Vermont Fall Foliage Tour
Inn-Based Hiking Tours
5 Days, 4 Nights 26MI / 42KM
Trip Highlights
Every autumn Vermont goes through a magical and stunning transformation. With a combination of sun and clouds, the deciduous tree-laden mountain slopes and valleys explode in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors: deep reds, bright oranges and melancholy yellows. As we hike, sightsee and learn about one of New England’s most spectacular fall color destinations, we discover a bucolic landscape of charming mountain farms; towering, ancient mountains; rushing creeks and rivers; maple forests and more.
Our daily hikes take us to the highest points in the Green Mountains and across the Long Trail for spectacular 360-degree views. We also hike to wonderful waterfalls and across bucolic farm country that perfectly captures the magic of iconic, rural Vermont. Between hikes we visit covered bridges, a maple farm, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory, the classic mountain town of Stowe, and other autumn-themed New England highlights. This hiking tour features the best of Vermont at the very best time of year!
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Amazing "Long Trail"
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High Vermont Summits
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Gorgeous Fall Colors
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Cozy, Unique Lodging
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Covered Bridges, Maple Syrup & More
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Wonderful Appalachian Cuisine
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In-depth Natural & Cultural Info
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Inn-Based Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
3-6 mi -
Group Size
2-8 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip features typical New England hiking with steep ascents over short distances with no switchbacks. Expect technical, broken terrain that will sometimes require you to use both hands going both up and down. Camels Hump includes significant scrambling over large boulders and some smooth rock slabs. Guests often need extra coaching and guidance to navigate this section.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Hiking Distance: ~5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
Shuttle to hotel: 1 hour
Today, your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Burlington and explain the details of the trip over a light breakfast. We will then enjoy a warm-up hike as we explore an expansive farm on the borders of Lake Champlain. The farm is a self-sustaining operation including a dairy, organic produce garden and miles of scenic hiking trails. After a beautiful walk to the shores of Lake Champlain we will enjoy our first picnic together on the shoreline as we soak up the exploding fall colors. We’ll have views of several classic Vermont features, including Lone Tree Hill, Sheep’s Knoll, Lake Champlain and Butternut Hill.
After our hike and farm experience, we will head toward tonight’s lodging, stopping at an iconic covered bridge en route for a quick visit and amazing photography. At our lodge we’ll check into our rooms, get cleaned up and enjoy dinner at a hand-picked, local restaurant.
Day 2
Shuttle to hike: 30 minutes
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,200 feet
Shuttle to Maple Farm: 45 minutes
Today we’ll start with hot tea or coffee and a tasty, guide-prepared breakfast, then set off for our first of two spectacular hikes. Our first hike is on the famous Long Trail (LT) on the flanks of Mount Grant. Although just 3 miles in length, this hike is steep and challenging. Our destination is an amazing ledge offering a panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains including the Champlain Valley, Mount Abe, and Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak. After a tasty picnic lunch prepared by your guide, we will descend back into the forests to our vehicle.
Our second hike of the day is a short, scenic drive away. It takes us to a gorgeous lake and waterfall, where we’ll dip our toes, relax, swim if you desire and soak up our breathtaking surroundings. We cap off the afternoon by visiting a famous maple farm, where we’ll enjoy a tour and opportunity to sample the syrup. Eventually we’ll return to our lodge and get cleaned up for another well-deserved dinner at a local, hand-picked restaurant.
Day 3
Shuttle: 40 minutes
Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,500 feet
Today is the highlight for many of our guests! We will tackle an iconic peak amongst the Vermont “4,000 footers.” This amazing summit offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, exploding with fall colors (be sure to bring your camera/phone on this one!). The peak is one of the state’s most famous summits. From the top, on a clear day, we can see the tallest peaks of three states: Mount Mansfield in Vermont, Mount Washington in NH and Mount Marcy in NY. We will descend past picturesque creeks, looping back to the shuttle. We cap today off with a tour of the famous Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory, and a transition to a new lodge – the famous Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont!
Day 4
Shuttle: 40 minutes
Hiking Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 500 feet
After our big day yesterday, today we will enjoy a relaxing morning and big breakfast. Our first stop of the day is a short hike to a breathtaking waterfall. We’ll take our time enjoying and photographing the falls, before returning to our vehicle and continuing on.
The next phase of our day takes us up the Stowe Scenic Auto Road, a stunning drive to the beginning of our next hike. Starting at the top of famous Mount Mansfield, we’ll again join the Long Trail and follow it 1.2 miles to the top of the Chin, which is the highest point in Vermont at 4,395 feet! We’ll enjoy lunch from the this amazing perch, while soak up awe-inspiring views.
After our hike we’ll return to Stowe for an afternoon of your choice. You can explore the amazing town of Stowe on your own, simply relax, sample some local breweries, or decide on a combination of these options. In the evening we’ll reconvene for our final dinner together, and we’ve selected another perfect local eatery for our celebratory dinner.
Day 5
Shuttle to hike: 15 minutes
Hiking Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet
Shuttle to Burlington: 45 minutes
On our final morning we’ll start with hot tea and coffee, juice and breakfast-on-the-go. Today’s hike – similar to many hikes this week – is small in distance, but large in views, challenge and reward. We hike 1.5 miles on the spectacular Pinnacle Trail to Stowe Pinnacle, one of the area’s most renowned viewpoints. We’ll take time to relax and enjoy the views of Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, and the Worcester and Sterling Mountain Ranges. Eventually, we’ll return via the same trail and find a scenic spot for a final picnic lunch.
After our hike we’ll enjoy a stop at a wonderful cider mill, where you can sample or purchase fresh, delectable apple cider, bakery goods or hard cider. Eventually we will drop you off at the airport, or a hotel if you desire, and say our fond farewells. What a week it’s been!
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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4 nights of double occupancy lodging (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
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All meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch on the final day
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Use of a day pack and trekking poles
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Transportation for the duration of the tour originating and concluding from Burlington, Vermont
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
WARREN LODGE
2 NIGHTS
Warren Lodge offers a family-owned lodging experience that combines thoughtful, modern accommodations with the warmth of a New England country inn. Located perfectly for our southern hikes, this cozy lodge offers convenience along with quality and scenery.
TRAPP FAMILY LODGE
2 NIGHTS
Situated on 2,500 acres in beautiful Stowe, Vermont, Trapp Family Lodge is a unique mountain resort featuring Austrian-inspired architecture and European-style accommodations. It offers stunning mountain views, old-world comforts, impeccable service and fantastic access to our hikes.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group in Burlington, Vermont in the morning of Day 1. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, and will be in contact approximately 10 days before the tour to coordinate the pick up.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Start/End Times
This tour begins between 6 and 8 A.M. in Burlington, Vermont on Day 1, and ends the final day by 5 P.M. in Burlington.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
Reviews
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Mark W
1 year agoWe very much enjoyed our time on this entire trip!
This was as awesome trip that included a great mix of hiking and local culture. Lisa was an outstanding Guide and delivered an amazing week, truly cared about providing every guest the appropriate experiences and shared valuable insights into hiking in general. We very much enjoyed our time on this entire trip!
Kevin C
1 year agoExcellent
Magda just did an excellent job - far exceeded our expectations. Hopefully she gets a bonus for her extra hard work
Paige P
2 years agoA beautiful and memorable trip.
Great Vermont Fall hiking trip, our guide, Quincy was so knowledgeable, great leader and helpful on the hikes and made such delicious and creative lunches The extra side trips were interesting also. Really enjoyed the Ben & Jerry’s tour as well as learning about maple syrup making. A beautiful and memorable trip.
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