The Best Small Towns In Vermont To Catch Fall Foliage
Autumn in Vermont isn't just a season; it's a huge reason to visit the Green Mountain State. From mid-September all the way through October, small towns here transform as maples, oaks, and birches flare in fiery reds, golds, and oranges, each street and village green turning into a living canvas of sorts. In these small towns, you can stroll past historic town centers as they bustle with fall activities, pick up fresh cider at roadside stands, or watch the morning fog lift off quiet rivers; all under the canopy of some truly spectacular foliage. While New Hampshire and Connecticut may steal the seasonal thunder in the New England area, Vermont simply shouldn't be missed, and these towns prove why.
Manchester
Manchester sits in a bowl of mountains where fall colors explode in and around town. The Skyline Drive, an old toll road twisting up Mount Equinox, remains the town's most dramatic way to watch the foliage shift, especially when the valley below glows orange in the beginning of October. Closer to town, Hildene, the Lincoln Family estate, comes alive with wagon rides through its working farm and trails shaded in gold leaves. Just east, the Lye Brook Falls Trail leads through birch forest to one of Vermont's tallest waterfalls, framed by turning leaves. More than thirty restaurants and cafes serve seasonal specialties, from cider cocktails to pumpkin soup, with the Ye Olde Tavern offering the coziest retreat after a day among the vibrant trees.
Stowe
Mount Mansfield towers over Stowe, framing the northern Vermont town with a cascade of color each fall. The real draw is Route 108 through Smuggler's Notch, a narrow, winding road lined with maples that blaze in red and gold outside of town. The Notch, as it's locally known, connects Stowe with Jeffersonville, and though you could drive it in about 30 minutes, it's worth pulling over to take it slow. Two of the best hikes along The Notch are the Sterling Pond Trail and Bingham Falls, both of which drop you right in the middle of the foliage. The town of Stowe itself is a great place to view the leaves, particularly if you meander along the Stowe Recreation Path, which stretches from the village to the Topnotch Resort. October is such a draw for fall foliage fans that the town hosts the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, where locals and tourists can enjoy the changing colors while listening to live music, sipping beer, and checking out local artisans.
East Corinth
If you've ever watched Beetlejuice, you've seen the village of East Corinth, though you might not have realized it. The 1988 cult classic filmed nearly all its outdoor scenes here, from the bridge on Chicken Farm Road to Miss Shannon's School for Girls, a white-clapboard building that still stands today. In October, the real village looks even more cinematic than Tim Burton's version, the hills catching fire in shades of red and amber that spill right through into every part of the broader town of Corinth. A drive along Route 25 or Chelsea Road can fill an entire afternoon with color. You won't find much in the way of restaurants or large fall gatherings in this incredible rural spot. But you will find near-endless nature that you can immerse yourself in via trails found in the Shea Town Forest and the Clement Loop Trail in Corinth.
Woodstock
Few towns embody Vermont's fall atmosphere like Woodstock, where the Ottaquechee River winds through a village wrapped in fiery maple trees. The season hits full throttle from late September through mid-October when even a walk along Elm Street feels like you're in a movie. Every historic home is rimmed in gold and red, and a quick climb up Mount Tom through Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park lands you above it all. From the top, the forest canopy turns into a living patchwork quilt of autumn color. Locals and tourists head to Billings Farm in early October for the Fall Harvest Celebration and throughout the month for private horse-drawn wagon rides (offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays) that meander through the farm and the National Historical Park.
Burke
Burke, which consists of Burke Hollow, East Burke, and West Burke, thrives when the leaves start turning. In Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, forests around Burke Mountain and the blaze in early October. The bright, earthy tones cascade across Darling State Park and the 5.5-mile Burke Mountain Red trail. Kingdom Trails snakes through East Burke with more than 100 miles of paths perfect for cycling or a long walk, threading through maple and birch that seem to ignite in autumn light. The day can be brought to a close at The Wildflower Inn in nearby Lyndonville, where they serve farm-to-table Vermont fare, but not before checking out Simpson Farm, which is located a few minutes outside of town in Sutton and is home to two walking corn mazes and a pumpkin patch.
Shelburne
Shelburne rests along the western shores of Lake Champlain, just a short drive south of Burlington, and fall transforms its farmland and waterfront into a canvas of amber, red, and gold. Shelburne Farms spreads across 1,400 acres of rolling hills, with walking trails weaving through fields, past orchards, and down to the lake's edge. Shelburne Museum's 45-acre campus is also alive with autumn color, where apple trees and maple leaves exude fire tones against 39 historic buildings and within 20 gardens on the grounds. For a hands-on seasonal treat, Shelburne Orchards lets you pick from more than 40 apple varieties and nibble warm cider donuts while looking across Lake Champlain, the sparkling water reflecting the vivid foliage.
Waitsfield
Waitsfield stretches through the heart of the Mad River Valley, wedged between the Green Mountains and the Northfield Mountains, and fall turns them all into a riot of earthy colors. Route 100 threads through town, a classic Vermont drive with roadside farms and barns framed by glowing foliage. On select dates at the Mad River Glen (about 16 minutes away from town), the Foliage Lift Rides give aerial perspectives of the valley. Hikers can also descend the 2.5-mile Stark Mountain Trail to stroll through the woods, which, throughout October, are alive with color. On the river itself, Clearwater Sports offers guided kayaking tours, reflecting autumn leaves in the Mad River's clear waters while wildlife rustles in the trees.
From the Mad River Valley to Lake Champlain's shores, Vermont's small towns turn every trail and riverside into a living canvas of fall colors. Streets, farms, and mountainsides invite exploration, each town offering a distinct way to experience autumn. It's a time of year that you don't just see, you move through it, taste it, and feel it. Before winter's first frost reaches Vermont, be sure to check out its very best places to catch the incredible fall foliage.
