Kristen Valenti and Captain taking a snack break on the White Rocks Cliffs Trail, near Wallingford. Jared Cotton | | The boardwalk from Barnes Camp provides one of the best (and most accessible) views into Smuggler's Notch. Adobe Stock |
20 Favorite Fall Foliage Hikes
Follow Vermont's peak foliage from north to south and see how many of these hikes you can tick off.
Fall starts with a change in the light. Each year, it catches us by surprise, as though the earth was being catapulted into the heart of winter. The maple trees notice it first. Bright green leaves burn to orange at the tips. The colors start to change along the ridgelines and wash down the mountainsides like wildfire, bursting with promise: snow is almost here. By late September, you can hike up any ski trail and find spectacular views – and good ski glades make for good foliage. But if you want to find the best of Vermont’s reds and purples, look for a hike that starts low enough to take you through a hardwood forest (the more open, the more reds and oranges you’re likely to see) and ends with a broad vista.
Dr. Abby van den Berg, a research professor at Future Generations University in West Virginia (formerly with University of Vermont), has spent the last 23 years studying the biochemical mechanisms by which trees such as birch, ash and maples produce fall color.
Native species such as the American beech, paper birch, gray and yellow birch produce brilliant yellow and orange leaves. Others, among them the sugar maple, also produce brilliant reds. “We still don’t fully understand why trees produce these red pigments, but we know they tend to appear in places where the leaves are directly affected by sunlight,” Abby says. For example, a tree standing on its own will have leaves that are red or orange toward the outer reaches of its foliage, with a swath of yellow close to the trunk...
| | | |
OUR BEST BET EVENTS
Included events are Vermont Sports and/or Upstate Sports
magazine advertisers.
With affordable rates, we’d love to help promote your business,
organization, destination, or event.
For Vermont Sports, call/email Riley Momenee at 603-464-9323 or Riley@AdkSports.com.
For Upstate Sports, call/email Darryl Caron at 518-877-8788 or Darryl@AdkSports.com.
The ad deadline for Vermont Sports magazine’s Nov/Dec issue is 11/4
and Upstate Sports magazine’s October issue is 10/9.
| |
“Ride Fast. Ride Strong. Ride Proud”
– Roxy Bombardier
| |
Friday-Sunday, September 25-27
8th Annual Vermont Climbing Festival. A weekend packed with camping, climbing, professional workshops, clinics, competitions, guest speakers, live music, and more. Sharpen your skills on the rock or just hang out around the campfire. 100% of proceeds directly support the work of CRAG-VT. Farr’s Field, Waterbury, VT. cragvt.org.
Farm to Fork: Adirondack Foothills 3 Day Getaway. Guided riding, gourmet food, and unique farm experiences hosted by Farm to Fork Fitness Adventures. Saratoga & Warren Counties, NY. farmtoforkfitness.com.
| |
Saturday, September 26
15th Annual Hungry Lion Bike Tour. Enjoy the foliage on quiet backroads! Featuring the signature 35M road ride & 75M, 50M & 5.5M road ride options. Also, a 25M Gravel Grinder. Plus, 5M & 2.25M hiking routes. Bountiful rest stops & sag support. Post-ride band & BBQ. Presented by Deerfield Valley Lions & raises funds to support local families facing food insecurity. Town Hill, Whitingham, VT. hungrylionbiketour.com.
2026 Fall Fundo. Old Spokes Home’s annual fundraising ride w/ 4 different route options, an after party at the shop, raffle prizes & more. All funds raised go towards continuing the nonprofit mission of Old Spokes Home - removing barriers to make bikes work for everyone. Enjoy a gorgeous autumn ride and support equitable bike access for all. Old Spokes Home, Burlington, VT. oldspokeshome.com.
GMAA Apple Harvest 10K. 9am. Dirt & paved roads in Shelburne & Charlotte. Shelburne Town Beach, Shelburne, VT. runsignup.com.
Bike the Barns. 9am. 25-30M supported rides visiting local farms, food/drink, music. NY’s Champlain Valley. bikeadirondacks.com.
Chestertown Rotary 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run.9:30am in Chestertown. Part of Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival. 1K Kids’ Fun Run: 2pm in Schroon Lake. adirondackmarathon.org.
| |
Sunday, September 27
4th Annual Paine Mtn Trail Races. 10am. Norwich “Anchor” Challenge 6K or Paine Mtn Summit 7.5M. Also: free youth runs. Scenic & challenging. Norwich Shaw Outdoor Center, Northfield, VT. ultrasignup.com.
Adirondack Marathon, Half Marathon & Relays.8am: Marathon & Relay in Schroon Lake. 9am: Half-Marathon: Adirondack to Schroon Lake. adirondackmarathon.org.
| |
Thursday, October 1
Film Screening: Best Day Ever. 7pm. Best Day Ever follows the stories of Vermont adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities and embrace the tremendous support, friendship, and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community. Admission is free, donations accepted to help develop accessible mountain bike trails in Bristol! Holley Hall, Bristol, VT. discoverbristolvt.com.
| |
Friday, October 2
The Grind: Junior MTB Races. 1,2, or 3 laps of 2M course. 2pm. Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid. bikereg.com.
| |
Friday-Sunday, October 2-4
WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series: Lake Placid. Series finale in downhill: Whiteface, Wilmington. Series finale in cross country: Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY. lakeplaciduci.com.
Pico Ski Club Annual Swap & Sale. Fri: 5-8pm, Sat: 9am-4pm, Sun: 9am-12pm. Annual swap benefiting the Pico Ski Club & its racing programs. New/used skis, snowboards, clothing & more. Consignments welcome, see website for details. Pico Mtn Base Lodge, Mendon, VT. killington.com.
| |
Saturday, October 3
Vermont Rare Gravel Ride. 9:30am. 46 miles, 4500 vertical feet of climbing with 5 sections of good ole VT Class IV. Seasonal lunch following ride. All proceeds go to Rare disease research and advocacy. Wild Wings XC Center, Peru, VT. vermontrare.org
Pepsi Mountain Clean-Up. 9-4pm. Come clean-up upper mountain locations, lunch and live music included. Killington Resort, Killington, VT. killington.com.
Buck 50! 50K adventure running race across five Lake George peaks. 9,000’ elevation gain. 6:30am. Start/finish: Buck Mountain. Post-race BBQ. A Mountain Dog Running event. Camp Chingachgook, Kattskill Bay, NY. ultrasignup.com.
| |
Sunday, October 4
Saint Michael’s College Youth Triathlon. 8am. 6-13 year olds swim, pedal & run through campus, supporting the Saint Michael’s Nordic Ski Team & promoting the multi-sport lifestyle in VT. No experience necessary. Fun & medals for all. Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT. raceentry.com.
| |
Friday-Sunday, October 9-11
KSC Monster Ski & Bike Swap. Fri: 5-8pm, Sat: 9am-4pm, Sun: 9am-2pm. Need gear for this season? Or have gear you want to sell? Get great deals on ski/snowboard equipment & road/mountain bikes. Proceeds support KSC Scholarship Fund. Ramshead Lodge, Killington, VT. killington.com.
| |
Saturday, October 10
Grateful XC MTB Race & Community Event. 10M of pure singletrack bliss per lap. Race one lap or two, or ride the untimed “party lap”. Live music, local food, post-race activities. In honor of Anthony Moccia, proceeds will support the Halo Foundation & Little Bellas. Memphremagog Trails, Newport, VT. bikereg.com.
15th Annual Leaf Blower Fall Classic. 8am. Group rides for all levels and types of riders. Plus food trucks, beer from The Alchemist, live music & more. FUNdraiser for Stowe Trails Partnership. Strawberry Hill Farm, Stowe, VT. stowetrails.org.
Harvest Faire. 10am-3pm. Come enjoy fall in the mountains w/ amazing food, hayrides, fun & games for the whole family! All activities are free. Snowshed Base Area, Killington, VT. killington.com.
3rd Annual Vermont PANS/PANDAS 5K Run/Walk. 10am. Raising awareness for an autoimmune disorder affecting children & young adults. Burlington Surf Club, Burlington, VT. runsignup.com.
| |
Saturday, Oct. 10-11
Bikeatoga’s 4th Saratoga Foliage Ride. Six scenic rides on scenic, low-traffic routes: 30M/50M/75M. Catered lunch, downtown happy hour, restaurants & store discount, hotel deals. Saratoga Springs, NY. saratogafoliageride.com.
| |
Sunday, October 11
Mohawk Hudson River Marathon & Half Marathon. Registration opens 2/2. Beautiful, fast, award-winning courses. Point-to-point races w/ complimentary bus transportation to start. 26.2M: Schenectady to Albany. 13.1M: Colonie to Albany, NY. mohawkhudsonmarathon.com.
| |
Friday-Saturday, October 16-17
Cambridge Area Rotary Winter Sports Sale. Fri: 6-8pm. Sat: 9am-2pm. Find new-to-you winter/ski/snowboard gear or consign your old items. Sale supports Cambridge Area Rotary Winter Wellness Days & getting schoolkids out on the slopes. Cambridge Community Center, Jeffersonville, VT. rotarycambridge.org.
|
Saturday, October 17
CircumVictory. Marathon (XCM) MTB race or XC MTB Challenge on cool singletrack and remote logging trails for hardcore racers and recreational riders alike. XCM completes 2 laps totaling 36M & XC completes 1 lap totaling 18M. All entry fees reinvested into trail maintenance by non-profit Victory Hill Trail Club. Great food & merch. Just added: new CircumVictory Trail Run! Victory Hill Trail Club, Victory, VT. bikereg.com.
Saranac Lake Backcountry 3P Multisport Race. 9am. 5-stage race: Bike, trail run, bike, paddle, bike. Starting & finishing at Charlie’s Inn w/an afterparty & awards. Charlie’s Inn, Lake Clear, NY. saranaclake3p.org.
|
Saturday, October 18
Middlebury Maple Run. 9am. Vermont’s “sweetest races” w/amazing foliage views! Run the 5K, 10K or Half & get great swag, music & post-race breakfast. Free training program w/registration & post-race recovery services by Dr. Davida Murray. Middlebury, VT. middleburymaplerun.com.
Champlain Islands Marathon & Half Marathon. 8:30am. Beautiful flat to rolling terrain on west shore of South Hero & Grand Isle. Folsom Elementary School, South Hero, VT. gmaa.run.
| |
Saturday-Sunday, October 24-25
62nd Northeast Winter Expo. Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, XC skiing, Nordic sports, snowshoeing, recreation, health, fitness, travel. 200 exhibitors & 10,000 attendees expected. The longest-running ski show in the US! Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY. northeastwinterexpo.com.
| |
Sunday, October 25
GMAA Ghostly Gallop Trail 5K. 9:30am. Wear your best running costume! Enjoy crisp fall weather along the picturesque course, then stick around for post-race refreshments. Arrowhead Golf Course, Milton, VT. gmaa.run.
22nd Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon & Squirrelly Six Mile. 9:30am. Kids’ 1/2M Gorilla Chase. Costumes encouraged. An AREEP event. Thacher Park, Voorheesville. areep.com.
| |
Ongoing
DAILY Green Mountain Bicycle Club. Touring, gravel, racing, training. Chittenden County, VT. Schedule: thegmbc.com.
WED Weekly Cyclocross Race Series. 5:30-6:30pm. Fun, relaxed races for all skill levels w/ participation-based end-of-season awards. Catamount Outdoor, Williston, VT. catamountoutdoor.org.
SUN GMAA Sunday Group Run. 8am. Long run on backroads of Richmond, Huntington & Jericho. Beginner friendly, all welcome. Volunteers Green, Richmond, VT. gmaa.run.
| |
| How did you like this email? | | | | Follow Vermont Sports on Facebook & Instagram | | | | | |
