Getting outdoors for the fall combines many of Vermont’s great strengths: beautiful scenery, the autumn harvest, and plenty of late summer to early winter activities. From corn mazes to garlic festivals and town fairs, Vermont offers a bevy of bucolic sights and sounds. So, when it comes to cider tastings, hikes, and more, do not hesitate to consult our list of the 10 best outdoor fall activities in Vermont for plenty of things to do!
Self-proclaimed as the largest corn maze in New England, the Vermont Corn Maze is back and better than ever. This mammoth-sized corn maze consists of three miles of walking trials amidst 10-foot tall walls of corn. Not only can you take in the Green Mountain State’s panoramic views, but there is also a Scenic Maze which offer some wild structures, an underground tunnel, and plenty more surprises.
View this post on Instagram
One of the most exciting ways to explore the Killington Mountains is in an ATV or UTV. Hop in one of their top-of-the-line Polaris’ vehicles and you’re ready for a real adventure. Knowledgeable guides will take you through the mountains to soak in some jaw-dropping views of the towering peaks.
This driving tour is meant to encapsulate the beauty and bounty of Vermont’s Fall, where the hills have been described as “alive with color” and the tastes and smells are second to none. You’ll experience bucolic forests, pastoral fields, and idyllic mountain passes, as well as old-world covered bridges dirt-covered backroads.
Offering jaw-dropping vistas in any season, Skyline Drive is especially spectacular in the fall. And, with a vertical gain of 3,848 feet to the summit, this 5.2-mile road is the longest, privately-owned paved drive in the United States. Plus, there is a welcome area at the top with information on when the road was built, as well as the Carthusian monks who currently maintain it.
View this post on Instagram
Arguably the prettiest park in all of Vermont, the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area is a 16,000-acre area sandwiched in between the mighty Green Mountains and Lake Dunmore. With over 70 miles of well-kept biking and hiking trails, Moosalammo was the location where Robert Frost took inspiration for many of his enduring poems.
One of the only towns that still shuts down Main Street and the town green to through traffic for the day, the Peru Fair is the highlight of many local folks’ year. You will find live music, food vendors, craftspeople, clowns, demonstrations, actors in period costume, historians, and more. Plus, there are always fresh pies, jams, and cheeses to be had, as well as the town pig roast.
View this post on Instagram
Locally famous for their fluffy, cakey mini-cider doughnuts, the Apple Barn is one Fall stop not to be missed. But, to be sure, it is not the only cider doughnut game in town, so make it a point to work your way up Vermont Route 7 and check out the Sugar Shack in Arlington and Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury. Plus, don't forget to take a detour to Waterbury and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. You won’t be disappointed.
Now, the idea of celebrating the fall harvest with a malty, spicy beer and a fatty, savory sausage might not sound like an entirely original Vermont idea, but few venues across the country can match the natural beauty of the Queen City’s Waterfront Park, and no other state has a higher brewery per capita rating, so why attend Oktoberfest this year Green Mountain-style?
You’ve heard of bus tours, car tours, and even bike tours, but with Country Walkers, you can see Vermont’s fall foliage up close and personal as you traverse the State along short, moderate-to-easy, well-maintained hiking trails. Over a period of six days, you will become a local hiker, transported to different areas of Vermont for two to four-mile hikes.
Finally, what list of Vermont fall activities is complete without a brewery and spirits tour to sample the best of the fall harvest in liquid form? The VT Brewery and Spirits Tour is an eight-hour smorgasbord of craft beer, small batch spirits, hard cider, and snacks. So, what could be better than being transported about the idyllic Vermont landscape and getting happy along the way?
View this post on Instagram
