Scenic fall foliage route NY to VT and back

This is my foliage route response from a letter in my mailbag. You should be aware that you are more likely to get a timely response by asking questions in the comments section on this article or any others. I do and will answer emails but there have been times when I don’t get to them in the same season. 🙂

One of your fellow leaf peepers sent me a question. Gayla sent an e-mail where she was looking for a good foliage route to travel from Saratoga Springs, New York to Vermont and back. She also wants to do this all in three days.

I think that the route that I’ve outlined is really too long for three days and two nights but that is up to the traveler. She said they also wanted to get out to see historical places, light hiking, AND fall foliage. So in reality, they are going to be worn out after this “vacation”.

New York to Vermont and back

“Hi Gayla, for this trip I think you could look at doing your dates between 5 to 15 October as a good range of opportunities to see good fall colors. I would start by driving up Route 87 enjoying the views of the Eastern Adirondacks. And getting to the history at the start.

Fort Ticonderoga, Essex NY

I would jump off on Route 8, and take it East and then follow Route 9N. Follow that over to fort Ticonderoga. (this is the history part) There should be during that time, beautiful fall colors and you can walk the fort and explore the history and then get back on to route 74 and proceed east to catch the ferry across into Vermont.

fall foliage view from Fort Ticonderoga

The ferry between Essex New York and Charlotte Vermont now runs through November and this is the link to the schedule.

Charlotte Vermont

As you come up ferry Road from the ferry, you will be in the town of Charlotte and on the left-hand side you will run into the old brick store. It has a large sculpture on the exterior western wall of a clock that really stands out. If you should arrive there around lunchtime be sure to stop in and grab a sandwich and a bottle of wine and simply enjoy. They have wonderful sandwiches.

Old brick store on Route 7

Now you’ll jump onto Route 7 (but you could take the small back road of Route 22 which will take you up to the Shelburne Museum), either way you go the Shelburne Museum, is fine as it has a vast collection of folk and decorative art and buildings.

Shelburne paddleboat in the museum

The museum is home to many historical buildings and exhibits that have been collected from all over New England. From the steam paddleboat seen above to a lighthouse that came from Lake Champlain.

Richmond Round Church

You can pick your route from here you might go over to route 89 and come down to the Richmond exit and for a wonderful side trip, you should follow the signs into Richmond Vermont. You want to be on South Route 2 and you will get into the center of town and you will find the old round church of Richmond.

Now you should head down Route 2 and on your right, you will see camels hump mountain and camels hump state Park here is a link to the trails and you should consult their website as for their ease of hiking and levels of difficulty.

just East of camels hump state Park is the fabled route 100 and you can take that South starting your loop back home.

Places of interest along Route 100 would be Mad River Valley and the town of Waitsfield. Northfield Falls and it’s covered bridges is just east of 100 on Route 12.

Moss Glenn Falls

Further down 100 near Granville is Moss Glen Falls. These falls are very popular and as you are heading down south on Route 100. Route 100 is very twisty about this point with high walls on both sides of the road (and should have great fall colors).

The parking lot for the waterfalls will be immediately next to the road on your right.

If you get there a little earlier in the day it would be best because the parking lot can fill up and then you have no place to pull over and stop and I don’t want you to miss being able to get out and see the falls up close.

Moss Glen Falls roadside seller next the the vermont waterfall. This waterfall comes with its own parking lot and that is rare.

There is usually someone in the parking lot selling Vermont Maple syrup and other tourist items. And yes, I suggest you stop and support the little business person.

There is a wooden path walkway out to the foot of the waterfall and the only downside is that there may or may not be a good flow of water over the waterfall depending on how much rain we’ve had recently.

Here is an article that details Moss Glen Falls. https://www.jeff-foliage.com/2014/01/moss-glen-falls-easy-waterfall/

from here your choices for foliage routes are wide and varied, you can make a right on route 125 and cross over to Middlebury which should be all very scenic and you’ll be traveling over the green mountains which while a very winding and somewhat treacherous road it should also be quite beautiful at the same time, just make sure that the driver pays attention to the road and not the fall colors.

You could also continue heading south on 100 crossing West on Route 4 through Rutland and Whitehall and back to route 87

Aside from the dates which could vary, either way, I think if you just pick and don’t worry so much about the dates, you’ll have enough locations with changes in elevations and activities to make for a wonderful mini-vacation.

Just remember that the further north you go the longer your trip in the car will be and if you make it shorter, you’ll be able to get out of the car more and relax more.

By the time you get back to Saratoga Springs, I’m betting that the colors will be just developing towards the peak fall colors and a wonderful way to come home.”

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