Vermont in Full Color: Our Leaf‑Peeping Getaway

We spent five nights in northern Vermont soaking up peak fall colors, and the scenery was absolutely incredible. Even with my foot issues, we made the most of the trip and enjoyed every bit of the gorgeous foliage!

A beautiful tree with green in the insides and color on the outsides.

Chasing Fall Colors

Growing up in Iowa, fall was always my favorite time of year, and it still holds that spot for me. The trees were gorgeous, and I can still picture us raking leaves into big piles while Dad burned them in the backyard. Those smoky, cozy smells are etched in my memory.

In Texas, we’re a bit cheated on fall color – the leaves don’t turn much and usually drop in late November or early December. I still love the vibe of the season, but the bright, fiery foliage just doesn’t really happen here.

Mike planned this trip months ago after hearing me repeat that I’d love to see fall foliage in one of the places it’s most famous. Vermont was the perfect choice, and it absolutely lived up to the hype!

Get ready for all the colorful foliage below – the photos don’t even come close to capturing how stunning it really was.

Mike and I sitting on a bench at Elmore Lake with the fall foliage in the background.

View of gorgeous foliage in back of grassy area.

At The Airbnb

When we first mapped out this trip, staying close to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail was our top priority, and our Airbnb fit the bill perfectly. It wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything we needed – a mountain‑view deck plus a fire pit where we spent a few chilly evenings talking, sipping red wine, and enjoying Mike’s charcuterie.

Johnson is a very small town, and the limited restaurant options surprised us, but we made it work by driving out for meals most days. So instead of sharing a food list like I usually do, this post is all about the gorgeous Vermont foliage.

A view of the back of our airbnb with me sitting by the firepit.

A view of our charcuterie and wine with the fire in the background.

Mike sitting on deck with devices with a beautiful tree in the background.

The Lamoille Trail

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) is a long, scenic, multi‑use path that runs across northern Vermont, following the old Lamoille Valley Railroad line. It’s known for being flat, accessible, and incredibly picturesque, making it great for walking, biking, running, and winter activities like cross‑country skiing and snowmobiling.

Despite my foot issues, I was determined to ride the trail at least once on our trip. Luckily, I got set up on a lightweight e‑bike with a throttle, so I basically cruised along like it was a little motorcycle with just a bit of pedaling.

We stopped several times for photos and even squeezed in our brewery ritual – IPAs and burgers were the perfect fuel for the ride back. I’m so happy I was able to get out on the trail, and equally glad Mike got to enjoy a couple of solo rides too.

View of Mike and I along the trail as we begun our ride.

View of me as I biked over a bridge along the trail.

A photo of the sign along the trail with beautiful trees in background.

A view of the beautiful foliage along the trail.

A view of the cornfields along the trail with a tractor sign.

A view of the foliage by a creek along the trail.

A photo of the outside of Lost Nation Brewing in Vermont.

Me and Mike at the brewery at a stop while riding the Lamoille Trail in Vermont.

The Johnson‑to‑Newport Drive (And All Those Colors)

Vermont gave us a mix of bright blue skies and rainy, cloud‑covered days, and honestly, both were beautiful. On one of the drizzly days, we took a drive from Johnson to Newport via Jay Peak, and the foliage was at full, fiery peak. The colors were so unreal we kept blurting out omg’s and sheeshes the whole way.

Mike stopped the car several times so I could snap photos right out the window, and he even hopped out a few times to get “just the right angle” for me. I’m pretty sure he just earned himself an official photography job for the blog. I was quick to get a photo of him taking a pic of the most beautiful tree outside Newport!

Beautiful view of the colorful trees withh a pond in front.

A dirt road with beautiful colorful trees.

View of a lake with beautiful trees in the background.

Mike standing on a wet road taking a photo of the foliage.

A gorgeous colorful tree with more in the background beside lake.

Our drive showing fall foliage along the roadside.

Mike’s Bike Ride

Mike went on a couple of solo rides along the trail while I stayed back resting my feet (and writing this post). He ended up taking some really beautiful photos, and I just had to share them with you. Those reflections on the ponds are incredible.

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A view of a pond in front of fall foliage.

View of a covered bridge along the trail.

A tractor and trailer on some grass in front of beautiful trees.

Ride to Smugglers Notch

We took one of the prettiest drives of the whole trip – from Johnson up through Smugglers’ Notch, over to Stowe, and then back to our Airbnb. The climb through Smugglers’ is wild in the best way: narrow curves, huge boulders, and those tunnels of color that make you gasp. Most of these shots were taken straight out the sunroof of our rental car, which turned out to be a genius move on my part!

As soon as we descended into Stowe, the landscape opened into rolling hills and postcard‑worthy foliage. We stopped at Piecasso for pizza and a beer, and it totally hit the spot. (Plus we celebrated an ISU win while we were waiting for our pizza!) The whole loop was stunning – the kind of drive where every curve makes you want to pull over for just one more photo. My phone is full of Vermont photos now and I’m not mad about it!