Vermont Fall Foliage: Goshen to Stowe

DAY 1 Arrival in Burlington. Transfer to Goshen; 2-3 miles, easy

The tour meets at the Burlington International Airport where you immediately depart for a scenic 1½-hour drive to your home for the next two nights. The Blueberry Hill Inn is located on 120 private acres near Moosalamoo, a section of the Green Mountain National Forest, in central Vermont. This original 1813 farmhouse, adorned with antiques and handmade quilts, exudes warmth and rustic charm.

Later in the afternoon you embark on a short warm-up walk along trails that surround the inn. Dinner this evening is served in the inn’s comfortable dining room. After dinner you have time to relax and enjoy the inn’s charming and peaceful environment.

DAY 2 Silver Lake Trail and Falls of Lana

After enjoying a full country breakfast, you set off to explore the trails around nearby Silver Lake. Wooded paths, brilliant colors, and lake views dot the landscape as you walk through this unspoiled region. You wander from Silver Lake down to an overlook of the Falls of Lana—part of Sucker Brook which flows into Lake Dunmore.

This afternoon you have time to relax on the porch of the inn or soothe your muscles in the wood-fired sauna. Or, you may want to join the guides on a three mile loop walk featuring 200-year-old maples, a beautiful blueberry meadow, and gorgeous views. A wonderful dinner is prepared for you tonight in the comfort of the inn’s dining room.

DAY 3 Robert Frost Trail; 1 mile easy. Little River State Park; 3-4 miles, moderate. Transfer to St

After another enjoyable breakfast, you leave Goshen for the approximate 1½ hour drive towards Stowe. However, not far from the inn you stop to enjoy a one-mile wooded trail loop on the Robert Frost Trail, which commemorates the poetry of Robert Frost, who spent 23 summers in this area.

Having stretched your legs you settle in for the drive north towards Little River State Park, stopping in the charming village of Warren and the Warren General Store where you pick up a moveable feast before arriving at the State Park. This region was once a settlement, home to 50 pioneer families in the early to mid-1800s. A wooded path takes you past remnants of old town buildings, a schoolhouse, and cemeteries; all evidence of a once-thriving community.

Following a picnic lunch you continue on to Stowe, where wooded trails welcome, and spectacular views abound. Your home for the next few evenings is an inn situated in the heart of Stowe village amidst the Green Mountains. New England charm and excellent cuisine provide a warm welcome at the end of an active day.

DAY 4 Mt. Mansfield; 3 miles, moderate to challenging

Today you drive to Smuggler’s Notch—the deep, boulder-laden passageway between Mt. Mansfield and Sterling Peak. In the early 1800s, Smuggler’s Notch was used as a route for smuggling goods in and out of Canada.

After ascending Mt. Mansfield by van, you begin a walk at the visitors’ center located near the top of the mountain. On a clear day, this ridgeline walk provides breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and several mountain ranges including the Adirondacks, the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, and Mount Royal in Canada. At 4,393 feet, Mt. Mansfield is the state’s highest summit and supports the largest of three alpine ecosystems in Vermont. Its alpine vegetation survives high winds, extreme temperatures, and considerable precipitation. Mt. Mansfield also supports numerous forest ecosystems that are noticeable as you traverse the ridge.

There is time this afternoon to further explore the village of Stowe, take a stroll along its recreation path, or simply relax and enjoy the tranquility of your inn. Tonight you are on your own for dinner, choosing from many local restaurants within easy walking distance. Your guides will be happy to assist in your choice.

DAY 5 Bull Moose Pasture; 4 miles, easy

Today’s walk takes you to beautiful Bull Moose Pasture. You pass working farms, sugar maple groves, and meadows dotted with Vermont’s ubiquitous Holstein cows. Autumn features spectacular fall foliage as leaves of maple, birch, and poplar trees change to dazzling shades of red, orange, and yellow.

This afternoon you take time to 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 as you picnic in his meadows overlooking Camel’s Hump, Vermont’s third highest peak.

This evening you gather for a final dinner at the inn.

DAY 6 Guide's choice. Departure

After a final breakfast at the inn your guides will offer a final walk depending largely on the weather and will be chosen from their repertoire of highlights in the area. Excellent views of nearby mountains painted with colorful foliage leaves a lasting impression of your visit to Vermont.

Following a final lunch as a group, you transfer to the Burlington International Airport in time for early evening flights.