“In concert with the autumnal equinox, colorful foliage is unfolding throughout much of Vermont and will continue to brighten to mid-stage in many areas through the coming week.
Fall colors are brightening along the higher elevations of the Northeast Kingdom and in moist, low-lying areas with varying shades of orange, yellow and red.
‘Colors are beginning to come up pretty quickly in some places. Elmore Mountain is showing the first patches of nice yellows, orange, russet and reds. Nice time to walk up to the fire tower on Elmore Mountain. Most of the ridgelines and wetland areas are also showing more color,’ says Northeast Kingdom Forester Raymond Toolan.
‘In addition to Elmore Mountain some other early beauty spots would be Jay Peak, Mount Mansfield, Big Spruce, Madonna, Belvidere Mountain, Mount Norris and Mount Piscah overlooking Willoughby Lake,’ Toolan adds.
In northern and central Vermont, look for brick-to-bright reds along major highways as the staghorn sumac and the red maples are turning now. Interstate 89 between Northfield and Berlin is showing color in the white ash, which turns yellow with mauve and purple overtones.
In the areas east and west of Rutland early stages of autumn color are appearing. ‘Tree tops on higher elevation mountain sides are showing a dusting of yellow and orange. Reds are starting to brighten road sides and hedgerows as the colorful Sumac will progress from crimson and purple thru September and October,’ notes spotter Tom Olson.
Southern Vermont is also showing bright spots of early color. Yellows and reds are still dominant with some oranges and purples mixed in places.”
The Fall Foliage season in Vermont is one of the busiest times of the year while visitors flock from all over the world to witness the beautiful changing colors. This year it will be more important than ever to call ahead for reservations and check on Road Conditions.
Parts of our updates are thanks to the USDA Forest Service, the Vermont Department of Tourism, and various “Leaf Peepers” around the state. If you’d like to be on Vermont.com’s “Leaf Squad” to help report the Foliage conditions in your area of Vermont, please contact us!
To view our first-hand reports throughout the state of Vermont, visit our Vermont Fall Foliage Reports.