Looking for a way to get out there and see the fall foliage? Consider one of these five foliage trips, with options ranging from an hour to a full day. And don’t forget to stop along the way to enjoy the views, as well as the towns you pass through!
Quick trip
This route will take you about 1 hour.
From Middlebury, travel south on Route 7. East on Route 125, passing the Waybury Inn (known as the Stratford Inn on the old “Bob Newhart Show”). Turn left at the Ripton Country Store and follow this road north to Lincoln (partially a dirt road). Head west out of Lincoln down the mountain to Route 17. Travel Route 17 west through Bristol (where you may like to stop for lunch at a variety of dining establishments) and on to Route 7. Left on Route 7 traveling south back to Middlebury.
Lakes and Mountains
This route will take around 2 hours
Leaving Middlebury, take Route 125 west to Chimney Point (where you may like to stop and visit the Tavern Museum or DAR’s John Strong Mansion Museum and State Park). Take Route 17 east to Addison, where you will pick up Route 22A and head north into Vergennes (the smallest city in the United States). Note: Vergennes has some of the most interesting buildings in Victorian architecture. In Vergennes, take Monkton Road east. Cross Route 7 and continue east to the village of Monkton Ridge. At Monkton Ridge turn right onto Bristol Monkton Road, heading south, and continue to Bristol. In Bristol take Route 17 west to Route 7 and head south on Route 7 back to Middlebury.
Champlain Lookout
This route will take you around 3 hours.
From Middlebury, take Route 30 south to Sudbury, where you pick up Route 73 and travel west to Larrabee’s Point on Lake Champlain. You may want to cruise the lake at Mount Independence leaving from Larrabee’s Point, which is home to the Fort Ticonderoga ferry. Continue north on Route 74 passing through historic Shoreham. Take Route 22A heading north. In Bridport take Route 125 west to Chimney Point on Lake Champlain. Follow Route 17 east. At the West Addison General Store, known locally as WAGS, bear left off Route 17 and, staying along Lake Champlain, head north on Jersey Street. Left on Button Bay Road and head north, passing beautiful Button Bay State Park, where one might want to stop and picnic past the Basin Harbor Resort. Backtrack on Basin Harbor Road into Vergennes where you pick up Route 22A and travel south to Addison. Take Route 17 east to Route 23 and Route 23 south back into Middlebury.
Gap to Gap
This route takes between 3 and 4 hours.
From Middlebury, take Route 7 south to Route 125. Route 125 east through East Middlebury and Ripton, passing the Robert Frost Wayside Recreation Area, the famous Middlebury College Bread Loaf campus, crossing over the Middlebury Gap (elevation 2,149 feet). Proceed down the mountain (also known as the Robert Frost Memorial Drive), into the town of Hancock.
Take Route 100 north through the town of Granville, watching on your left for the beautiful Moss Glen Falls. Continue north into Waitsfield, where you will pick up Route 17, and follow it west through the Appalachian Gap (elevation 2,365 feet), until you come to Route 7. Take Route 7 south back to Middlebury.
Mountain Meanders
Budget the whole day for this route, and enjoy!
From Middlebury, take Route 7 south to Route 125, Route 125 east over the mountains to Route 100 in Hancock. Take Route 100 south to Stockbridge, where you pick up Route 107 and drive east to Royalton.
In Royalton take Interstate 89 (known as one of the most beautiful interstates in the country) and head north, passing Vermont’s capital city, Montpelier. Get off the interstate at Middlesex (Exit 9) and take Route 100B south to Route 100. In Waitsfield, pick up Route 17 and head west over the Appalachian Gap (elevation 2,365 feet) to Route 7. Follow Route 7 south back to Middlebury.