From the Staff of Vermont'

The staff in the Vermont Information Centers are the front line folks who provide information to Vermont's visitors year-round. Here are a few of their autumn touring suggestions.

From Montpelier, take Route 2 through East Montpelier and Plainfield to Marshfield. Across from the general stores, turn left on to Route 215/Cabot Road and follow it through Lower Cabot into Cabot, then take a left and follow South Walden Road to South Walden. In South Walden, take a left onto Route 15 and follow it into Hardwick. In Hardwick, I often take Route 14 north through Craftsbury and Albany, into Irasburg, then take Route 58 east. Where Route 58 ends, I turn right on Route 5A, then, by the northern end of Lake Willoughby, turn right onto Hill Road, then right again on to Route 16 and follow it south back to Route 15. Another favorite trip in Hardwick is to take Route 15 toward the west through Morrisville, Jeffersonville, Cambridge, Essex Junction, all the way to Burlington.

Turn on to Route 66 heading west toward Randolph; just before entering Randolph Village take Route 12A north through West Braintree, East Granville, Roxbury and into Northfield and Northfield Center. There are a lot of covered bridges and `along the way' ponds and waterfalls that can catch your eye, and are romantic as well. Keep going and you can end up in Montpelier. Great for shutterbugs as well!!

Turn on to Route 66 as above, then turn left on to Route 12 south, then turn left on to Route 107 east and follow it into Royalton

take exit 4 on to Route 66 east, then, in East Randolph, follow Route 14 south to Royalton then take Route 110 north through Tunbridge, North Tunbridge and Chelsea. There are a lot of covered bridges and some sugarhouses, old stores and shops along the way. From Chelsea take Route 133 east through Vershire, Mill Village, Brimstone Corner, West Fairlee and Post Mills, Thetford Center, and Thetford Hill, and on to either I-91 or Route 5 on Vermont's eastern border.

from Chelsea, take Route 110 north through Washington and East Barre to Route 302.

(From exit 24 of I-91) My favorite fall tour is to go north up Route 122 through Wheelock and Sheffield, turn right on to Route 16 and follow it north through Barton and until it intersects with Route 5A along the northern tip of Lake Willoughby, then turn right and follow Route 5A south to Route 5 in West Burke.

From Brattleboro take Route 30 north. I like to travel as far as Manchester, or further. I also enjoy Route 9 from Brattleboro to Bennington; then follow Route 100 North.

I have lots of places, ... anywhere in the Northeast Kingdom. Route 100 going south from the border can be wonderful. What I'm trying to say is, "Vermont in the fall is colorful no matter what road you are on."

This is my favorite drive - Go west from exit 18 of I-91 near Barnet. The rolling hills and farms are like colorful calendar pictures. Barnet/East Peacham Road leads to the Harvey's Lake and Peacham area.

Old West Road is a turn off that road, with stone walls and golden maple canopies, which gives a panoramic view of Peacham. Another route is Darling Hill Road, left off Route 114 in Lyndonville. It rides on top of a ridge to give views on both sides. You can stay straight on that "Maple Ridge" as the name of the road changes, for miles and miles with some of the most beautiful landscapes in VT. It goes up through Burke Hollow and Newark and eventually comes back down to Route 114 just before Route 105 in Island Pond. It parallels Route 114, but on a spectacular maple ridge and is a good gravel road.

Bud Johnson - Georgia Information Center, 802-524-9662 (nb) and 802-802-524-0018 (sb)

A favorite fall tour is to travel from Highgate or I-89 exit 21 in Swanton take Route 7 south to Route 105

from St Albans ... take Route 105 to East Berkshire where you will change to Route 118 to Montgomery Center. In Montgomery Center take Route 58 to Lowell via Hazens Notch. Stay on Route 58 to Irasburg. At this point I deviate and take a side trip to "East Albany Country Market" which is on the Barton/East Albany Road. After a visit to the store I backtrack to Irasburg and take Route 14 north to Route 100 to Troy. In Troy take 101 to Route 105 west and back to Highgate or St Albans.

I think one of the best foliage tours is to go south on Route 5 from St. Johnsbury to Mcindoe Falls, turn right, as you come into town, on to the dirt road, go back under the interstate bridges, turn left on to Town Highway 18 at the Y in the road, follow it to the top of the hill, keep bearing left and it will bring you back down on Route 5. From the top of the hill you can look up the Connecticut River Valley to the Hydro Dam in Barnet. It is a beautiful site. This is not a regular tour, but the sites are worth seeing. Also, enjoy watching the moose, but don't ever hit one. I like having you around.

From I-93 - in St. Johnsbury turn on to I-91; take it north to exit 23 in Lyndonville. Take Route 5 north through town; at the intersection take Route 114 north to the intersection with Route 5; then take Route 5 east through Island Pond to Bloomfield. From Bloomfield, take Route102 south through the Connecticut River Valley, then at the intersection with Route 2, take Route 2 west to St. Johnsbury.

I have a tour for you. Take I-91 north from Lyndonville to exit 26 in Orleans. Take Route 5 northwest for a couple hundred feet and turn left on to Route 58. Follow it through Irasburg to Lowell, then through Hazen's Notch to Montgomery Center. Take a right on to Route 242 through Jay Peak State Forest and past Jay Peak to the intersection with Route 101. Take Route 101 south to Troy, then take Route 100 east to Route 14. Follow Route 14 south to Route 5 in Coventry; from there follow Route 5 south back to Orleans where you will take Route 58 east through Evansville to Route 5A; then take 5A south along Lake Willoughby, through West Burke. Take Route 5 south back to Lyndonville. It is a real pretty foliage ride for earlier viewing.

Most of Vermont's 12 Regional Marketing Organizations can provide tours specific to their region.

Vermont State Parks Foliage Touring

Combine Foliage Viewing with Wildlife Watching in the Northeast Kingdom

Take Route 114 from Island Pond to Canaan, through Norton and Averill. (Stop in Averill for directions to Forest Lake or for
the best views of Great Averill Lake along dirt roads). In Canaan, take Route 102 all the way to Bloomfield and enjoy traveling
along the upper Connecticut River. In Bloomfield, travel 105 to return to Island Pond for lunch or to relax at Brighton State
Park. Adventurous drivers might continue south from Bloomfield to Guildhall, and take the dirt road through Granby, Gallup
Mills and Victory to Concord on Route 2 and into St. Johnsbury. No matter which route you take up here, be prepared to stop
for moose!

Big Color, Great Views in the Northwest Corner of Vermont

From Newport, head west on Route 105 through North Troy to Richford "over Jay." This route affords some views of the
aftermath of the 1998 Ice Storm as you climb up the mountain, but also some great vistas of Jay Peak and environs. At Richford
you have a difficult choice; continue through town on Rt. 105 to 118 and East Berkshire to Montgomery on the state highways
(which offer great views of some of the farms of Franklin County and certainly some of its famous covered bridges), or take the
"way to South Richford" a paved hilly road (Broualt Hill Road) just before town (on your left) which takes you through the
Longley Covered Bridge into Montgomery. Continue to Montgomery Center, where the adventurous can either poke around the
hills of the Gibbo, or drive over Hazen’s Notch to Lowell. The rest of us can stay on 118 to Belvidere and Route 109 to Eden
and Route 100 to either Hyde Park or Johnson (100c). (If you go this way, plan to stop at the pull-out near Long Pond to
photograph this lovely forest pond.)

Three Great Vistas, Three Great Walks and Three Great Hikes for Foliage Seekers

Ascutney State Park, jewel of the Connecticut River Valley, was built by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The
workers on Ascutney had the backbreaking chore of chopping nearly 4 miles of road up the steep, rocky forest slope as well as
building park facilities and hiking trails. The parking area is still nearly a mile from Ascutney’s summit, but the view from your
car or from the picnic shelter below are well worth the trip.

While one can’t drive to the summit, Owls Head in Groton State Forest is one of the most-photographed viewing spots in central
Vermont. The short steep hike rewards foliage seekers with views of Spruce Peak, Camel’s Hump, Kettle Pond and numerous
other ponds, swamps and crags.

On the western side of Vermont, a more easily accessed vista is Mt. Philo. The 1998 Ice Storm cut away views that haven’t been
seen for 30 years, and all are easily accessed from the parking area on the mountain. Trails are maintained in this state park to
offer 1.5 miles of moderate hiking.

For those who seek walks among the changing leaves of autumn, Jamaica State Park has 3 miles of historic railroad bed that is
suitable for bikes, wheelchairs and strollers. More challenging trails can also be found in this lovely park along the West River.

The one-mile long trail at Lake Shaftsbury State Park offers walkers a diverse forest in which to enjoy a fall stroll. A park
brochure relates the history of the area and natural features along the trail.

The 7.5 miles of the Montpelier-Wells River Railroad, now part of the Cross Vermont Trail in Groton State Forest, offer
opportunities for mountain bikers and horseback riders as well as walkers. Groton is a wonderful spot to revel in early to
mid-season foliage on trails, graveled roads, at vistas on Owl’s Head and other locations, or by water from one of the lakes and
ponds in the forest.

Great fall hikes in Vermont include just about anything on the Long Trail or its feeder trails, and the Appalachian Trail. But,
those who want to mix a little history with their hikes in the autumn, should check out the trails at Little River State Park . The
old roads and trails take you past stone walls, bridge remains and cellar holes abandoned early in this century. A short history
pamphlet recounts the people and businesses that thrived here in generations past.

Over 14 miles of trails are available in Willoughby State Forest. Included are the steep paths that take hikers to breathtaking
views from atop Mt. Hor and Mt. Pisgah, the silent sentries rising above Lake Willoughby.

Hikers that visit Branbury State Park can access over 12 miles of hiking on state, federal and private lands that are part of the
"Moosalamoo" partnership. These range from easy nature trails to overlooks of the lovely Falls of Lana and Silver Lake.

Of course these are just a sampling of the foliage treks available on State Lands. Call 802-241-3655 for information on state
parks or trails on state lands.

From the Staff of Vermont's Information Centers