Ah Fall, the season where pumpkin spice lattes reign supreme and every village looks like it’s the set of Halloweentown. If you’re wondering what to do this Fall in the Mad River Valley, I’ve got you covered.
Scenic Drives
For the days when you want to be lazy and still see the fall foliage, take a scenic drive! I’ve got 3 great options for you to take in views.
- App Gap – From Waitsfield, hop on Route 17 for a breathtaking scenic drive to the top of the App Gap, take hairpin turns and watch the foliage change as you increase in elevation.
- Mad River Byway – Drive through a section, or the whole 36-mile scenic byway and take in the Mad River Valley in all its glory. This scenic byway meanders through quaint villages and gives great views of the Mad River, covered bridges, farmstands, Sugarbush, and so much more. For a map of the whole byway, click here.
- Northfield-Route 12 Loop – Explore 37 miles of back roads of Warren and Northfield, venture over two of the gaps that crisscross the Northfield Mountain Range, and drive right through the home to Vermont’s highest concentration of covered bridges. See the map route here.
Hikes
There are countless hikes in the MRV that range from easy to challenging. I’ve listed a few below for your mountain adventures. If you want more information on each of these trails, head to our Must Do Hikes in the Valley post.
- Catamount and Harris Hill Trail Loop – Easy / 2.3 miles / 330 ft. elevation gain / Loop / ~1 hour.
- Wu Ledges – Easy / 1.5 miles / 157 ft. elevation gain / Loop / ~40 min.
- Sunset Ledge – Moderate / 1.5 miles / 400 ft. elevation gain / Out and back / ~45 min.
- App Gap to The Stark’s Nest – Moderate / 2.5 miles / 889 ft. elevation gain / Out and Back / ~1 hour 40 min.
- Lincoln Peak via Sugarbush Base Area – Hard / 6 miles / 2,457 ft. elevation gain / Loop / ~4.5 hours. This one’s my favorite 😉
Oktoberfest
Even if you’re not a big beer drinker, Oktoberfest is a quintessential fall experience… and a great place to people watch. I mean, who doesn’t love to see people in lederhosen trying to throw kegs or hold a stein as long as humanly possible? If you’re around on October 10th, Sugarbush’s Oktoberfest has got something for each and every one of you. Heck, make a weekend out of it! Did I mention we’ll also be spinning the lift from 11-4pm? If I were you, I’d just spend the whole week up here and knock off everything here in this blog.
Local Shops + Farm Stores
No trip to the valley, or Vermont, is complete without some local goods from the farm stand or a stroll down Bridge Street to poke around the shops. Knoll & Gaylord Farm are both great places to stop and stock up on some local goodies for your hike/drive/ride. And if you’re here on a Saturday, check out the Waitsfield Farmer’s Market!
Gravel Biking
If hiking isn’t your style, grab a bike and head down any of the dirt roads and take in the foliage! If you want a guided ride or need to rent a bike Madbush Falls has you covered.
- Common Road – A 6 mile flat-ish ride that takes you past the Von Trapp Farmstead and Skinner Barn
- The Great 8 – A 17 mile hilly route with stunning views
- Tour de Valley – An all day 46 mile adventure to give you great views of the mountains, the town of Warren, and the valley floor.
Bonus Tip
Word on the street is the Canteen Creemee Co does a pumpkin creemee. End or start your adventure there and indulge in the perfect sweet treat.