Foliage Season in the Mad River Valley! Possibly our most vibrant season, both visually and in spirit. Across the mountains and through the valleys, trees’ leaves are lit up with bright orange and yellow hues. While those visiting come to take in the natural spectacle, they, alongside locals, are eagerly awaiting winter. Excitement is high for cooler weather, fun fall activities, and the chance of the first mountain-top dusting. It’s a dynamic energy that swells through all of September and most of October. We couldn’t think of a more beautiful way to transition to our favorite season. Fall in Vermont truly is more than meets the eye.
As fall slowly creeps its way in across the northeast, the Mad River Valley celebrates fall with enthusiasm for cool, sunny days and winter preparations.
As someone who grew up a couple states south of Vermont, it still shocks me when leaves begin to change as early as mid-August. Yes, the transition has already begun and each passing day feels more autumnal than the last! Pumpkins are appearing at the farm stands, the swimming hole parking lots have emptied, and the cozy spices have arrived on all the eateries’ specials boards. Between Labor Day and Indigenous People’s Day, you can expect the Valley to be in full fall mode! From events to sight-seeing, and everything in between, this is one of the best times of the year to visit our neck of the woods.
Peak Predictions
We all know that foliage, year to year, is never the same! A lot of factors go into the shade, vibrancy, and length of foliage. A few of the most common factors include temperature and rain, with history playing a big part in predictions. Typically, you can expect peak foliage in central Vermont around the second week of October. Due to rain this summer, the leaves have began to change early! But, with the trend we’ve been seeing with warm days and cool nights as low as the 40s, this creates the perfect concoction for extremely saturated leaf colors! Sources are saying, this year, peak will likely be earlier than usual. I will leave the predictions to the experts, though.
Prediction Maps Provided by SmokyMountains.com
Week of Sept. 16
Week of Sept. 23
Week of Sept. 30
Featured Fall Events at Sugarbush
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest ’24 is jam packed with fun for the whole family including tons of kids’ activities, beer tastings for the adults, axe throwing, plus the last qualifying Stein Hoist Competition before the state comp! All activities are FREE unless otherwise noted.
Community Day
This year’s Community Day will be in conjunction with Oktoberfest! Come meet our community partners, hear the State of the Mountain Address with John Hammond, and stick around for mountain activities all weekend long.
Fall Classic Trilogy
Join us for the 3rd Annual Fall Classic Trilogy Disc Golf Challenge. Players will be provided three discs with the $40 registration that they must play with for the tournament. Prizes for the top three competitors in the men’s and women’s divisions.
Around the Mountain
Scenic Foliage Lift Rides
Enjoy leaf peeping on the mountain with a leisurely scenic lift ride! Bring your own picnic to Allyn’s Lodge or take a hike around Lincoln Peak. Ride up, hike down. Hike up, ride down. Or ride both ways.
$30.00 Online ahead of time
$35.00 Day of window rate
Sugarbush Resort Golf Course
Tee off at our Robert Trent Jones, Sr. masterpiece. Jones’ legendary talent is apparent in every one of the 18 holes at Sugarbush Golf Club tucked away in the Green Mountains. Designed with respect for the natural setting and its breathtaking vistas, our par-70 (men) and par 72 (women) course is as beautiful as the game itself.
Make it a Long Weekend
Between sleeping in, leaf peeping, sipping apple cider, scenic hikes/bikes, and a round or two of golf… there really is too much to do in just two days. Hence, the Long Weekend. When you book a Friday and Saturday night this summer and fall, we’ll throw in a free Thursday or Sunday night on us.
In the Valley
Enjoy harvesting season with pumpkin picking, fresh picked apples, and other locally grown produce at a farm stand!
Take in the sights with a scenic drive! Explore Vermont’s famous covered bridges and peep the colors of fall, all along the scenic byway.
