State Foliage Report for September 30th

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Vermont Foliage Report: Spectacular Autumn Colors on Display

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Multiple stages of brilliant fall foliage are on display across Vermont, and state foresters predict that the Northeast Kingdom and areas of central Vermont will peak by the end of the week.

State foresters say most sections of Essex and Caledonia counties in northeastern Vermont are showing vibrant fall colors that are close to peak. Areas of central Vermont that are also displaying near peak foliage include Roxbury, Northfield, Worcester, and parts of Calais, Cabot and Marshfield.

“Most simply put, we are at peak or approaching peak in most of the North Country,” says Lamoille and Orleans County Forester Raymond Toolan. “There are some sheltered valleys where you’ll see more green, but by and large the hills, ridges and valleys are ablaze with some of the best color I personally have seen in years.”

Meanwhile, higher elevations near Route 4 and in southern Vermont are showing incredibly bright foliage, including Killington Peak, Equinox Mountain, Bromley Mountain, Okemo Mountain, Mount Snow and Stratton. Meanwhile, early to mid-peak color is spreading across other sections of the state, including areas along Lake Champlain, the Connecticut River, and in southwestern Vermont.

“The color is just fantastic,” says Washington County Forester Russ Barrett. “It has come on very quickly over the last five or six days, and it’s certainly the best it has been in a number of years.”

Best Bets: In northern Vermont, Route 102 along the Connecticut River through Gilman, Bloomfield and Canaan is excellent for fall foliage viewing. Also try Route 100 from Hyde Park to Troy, Route 105 from Bloomfield to North Troy, Route 5 from Barnet to Coventry, Route 5A from West Burke to Westmore, Route 16 from Hardwick to Barton, Route 14 from Craftsbury to Albany, and Route 2 from West Danville to Lunenburg.

Northern Vermont routes that border bodies of water, such as Lake Willoughby, Lake Eden, Lake Elmore, Wolcott Pond, Crystal Lake and Green River Reservoir, are especially colorful right now.

Brilliant color can also be found in Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Washington counties. Excellent scenic drives include Route 12 from Northfield to Morrisville, Route 12A between Randolph and Roxbury, Route 108 from Stowe to Cambridge to Enosburg, Route 109 from Jeffersonville to Belvidere Corners, Route 100 from Warren to Stowe, Route 14 from Brookfield to Woodbury, Route 302 between Montpelier and Wells River, Route 15 from Jericho to Wolcott, Route 78 from Alburgh to Swanton, and Route 2 between North Hero and Alburgh.

Also worth viewing are the hillsides and mountains along Interstate 89 between Richmond and White River Junction, as well as various sections of Interstate 91, Route 5 and the Connecticut River Byway. Beautiful foliage can be seen as well along Route 125 between East Middlebury and Hancock, Route 116 between Bristol and Starksboro, Route 100 from Stockbridge to Granville, Route 30 from Bomoseen to Whiting, and Route 73 between Brandon and Rochester.

Farther south, look for vibrant color along Route 4 between Killington and Woodstock, Route 103 from Mount Holly to Ludlow, Route 140 between Poultney and Wallingford, Route 30 from Pawlet to Castleton, Route 100 from Jacksonville to Bridgewater, Route 100A through Plymouth Notch, and Route 131 through Cavendish.

Other suggested routes include Route 7A between Shaftsbury and Manchester, Route 7 from Bennington to Wallingford, Route 11 from Winhall to Chester, Route 30 between Bondville and Newfane, and Route 9 between Brattleboro and Bennington.