If maple-scented breezes, cider doughnuts, and pumpkin patches light your fire (figuratively and maybe literally, around a fire pit), then Greater Burlington in the fall is your spot. Whether you're a leaf-peeping newbie or a seasoned cider-sipper, autumn in our corner of Vermont is pure, cozy magic. We've rounded up nine fabulous, sometimes hidden, and always foliage-filled ways to soak up the season.
And when you're done daydreaming? Plan your trip here.
Foliage Forecast & Timing Info
Vermont’s peak color window usually runs late September through mid‑October in the Champlain Valley, with higher gaps (like Lincoln or Middlebury) turning earlier, sometimes mid‑to‑late September. Want real-time fall foliage updates? Use the official Vermont Foliage Forecaster.
1. Apple-Picking Near Burlington, Vermont
Just south of town, the Shelburne Orchard is a fall classic. Pick from 40+ varieties, sip fresh cider, snag warm cider doughnuts, and maybe even taste some small-batch apple brandy. Bonus: the views of Lake Champlain are Instagram gold.
Check out our blog about apple picking for more information.
2. Pumpkin Paradise at Sam Mazza’s Farm Market
This Burlington area staple goes full harvest mode with hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, and more pumpkins than you can count. The baked goods counter alone is worth the trip.
3. Hike Mount Philo for the Ultimate Foliage View
A quick drive to Charlotte lands you on a gentle summit with jaw-dropping foliage views over the Champlain Valley. On your drive from Burlington, stop by The Mill Market in South Burlington for locally sourced snacks and items for your picnic basket.
4. Scenic Drive Along Route 7
Head south from Burlington through Shelburne and Vergennes to Middlebury. Think fiery trees, roadside farm stands, covered bridges, and small-town diners. It’s like driving through a postcard with smells of woodsmoke and cider.
5. Shelburne Farms Autumn Walks
Wander trails past barns, gardens, and grazing sheep at this working farm and historic estate. Snap a selfie under a blazing maple, then stock up on Vermont cheddar in the farm store.
6. Centennial Woods & Rock Point
Skip the crowds and slip into these tucked-away nature spots. Centennial Woods offers peaceful woodland trails just off the UVM campus. Rock Point delivers rocky lakefront views and quiet foliage reflections you’ll have all to yourself.
7. Hidden Road “Foliage Tunnels”
Explore the backroads around Hinesburg, Huntington, Monkton or Charlotte by setting your GPS to “no highways”. Be adventurous and start driving the road less traveled. You’ll find arched maple canopies, classic barns, and sleepy country lanes straight out of a New England novel. Many roads are gravel, so be prepared for a true Vermont experience. Hint: go early on a weekday and you’ll feel like Vermont is yours alone. For a snack stop, check out the quaint Old Brick Store in Charlotte for locally sourced sandwiches, coffee and picnic essentials.
8. Stop at Shelburne Country Store
Need flannel, maple candy, or a Yankee Candle shaped like a moose? The Shelburne Country Store is the quintessential Vermont general store. It is packed with nostalgic fall vibes and porch rockers for taking it all in. Set aside at least an hour to meander through this maze-like building. Just down the road from Shelburne Orchard and Shelburne Museum, in the heart of the picturesque downtown Shelburne.
9. Catch Live Music with a Vermont Backdrop
Fall sounds good in Burlington. Start the season with guitars and lake views at the Grand Point North Music Festival, Sept 12–14 at Waterfront Park, where Grace Potter, Goose, Heady Betty, and more take the stage with the Adirondacks as a backdrop.
Then, shift to Baroque splendor Sept 18–21 at the Burlington Baroque Festival, with four nights of Purcell, Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach performed on period instruments inside the soaring College Street Congregational Church. Two unforgettable ways to hear Vermont in season.
Ready to Experience Fall in Northern Vermont?
Plan your trip and don’t wait for peak foliage to pass on your bucket list again this year as a leaf peeper. Plan your trip
