Peak foliage colors approaching in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom

News Release — Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing
September 20, 2017

MONTPELIER, Vt. — As late summer weather continues to bring warmth, plenty of sunshine, and scattered showers, fall foliage colors are developing nicely, albeit gradually, throughout most of Vermont. The Northeast Kingdom is fast approaching peak color and is expected to be at 50-75 percent peak at many locations over the coming weekend.

Similar conditions are emerging at higher elevations along the Green Mountains, although the majority of Vermont is still exhibiting early stage color.

“Individual trees and groups of trees with fantastic mixes of full-color — birches in brightening yellows, red maples hinting at the vibrant reds yet to come, and lots of roadside color in asters, goldenrods, woodbine, and sumac — all on a backdrop still largely green trees, are changing with every day,” said Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder. “The forests of Vermont appear primed and ready to unveil another spectacular display over the next few weeks.”

Visitors and residents driving through Vermont this weekend will see many of the best fall colors along the roadways of the Northeast Kingdom.

The Northeast Kingdom Byway between St. Johnsbury and Newport along Vermont Route 5A should provide for some prime viewing of the seasonal colors. Also, the stretch between Montpelier and Danville along U.S. Route 2 comes alive this time of year. Vermont Route 242 between Montgomery Center and Jay and the drive south from Jay on Vermont Route 101 to Troy are also in the heart Vermont’s best foliage viewing terrain in late September.

“Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is home to some of the most spectacular foliage viewing in the country this time of year,” said Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Wendy Knight. “From the views atop the Owl’s Head Trail at Groton State Forest to the vantage points along Darling Hill Road at Kingdom Trails in East Burke to the mountains at the Jay Peak and Burke Mountain ski resorts, the natural beauty of northern Vermont will astound visitors who travel to this region.”

For weekly updates on Vermont’s foliage conditions, please sign up for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing’s Foliage Report at VermontVacation.com.

Contact:
Philip Tortora, Communications Director
Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing
(802) 522-7323; philip.tortora@vermont.gov

Image courtesy of Bruce Parker/TNR