Vermont Fall Foliage Tour
BURLINGTON, VT
Trip Highlights
- Amazing "Long Trail"
- High Vermont Summits
- Gorgeous Fall Colors
- Cozy, Unique Lodging
- Covered Bridges, Maple Syrup & More
- Wonderful Appalachian Cuisine
- In-depth Natural & Cultural Info
Description
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!
$2790 PER PERSON
$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 10 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 3-6 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2,500 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2,500 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained trails
- Additional:
- This tour follows established trails with significant elevation gains and losses on most hikes. Some trails are very steep and can be on variable terrain including wet roots, rock slabs, mud and other surfaces. Instead of switchbacking, many trails in the northeast go straight up the mountain, so be prepared for physically challenging hiking on trails with moderate distances and elevation changes.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 8-10 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with occasional breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Vermont hiking tour a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsTRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1
- Hiking Distance: 8 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,209 feet
- Accommodations: Warren Lodge
Today, your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Burlington and explain the details of the trip over a light breakfast. After a short shuttle we will meet up with the famous Long Trail as we prepare to hike to the summit of Mt. Grant. Mt. Grant is 3,623 ft tall and the view from the summit offers a panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains including the Champlain Valley, Mount Abe, and Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak. The trail to the peak is also known for the popular resting point “Sunset Ledge,” a scenic vista offering great views to the west just over a mile into the trek. After a tasty picnic lunch prepared by your guide, we will head back down to check into our hotel in Warren, Vermont. We will take a walk around the small town of Waitsfield, visit a wonderful covered bridge and dine at a local, hand-picked, farm-to-table restaurant.
DAY 2
- Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,100 feet
- Accommodations: Warren Lodge
Today we will head south to catch up with another section of the Long Trail. Our goal today is a triple summit of The Great Cliff, Mount Horrid and Gillespie Peak. Mount Horrid is a 3,216 ft peak in the Green Mountains and home to Peregrine Falcons and other wildlife like Moose and Beaver. The view from the summit of Gillespie Peak is well worth the trek, where your guide will prepare another fantastic trail lunch. After we picnic and take in the view, we will retrace our route back to the shuttle.
We cap today off with a visit to an iconic Vermont feature – a local maple farm that produces fresh maple syrup. We will enjoy a guided tour of the farm and the syrup making process as well as a tasting. We’ll enjoy another dinner at a hand-picked restaurant before retiring for the night.
DAY 3
- Hiking Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,200 feet
- Accommodations: Green Mountain Inn
Today we will pack up our gear and head for the iconic town of Stowe, Vermont. Along the way we will stop and embark on a memorable trek up the Long Trail to Molly Stark mountain. Today’s ridge hike offers excellent views of the Mad River Valley to the east and Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. After an amazing hike we will head into Stowe, visit a charming Cider Mill, and check into our amazing local lodge.
DAY 4
- Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,500 feet
- Accommodations: Green Mountain Inn
Today is the highlight for many of our guests! We will tackle an iconic peak amongst the Vermont “4,000 footers” – Camel’s Hump. Camel’s Hump is the third tallest peak in Vermont at 4,083 ft and offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains, exploding with fall colors (be sure to bring your camera/phone on this one!). The peak is perhaps the state’s most famous summit and has been featured on the state quarter. 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 a waterfall and 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 final, celebratory dinner. What a week it’s been!
DAY 5
- Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: minimal
- Shuttle to Burlington: 1 hour
An early wake-up call and a great breakfast precedes our hike to Moss Glen Falls, a beautiful waterfall lined with bright green moss, wildflowers and flora. After the waterfall, we will head back to Burlington to explore an expansive farm that borders Lake Champlain. The farm is a self-sustaining operation including a dairy, organic produce garden and over four miles of scenic hiking trails. After a beautiful walk to the shores of Lake Champlain we will enjoy one last picnic together on the shoreline as we prepare to say our goodbyes. We will drop you off at your hotel or the airport for nostalgic good-byes to Vermont’s amazing landscapes and brilliant fall colors.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 4 nights of accommodations
- All meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch on the final day
- Use of a day pack and trekking poles
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Vermont hiking guide
- Transportation for the duration of the tour originating and concluding from Burlington, Vermont
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
WHAT GEAR TO BRING
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent, lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
WHAT CLOTHES TO BRING
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
Trip Logistics
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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 CONSIDERATIONS
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 877-405-5188 for more information.
GUIDES
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
GUIDE WORKING PARAMETERS
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
GROUP SIZE AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
The standard group size on this hiking tour is 12 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 877-405-5188 and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
Accommodations
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.
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
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