’s highest mountain on the Stowe Gondola SkyRide. As you take in the explosive fall colors, you can also enjoy the expansive views. Children under 4 ride free with a paying adult.

If you are looking for the most covered bridges per square mile in the entire U.S., you’ve come to the right place. Many of Vermont’s iconic covered bridges were built in the 1800s, and their unique construction continues to delight today. There are over 100 covered bridges that remain intact. Here are a few fall favorites:

• In Stowe: Gold Brook Covered Bridge
• Near Montpelier: Slaughter House Covered Bridge, Northfield Fall Covered Bridge, and Lower Cox Brook Covered Bridge
• Woodstock: Taftsville Covered Bridge and Middle Covered Bridge
• Brattleboro: Creamery Covered Bridge

With a cascade of over 100 feet, Moss Glen Falls is the tallest waterfall in Vermont. Stunning fall-colored woodlands surround this truly spectacular waterfall. You can access Moss Glen Falls via a short .1-mile easy trail.

There are several options for the hike, and you can walk to the waterfall in as little as 20 minutes from the car park. You can also opt to take the longer route of the Moss Glen Falls Trail, at 5.2 miles of moderate hiking, which takes around 2 to 3 hours. This is one of the best hikes to experience when visiting Vermont in the fall.