10/15-10/17

[nehal]

Hi,

We want to visit Vermont from 10/15 to 10/17 from New York city. I would like to know which areas to visit. Will there be any color in Central and Southern Vermont? Can you provide tips for the good routes? Additional info on covered bridges is welcome. How has the rain over the weekend affected the leaves?

Thanks.

[pwt54]

Check the "combine foliage view and covered bridges" post. There will be info on covered bridges around Southwest VT. Colors are reported as good in that area.

[nehal]

I checked the post you mentioned, posted on 10/4. The Bennington-Manchester-Arlington area is in the south . How far North can we plan since we will have more time. Lyndonville is also mentioned, which is in the North. Is the Montepelier area still good?

[pwt54]

Yes the Montpelier area has good color right now. The leaves and their colors are holding their own right now. Stowe is showing good color as is Waitsfield. The Peacham area in east central Vermont (not to far from Montpelier) looked early last weekend. The highlands of southern Vermont is peaking and southwest Vermont has good early color. A good covered bridge route in northern Vermont is this; Route 109 between routes 108 in Jeffersonville and route 118 in Belvidere has 5 covered bridges on route 109. The first is in Waterville Village on the street across from the "church" with the clock. The second is right next to the road on the right side. the third is about 7/10s of a mile north of that bridge on the Codding Hollow Road. Continue route 109 north and look for the Waterville elementary school on the right. About a mile past the school you come to a small community. As you go across the bridge look to the left for the Back Road. Take that road to the next covered bridge. Drive through the bridge and continue the Back Road to the last covered bridge. Now, you can continue the Back Road to the end on route 109 and turn left. Or you can drive through the covered bridge back to route 109 and turn left. Finish route 109 north to route 118 and turn right. There is a pond about a mile from the intersection. There may be a photo opportunity there. Continuing route 118 this way will take you to route 100 in Eden. Turning around and going back past route 109 will take you to Montgomery and it's covered bridges. There is a covered bridge on the South Brook Road to Hutchins Road. The South Brook Road is about 7 miles north of route 109 and on the left side. There is a sign that says Godfrey's Sugarhouse about 500 feet before the road. Drive route 118 through Montgomery Center to Montgomery. As you come into the village look for the village green on the right and you will see the next bridge. There is a bright red maple tree beside it. Go back to route 118 and turn right. Drive about 300 feet and look for the Comstock Road on the left side. Drive through the covered bridge and onto route 118 and turn left. NOW, the next covered bridge is tricky to get to and is "way out there". If you don't want to do a long drive on a dirt road or if it's raining you may want to skip this one and continue route 118 to the last 2 covered bridges. They are next to the road and on the left side. If you are feeling frisky, here goes. After you turn left off the Comstock Road you will see a road on the left called the Hill West Road. Drive past this road, over the bridge and turn left onto the West Hill Road. You are now leaving civilization as we know it. Drive up this road until you come to a 4 way intersection with the Enosburg Mountain Road on the right and the Creamery Bridge Road on the Left. Turn left onto the Creamery Bridge Road. Look for a parking area on the left and park there and walk the last 200 feet to the bridge. All of the covered bridges in Montgomery were built by the Jewett Brothers, Their mill was just down stream. Go back to the intersection of West Hill road. Decision time. If you have had enough, turn right to get back to route 118 and Civilization. If it's a nice day and you like the ride so far, turn left and continue up the West Hill Road. Look for a road on the left just past the cemetery and turn left onto that road. Drive it to the end at the Hill West Road( yes, that one) and turn left to get back to route 118. Good views on this ride and usually good colors. At route 118 turn left for the last 2 covered bridges.

[nehal]

Wow!! We will surely put those bridges in our schedule. Thanks a million. One quick question, you mentioned "highlands of Southern Vermont". What places are a part of these? u mean the gap roads? We will be reaching Stowe after sunset and hence we can look around there only the next day. We could put some of the southern highland places in our schedule on our way from New York when it is still daytime and see some color if possible. The heavy rains in the last few days would have caused leaf drop? Thanks again.

[nehal]

Wow!! Thanks pwt for the detail on covered bridges. We will surely put those bridges in our schedule. One quick question, you mentioned "highlands of Southern Vermont". What places are a part of the Southern Highlands? We will be reaching Stowe after sunset on Saturday and hence we can look around there only Sunday. We could put some of the southern highland places in our schedule on our way from New York when it is still daytime and see some color if possible. The heavy rains in the last few days would have caused leaf drop? Thanks again.

[pwt54]

The highlands of southern Vermont is along route 100. You can do route 108 from Stowe through Smuggler's Notch. The gap roads;routes 17,Lincoln Gap(part dirt road), 125 and 73 between route 100 and route US 7. You could include the Roxbury MountainRoad between Warren and Roxbury, and the Bethel Mountain Road between Rochester and route 12 in Bethel. Route 58 through Hazen's Notch could be considered a gap road. It is a partly dirt road.