State foliage report issued October 16th, 2012

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Remaining Foliage
Moves South and along Vermont's Valleys


The most abundant foliage is found in the rolling hills of the Champlain Valley, including the Lake Champlain Islands and the Burlington area, and in the valleys of southern Vermont. In the higher elevations of central Vermont, town and village centers have some trees hanging on to their foliage, contrasting with the dark green of evergreens and the soft gray of hillsides where the leaves have fallen.



Best Bets for Late Stage (80-50%) Foliage include:
Route 2: South Hero to Alburg
Route 30: Manchester to Castleton Corners
Route 140: Wallingford to Middletown Springs
Route 133: Rutland to Tinmouth
Route 153 to Rupert, Wells and Pawlet
Route 22A: Fair Haven to Bridport
Route 30: Sudbury to Middlebury 
Route 7: Middlebury to Danby 
Route 5: Springfield to Norwich

Southern Vermont’s Byways: the Shires of Vermont, Molly Stark Trail and the Connecticut River Byway, from Bellows Falls southward


 
“Although I reported late stage color, much of these regions are early in the late stage color process....just past peak to 80%. My favorite area for late season color is the weather-protected Mettowee Valley between Poultney, Pawlet and Danby Four Corners,” notes New England Maple Museum’s Tom Olson.

“We’re now past peak and losing leaves daily. Protected valleys are still pretty good in spots,” Washington County, Forester Russ Barrett adds. “Urban areas, parks, golf courses and school campuses might be a good bet over the next week or two.” He suggests Norwich University campus, downtown Montpelier’s Hubbard Park and the famous Hope Cemetery in Barre.

Up north in the Northeast Kingdom, Forester Jason Nerenberg jokingly notes, “There is still plenty of color on the trees, but most of the action is on the forest floor. Who says foliage needs to be on the trees for you to appreciate it? Enjoy the leaves that are already down by walking through them loudly, even rolling in them!”