MONTPELIER, Vt. – The transition of colorful foliage from the mountainsides to the lower valleys is nearly complete. Bright foliage can still be enjoyed through the week and coming weekend in the Champlain and Connecticut River valleys, as well as the lower elevations throughout southern Vermont.
But a different perspective on the season can also be enjoyed from the mountainsides. Although leaf drop from the canopy grays the panorama of the mountainsides, any late autumn walk through the woods opens the views and provides a rustling carpet of still colorful foliage.
 Best Bets
To the west of the Green Mountains, Route 7 offers some excellent viewing throughout the length of the state, as does Route 22A from Vergennes to Shoreham. Also try Route 140 from Wallingford to Tinmouth, Route 133 from Middletown Springs to Rupert, and Route 153 near Wells.
“The best display of peak and slightly past peak colors are found in the rolling hills and hollows of the Taconic Mountains, from Rupert and Dorset in the south and from Bridport and Middlebury in the north,” says Tom Olson, a foliage-spotter for Rutland and Addison Counties. “All roads connecting Route 7 to Route 22A in the Champlain Valley are winners even this late in the season.”
At the southern end of Vermont, other still colorful routes include Routes 7A and 30, and any of the town roads from Bennington north through Arlington, Manchester and Dorset.
The Connecticut River Valley along the eastern border of Vermont will continue to display multihued foliage through the week. Suggested routes include Interstate 91 and Routes 5, 103, 30, and 11 along the tributary river valleys.
The northern end of the Champlain Valley, where temperatures are moderated by the lake, has a later color change than the mountains and highland valleys. The Burlington area also has substantial stands of oaks that are now changing to a seasonal russet color. Suggested routes include Route 7 from Charlotte to Milton, and Route 2 through the Champlain Islands.
Take advantage of midweek specials during the remainder of the foliage season as part of our statewide “Midweek Peek” promotion. Deals range from discounted lodging to free Vermont products.
This section of our Web site has several tools for planning your 2009 Vermont Fall Foliage tour including:
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