Vermont: Fall Foliage

Waitsfield Common Road; 2-3 miles, easy. Cossingham Road Farm Loop; 2-3 miles, easy

Your leaders will meet you at the Hotel Champlain at 9:00 a.m. in the lobby. They’ll be wearing Country Walkers shirts. Please be dressed for walking.

After a brief orientation meeting, you depart for an introductory walk in the town of Waitsfield, located in the heart of Vermont’s Mad River Valley. Situated 40 miles from Burlington, and with only 1,700 full-time residents, Waitsfield is known for its natural beauty and two popular ski destinations: Sugarbush Resort and Mad River Glen. It also boasts numerous restaurants, a 100-year-old covered bridge, and The Big Picture Theater & Café (a quirky theater-restaurant famous for its maple donuts).

Your first walk today takes you along a classic country road with magnificent views over the Mad River Valley toward Sugarbush. On your walk, you will also enjoy two notable highlights: the von Trapp Greenhouse and Farm and the Skinner Barn. The Skinner Barn is a beautifully restored historical post-and-beam dairy barn originally built in 1891 by the Daniel Skinner family. You end your walk at the intersection with East Warren Road, where you board a van for a short drive to today’s lunch spot.

After lunch, you depart for a one-hour drive to the quintessential New England town of Norwich. With a population of just over 3,400, Norwich has a vibrant downtown, a lovely village green, and the memorable Dan & Whit’s general store, whose motto is “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!”

This afternoon’s walk is at the Cossingham Road Farm, where you embark on a meandering walk through woods and open fields. Nearly 70 species of birds have been identified by either sound or sight on the farm, and if you’re lucky, you may spot a barred owl or moose tracks.

Your final destination today is one of the town’s most charming inns, your home for the next two nights. Steeped in New England character, it has been a fixture of Norwich since its early days as a tiny Vermont village. Its Victorian architecture, antique furnishings, and distinctive historic features date back almost to the American Revolution, but you’ll enjoy all the amenities of a modern hotel. After time to freshen up, you may enjoy a Vermont-made aperitif before dinner at the inn, where you choose from their menu featuring dishes made from fresh, local ingredients.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Optional self-guided history walk; 1 mile, easy. Union Village Dam; 3 miles, easy to moderate

Early risers may opt for a brief self-guided history walk along Norwich’s Main Street before breakfast at the inn’s terrace dining room. Following this refreshing start to your day, you depart for a walk along the Ompompanoosuc River, eventually reaching the Union Village Dam. The dam was built in 1950 as part of a system of 16 dams and reservoirs to control flooding along the Connecticut River and its tributaries. This walk offers a window into the history of Vermont’s industries, as you pass the foundation of an old woolen mill and the sites of former farms and homesteads. A multitude of birds and other wildlife inhabit the mature hardwood forest surrounding the dam.

Next, a short but scenic drive brings you over a covered bridge into Thetford, a town made of six villages lining the Connecticut River. The town is home to the nation’s oldest secondary school, Thetford Academy. In East Thetford, you visit the Cedar Circle Farm—an organic farm and education center whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of local agriculture and increase access to affordable healthy produce. After a private farm tour, you enjoy a picnic lunch provided by your leaders.

Tonight’s dinner is on your own in nearby Hanover, New Hampshire (a short five-minute drive from your accommodation).

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

2 miles; easy to moderate. Optional Mt. Tom; 2 miles, easy to moderate

A 15-minute drive from Norwich brings you to Vermont’s “Little Grand Canyon”—the 165-foot-deep Quechee Gorge. Here, you descend into the gorge and walk along the Ottauquechee River. After, a short drive brings you to the charming village of Woodstock. Voted the prettiest town in America, Woodstock boasts a covered bridge and a village green surrounded by restored Georgian, Federal-style, and Greek revival homes. There is also a unique selection of museums, including the Billings Farm & Museum, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, and The Woodstock Historical Society. Here, you have free time to enjoy the local cuisine; wander over to Gillingham’s, the oldest store in town; or partake in an optional Mt. Tom walk, located in one of the oldest professionally managed woodlands in America.

Voted the “prettiest town in America,” Woodstock is a pleasure to explore on foot. A free afternoon invites you to embark on an activity of your choice. For lunch on your own, choose from one of the many restaurants in town or perhaps pack a picnic lunch to eat trailside.

Following your discoveries, a 90-minute drive brings you to the classic mountain village of Stowe, where wooded trails welcome and spectacular views abound. Your home for the next three evenings is an inn situated in the heart of Stowe village, amid the Green Mountains. Here, cozy comforts offer a warm welcome amid Vermont-crafted furnishings and New England charm. Like so many inns in this region, this one has been inextricably tied to the story of Vermont – its nature, its railroads, its growth through industry. As a guest, it is a privilege to join the ranks of the diplomats, titans, and simple New Englanders who have stayed here. Splendid cuisine greet you here at the end of your active day.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

2-4 miles, easy to moderate OR Mt. Mansfield Ridgeline; 3 miles, moderate to challenging

This morning, you drive to Smugglers’ Notch—the deep, boulder-laden passageway between Mt. Mansfield and Sterling Peak. Smugglers’ Notch got its name in the early 1800s when it was used for transporting illegal or embargoed goods in and out of Canada.

Today is devoted to exploring the trails in and around the town of Stowe, either at the Trapp Family Lodge or around the base or the summit of Mt. Mansfield (conditions permitting). After ascending Mt. Mansfield by van via the winding Stowe Mountain Toll Road, you admire breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys during a brief stroll from the Visitors’ Center to a viewpoint offering sweeping 360-degree vistas. Those choosing to continue to the summit of Mt. Mansfield walk along the ridge, taking in a panorama of Lake Champlain and several mountain ranges, including the Adirondacks in New York, the White and Green mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and Mount Royal in Canada.

At Trapp Family Lodge, the walking choices are nearly infinite, as their 2,500 acres boast over 30 miles of hiking trails, which double as cross-country ski trails in winter. The lodge was founded by the famous family who settled in Stowe after fleeing the Nazi occupation of Austria. You enjoy lunch at the lively Bierhall, where its namesake beer is brewed and both Vermont and Austrian specialties are on the menu.

Later in the afternoon, there is time to explore the village of Stowe. Take a stroll along its recreation path, or simply relax and enjoy the tranquility of your inn. Tonight, you have dinner on your own, choosing from the many local restaurants within easy walking distance of your accommodation. Your leaders will be happy to assist in your choice.

Another charming New England town, Stowe is more than just a ski town—it also boasts an abundance of art galleries, craft breweries, and excellent dining options.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

4 miles, easy

This morning’s walk takes you to beautiful Bull Moose Pasture. On your way to the pasture, your leaders share secrets about the art of maple sugaring and tell tales of the little-known political history of the area. Admire the view as you pass working farms, sugar maple groves, and meadows dotted with Vermont’s ubiquitous Holstein cows.

In the afternoon, you visit with George Woodard, a third-generation Vermont organic dairy farmer and storyteller. From George, you gain a better understanding of Vermont’s history of dairy farming and maple sugaring. Take a hayride through his meadows, where you’ll have views of Camel’s Hump, Vermont’s third-highest peak. This evening, you gather for a final dinner, where you toast your Green Mountain adventure, and perhaps enjoy a post-dinner swim in the hotel’s heated outdoor pool.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2-3 miles, easy

After breakfast, you depart Stowe for historic Shelburne Farms, a nonprofit center promoting sustainability and conservation. Comprised of 1,400 acres on the shores of Lake Champlain, and designated a National Historic Landmark, the farm was established in 1886 as the agricultural estate of William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb. Today, this working farm integrates a host of community and educational activities with a working dairy. The property is home to more than 100 Brown Swiss cows, a cheese-making facility, a seasonal inn, and an organic market garden.

Choosing from numerous trails, you explore the grounds and take in the incredible vistas, while passing by the elegant inn as well as the dairy and coach barns.  Dramatic views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains leave a lasting impression of your visit to Vermont.

Following a final picnic lunch, you travel to the Burlington International Airport or to the Hotel Champlain, where you bid farewell to your leaders before you continue your onward travels.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch