Nov 15

Nov 15 3 Days Leaf Peeping in Stowe, Vermont

If you’ve never heard of Stowe, Vermont, I’d be shocked. Pictures from this gorgeous town flood social media channels during the fall colors, most notably the white church that stands out against the fall mountain backdrop. Dubbed the ‘Ski Capital of the East", there’s activities here all year long, but for now, I’m going to share my three-day trip here to chase fall colors.

Interesting Facts About Stowe

Chartered as a town in 1763 with settlers arriving about 30 years later, Stowe is one of Vermont’s largest towns in land area today.
The area has been a summer touristy town since the mid-1800s due to its stunning mountain scenery.
It wasn’t until the early 1900s when three Swedish families traveled around town with a new form of transportation, prompting curiosity by other residents. And thus, skiing was brought to Stowe.

Know before you go

when to start planning

Stowe is an EXTREMELY popular fall destination, as it should be with how gorgeous it is. That said, you’ll want to start planning your trip months in advance if you’re able to. Peak fall colors vary every year, so be sure to pay attention to the weather and foliage trackers to get an idea of when to you. Lodging will fill up quickly so once you decide on dates, then go ahead and book.

>> Related: How To Plan The Perfect Fall Trip <<

getting there & around

Stowe is located about 40 minutes east of Burlington and about 1.5 hours south of the Canadian border in a valley between Mt. Mansfield and other Green Mountain peaks.

If you’re coming from Burlington Airport or driving through there, you’ll want to take I-89 S to VT-100 to get to Stowe. A lot of the drive is open roads and driving through small towns with mountain views all around.

where to stay

Day One in Stowe

The first thing you should check out is Smugglers’ Notch State Park, located about 15 minutes from downtown Stowe. Named after the narrow pass here in the Green Mountains, the views of the 1,000-foot cliffs are popular among photographers and visitors to the area. The pass is so narrow that it is closed in the wintertime to vehicle traffic. Here you can check out a stunning view of Smuggler’s Notch from the Long Trail boardwalk. Next up, head up the street through what’s been unofficially named “the tunnel.” The tunnel leads to Smugglers Notch and other trailheads, including Sterling Pond, another great view of the fall colors that is about 1.4 miles one way.

Once you’re done at Smuggler’s Notch, head over to the Mt. Mansfield Gondola Skyride. Here you can ride up to the top of the mountain and have absolutely stunning views of the surrounding area. At the top, be sure to eat some lunch at the Cliff House restaurant and The Waffle. Not interested in taking the Gondola? No worries, you can take the Stowe Scenic Auto Road (located down the road) and drive to the top and then hike over to the Cliff House.

Fun fact: The toll road was actually built in 1870 with the Summit House constructed just as the Civil War broke out.

Just down the road, after parking on either side of the road in the designated spots, you can then take the 0.5-mile trail down to Bingham Falls. There’s a few different viewpoints along the way down; you’re able to see the beginning of the falls and then continue down the stone steps to the base of the falls.

Since you’re in the area, be sure to head across the street from the Gondola to explore the Stowe Mountain Resort and its beautiful Spruce Peak Village. Here you have a few options for dinner, but I recommend the WhistlePig Pavillion. There’s also shopping, coffee, and other food places to check out here. Spruce Peak Center is actually the largest geothermal project in the state.

Day Two in Stowe

Start your day early and head up to Moss Glen Falls, about a half-mile total trip. The parking lot is fairly small, and while the trail is very short and easy, there’s a final hill up to the viewpoint of the falls that you need to watch your step. It’s also a very small area at the viewpoint making it hard to even get up there if there’s more than a few other people.

Next up is downtown Stowe! This town is always busy so prepare for traffic entering and leaving it. As for parking, you’ll find a decent-sized lot behind Shaw’s General Store off of Depot Street, or you can try street parking throughout the town. Since Moss Glen Falls won’t take very long, you can stop by Black Cap Coffee & Bar for a morning pick-me-up.

Downtown is such a cute area with some great shops, including Shaw’s General Store, Laughing Moon Chocolates, Stowe Mercantile, and more. It’s definitely a great area to just walk around. Be sure to also check out the Giles W. Dewey Memorial Bridge. Another great spot in town is Sunset Rock, a 1.6-mile hike that starts downtown and leads to a cool aerial view of the town. Once you’re done hiking, be sure to stop by one of the many food options downtown; I personally loved the Cafe on Main.

If you’ve ever seen pictures of Stowe, I can guarantee at least one was of the Community Church that sits downtown. While the church is nothing special up close, when seen from afar, the white exterior really stands out against the fall color mountain backdrop. There’s a couple of ways to see the church this way, the first being via the Stowe Recreation Path, which is located right behind the church where there’s a decent-sized parking lot. Probably the most popular viewpoint however is from the SalonSalon parking lot up on the outskirts of downtown. There’s a few businesses here so make sure to watch where you park as the lot is fairly small.

For dinner, you have quite a few options; I went to Idletyme Brewery, but other notable options include Tres Amigos, The Alchemist, or the Von Trapp Bierhall.

Day Three in Stowe

On the final day of your trip, head over to the Von Trapp Family Lodge to see the view that reminded the Von Trapp’s of Austria. Here you can explore the grounds and the beautiful Austrian-inspired architecture. After that, you can drive up to the Percy Farm Corn Maze to see the farm animals and find your way through the maze.

It’s not a fall trip if you don’t get some hot cider! Head down to the outskirts of town to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill to get your hot cider and cider donuts, as well as other gifts and food. You can even tour the working cider mill.

Hope this guide helps you plan your trip to the beautiful town of Stowe! Below are a few more ideas of activities nearby. Have you been to Stowe? What was your favorite part?