Vermont Fall Foliage Tour

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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!