Foliage map › National parks and forests › Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest fall foliage
The Green Mountain National Forest covers about 400,000 acres along the spine of the Green Mountains in southern and central Vermont, in two sections. The high gaps and ridges turn first, typically peaking in the first week of October, and the valleys follow through mid-October.
- Typical peak
- Oct 6 – Oct 14
- Location
- Vermont
- Size
- About 400,000 acres
- Elevation
- About 500 to 4,083 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 6 at Killington. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Killington, at 1,800 feet. See below for other parts of the forest.
Peak by place and elevation
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each place. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s status.
The season at Killington
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Where to see the color in the Green Mountains
Several mountain gaps cross the forest from east to west. Route 125 climbs over Middlebury Gap past Texas Falls and the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, near the farm in Ripton where the poet spent his summers. Route 73 crosses Brandon Gap below the cliffs of Mount Horrid. In the southern section, near Manchester, a trail through the Lye Brook Wilderness leads to Lye Brook Falls, which drops about 125 feet. The Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail follow the ridgeline through the forest.
Scenic drive
Route 100 runs north–south along the eastern edge of the forest through small villages and valleys, past Killington. From it, Route 125 over Middlebury Gap and Route 73 over Brandon Gap cross the mountains to the west, and in the south, Route 11 climbs over the mountains between Londonderry and Manchester.
Trees you’ll see turning
Scenic drive guide
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in the Green Mountain National Forest?
In a typical year, the high gaps and ridges in the northern section peak in the first week of October, and the lower valleys and the southern section around Manchester and Bennington peak in mid-October.
What are the best fall drives in the Green Mountain National Forest?
Route 100 along the east side of the forest, and the gap roads that cross it, especially Route 125 over Middlebury Gap and Route 73 over Brandon Gap.