Vermont Foliage

Of all the places on earth to see the changing colors of fall, New England might be the prettiest, with Vermont in a leading position The large number of tourists visiting New England during fall is the best testimonial.

Vermont is full of incredible places to stay, knock-out farm-to-table restaurants, and villages that remind us of a simpler time in America; therefore it should be on everyone’s fall bucket list. But before getting into planning your fall foliage trip, let’s discuss why Vermont is one of the most beautiful Autumn destinations in the world.
Back in the 1890’s Vermont was 80% deforested from logging. The Governor of Vermont realized this would do more harm than good to the state as it was cutting down wildlife, and tourism for hunting and fishing. So the state started implementing conservation laws. Because the soil that was clear-cut was warmer due to exposure, the state couldn’t replant conifers. But they could plant maples. And maples are considered fall foliage royalties, displaying brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges – and the colors will vary year to year.

The North American hardwood maple also has lighter seeds and can reproduce faster than the conifer. By planting maples, the state created Vermont’s booming maple syrup industry, and you can see sugar shacks all over the region. Now Vermont is 80% forested, which is why you see the lush, vibrant hues from the maples that cover Vermont. While it is next to impossible to pinpoint time frames for fall color {every single season is different}, there are a few key factors that should help you plan your Vermont Fall Foliage trip:

1. The color starts in the North, in high peak areas, and, as the season progresses, it moves its way south through the region.

2. Colors usually start to show by mid-September; unfortunately though, there have been some years where it has been early, and somewhere it has started later.

3. October is your best bet if you have to narrow down a time frame. In my opinion, I would say the first two weeks would be ideal. Yankee keeps this great Live Foliage Map tracker, updated constantly. While it doesn’t really help anyone from out of town plan their trips months in advance, it helps us, the locals, schedule our leaf-peeping trips.

4. Best Vermont fall foliage seasons tend to be after wet springs and then dry and sunny Fall days with cool (but frost-less) nights.

The best advice for those traveling to see fall foliage is to be flexible. If there isn’t enough color where you’re staying, hop in the car and move a little further. You are guaranteed to see stunning colors during a day trip throughout New England. You’ll be able to experience quaint towns full of apple cider donuts, farmers’ markets, and dirt roads. Autumn truly is the time to fall in love with New England, over and over again.