Celebrate Fall at One of These Beautiful Vermont State Parks
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When it comes to stunning fall foliage, nobody does it better than Vermont.
When October rolls around, the entire state turns into one giant postcard. You can peep stunning foliage from just about anywhere, but the best way to soak in autumn in Vermont isn’t from the shoulder of Route 100 behind a tour bus (and I love Route 100).
Autumn vibes are best experienced in the crisp mountain air with crunching leaves underfoot in our beautiful state parks.
One of the best things about Vermont’s state parks is that they’re beautiful and affordable. There are trails and vistas. Lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Scenic campgrounds and furnished cottages. And honestly, where else can you get million-dollar views for five bucks (or less in some cases)?
Whether you’re in the mood for a misty morning paddle, a sweaty climb to a panoramic summit, or a lazy stroll around a pond, there’s a Vermont State Park with your name on it. And, unlike some of the Instagram-famous overlooks, you might actually score a little peace and quiet (if you time it right).
So grab your flannel, toss a thermos of hot cider in your pack, and let’s talk about where to find the real fall magic in Vermont—six state parks that practically glow this time of year.
Woodford State Park (Bennington County)
Tucked high in the Green Mountains, Woodford State Park wraps around the mirror-still waters of Adams Reservoir.
This compact, forested park feels wonderfully remote despite its easy access, with quiet coves for paddling, loons calling at dusk, and a pine-scented loop trail that traces the shoreline.
Campsites, lean-tos, and a handful of simple cabins are scattered through the trees, offering a peaceful base for unhurried days on the water and in the woods.
Why Woodford State Park Shines in Fall
At 2,400 feet, Vermont’s highest public campground catches color early. Swamp maples around Adams Reservoir flip to scarlet in late September, and the forest keeps churning through oranges and golds into early October—prime time for leaf-peeping, paddling, and photography.
Fall Hiking
Follow the Adams Reservoir Trail (2.7-mile loop) through softwood forest and along quiet coves. It’s gently rolling, rooty in spots, and blissfully bug-free in autumn.
Find Your Cozy Fall Base Camp
The campground stays open until Indigenous Peoples’ Day. If chilly nights give you pause, book one of the four cabins (the Lady Slipper cabin is pet-friendly). Expect campfire dinners, loons paddling beside your kayak, and cold, starry skies.
Visit the official park website.
Lake Shaftsbury State Park (Bennington County)
Another gem in Southern Vermont, Lake Shaftsbury State Park is a small, tree-rimmed lake with big Vermont charm. This park is made for simple pleasures: shoreline picnics, a mellow nature trail, and easy paddles that trace reflections across glassy water.
The one-mile loop packs in a surprising amount of beauty: a boardwalk over wetlands, a dark hemlock forest, and ridge-top glimpses of the pond.
It’s the kind of park you drop into “just for a quick walk” and then look up an hour later, completely unbothered by the clock.
Why Lake Shaftsbury State Park Shines in the Fall
This small, wood-rimmed lake is an autumn mood board, complete with misty dawns, fiery reflections, and an easy shoreline loop that begs for daily laps.
Fall Hiking
The Healing Springs Nature Trail (1.3 miles) circles the lake via boardwalks and ridge-top footpaths; it’s a perfect morning leg-stretcher for humans and dogs.
When to Visit
The park is open through mid-October, and color often lingers to the end of the month. Early mornings often bring low fog on the water, which is fantastic for photos. After the gate closes for the season, you can park outside and enjoy the quiet loop into late fall.
Visit the official park website.
Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park (Rutland County)
Set on the folds of the Taconic range, Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park mixes meadows, ledgy hillsides, and intimate garden nooks into a compact, choose-your-own-adventure landscape. It’s an undeveloped state park with a small parking area and a single toilet. It’s also entirely free to visit.
Trails wander from grassy clearings to rocky viewpoints, stitching together short climbs and quiet places to sit and look out over farm valleys and distant peaks.
It’s unhurried and contemplative, more “wander and discover” than “check a route off a list.”
Why Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park Shines in the Fall
Open meadows and knobby outlooks make natural viewing platforms for the surrounding valleys, with late-day sun lighting up the hillsides. Leaf cover can make the rocks slick after rain, so step carefully and build in time to linger when the light gets good.
Fall Hiking
While you can’t go wrong with any of the trails here, I’m partial to the hike out to Moot Point and up to Zion Major. Be sure to explore the Japanese garden, too.
Visit the official park website.
Perry Holbrook Memorial State Park (Caledonia County)
Quiet and lightly traveled, Perry Holbrook is a free, undeveloped park and a refuge stitched together by soft forest paths and a few satisfying climbs.
Shoreline stretches feel intimate and reflective, and the overlook delivers big sky and long looks over the surrounding hills. It’s a place to hear your footsteps and the wind, and not much else.
Trails are well-suited to unhurried half-days; bring a thermos and plan to sit beside still water longer than you think you will.
Why Holbrook State Park Shines in the Fall
This off-the-beaten-path pocket is tailor-made for reflective, leaf-lined rambles. Ponds mirror the canopy, and the trails stay wonderfully uncrowded when the colors peak.
Fall Hiking
Holbrook Trail → Round Pond → Long Pond (2.8 miles): Trace the shoreline (stay on trail near the private camp), then climb the Summit Loop over Big Rock Hill to O’Leary Leap Overlook for big-shouldered views over a patchwork of reds and golds. Continue past the lean-to to end at peaceful Mud Pond—a perfect snack-and-thermos spot.
Visit the official park website.
Camel’s Hump State Park (Chittenden/Washington Counties)
Dominating the skyline with its distinctive profile, Camel’s Hump is a true Green Mountain icon. It’s rugged, wind-washed, and gloriously undeveloped. T
rails rise through hardwoods and spruce-fir to a rocky, open summit where the world spills out in every direction. It’s the classic “earn your views” mountain, with a network of approaches that let you tailor the challenge
Above treeline, the alpine zone is fragile and fierce all at once; it’s part of what makes this peak feel wild even on a bluebird day.
Why Camel’s Hump State Park Shines in Fall
On a clear October day, the summit panorama layers New Hampshire’s Whites, New York’s Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the spine of the Greens beneath a sea of color. It’s wild, windswept, and unforgettable.
Best fall hike (west side loop)
- Burrows → Long Trail (south) → Forest City → Connector (5.3 miles, steep/rocky).
- Snack at Hut Clearing before the alpine push; leash pups above treeline and avoid stepping on the fragile alpine plants.
- If the rock is wet/icy, descend the way you came; October can warrant Microspikes.
- Crowd tip: Go early/weekday. Burrows and Monroe lots fill fast on peak-color days, and you will be towed if you park on the roadside instead of the parking lot.
Bonus fall photo stop
Honey Hollow Falls (Bolton). Mossy hollows, drooping ferns, and layered cascades make a dreamy shoulder-season waterfall session.
Visit the official park website.
Also Read: Hike Burrows Trail to Camel’s Hump in Huntington
Brighton State Park (Essex County, Northeast Kingdom)
Anchored by Spectacle Pond and close to Island Pond, Brighton State Park feels distinctly northern, with dark evergreens, quiet water, and long reaches of forest that hint at how big the landscape gets up here.
Campground loops sit close to the shoreline, paddles are relaxed and reflective, and the trail network favors easy, meditative miles.
Brighton is also a great launchpad for classic Northeast Kingdom exploring, with back roads, bog boardwalks, and wildlife-rich corridors right out the gate.
Why Brighton State Park Shines in Fall
When nights turn crisp, Brighton transforms: the scent of balsam on the breeze, loon calls at dawn, and smooth-as-glass Spectacle Pond steaming under sunrise. Color arcs from hardwood flares to the dark greens of the encroaching boreal forest. It’s uniquely northern, deeply peaceful.
Fall-Friendly Camping & Trails
- Open Memorial Day weekend → 2nd Monday in October with 54 tent/RV sites, 23 lean-tos, five cabins—many near the water.
- Shore Trail: 1.6 miles (round trip) to Indian Point for sunset.
- Boreal Forest Trail (0.4-mile loop): A short, interpretive walk at the southern edge of the boreal biome with interpretive signs.
Wild Fall Side Quests
- Route 105 foliage drive to Wenlock WMA’s Moose Bog and the Silvio O. Conte NWR (Nulhegan River Trail, quiet gravel-road leaf-peeping).
- Averill Mountain (via Route 114): 1.3 miles to a ledge view over Great Averill Pond—high return for a short climb.
Visit the official park website.
Best Time to Visit Vermont State Parks in the Fall
Peak foliage varies across Vermont depending on elevation and latitude. Here’s a rough guide to help you plan your visits:
- Late September – Early October (High Elevation & Northern Vermont)
Parks like Woodford State Park and Camel’s Hump usually see the first bursts of color. This is prime time for vivid reds and oranges in the northern Green Mountains. - Mid to Late October (Southern Vermont & Lower Elevations)
The southern valleys keep their color well into October. Lower-elevation parks like Lake Shaftsbury are great for a final foliage outing.
Insider Tip:
If you’re chasing maximum color, start in the northern mountains in late September and work your way south and down in elevation through October. This “foliage wave” lets you experience peak color for weeks instead of days.
Tips for Visiting Vermont State Parks in the Fall
1. Time Your Visit Around Peak Color
While Monther Nature doesn’t follow a calendar, here are some general guidelines for visiting Vermont State parks in the Fall. Foliage timing varies by elevation and latitude. Woodford, Brighton, Holbrook, and Camel’s Hump will begin to change in late September and reach their peak during the early days of October. Taconic and Shaftsbury will peak in mid-October.
2. Dress in Layers
Fall days can start frosty, warm up by midday, and cool quickly once the sun drops. Pack a base layer, a warm fleece, and a wind-resistant shell, especially if you’re climbing a peak like Camel’s Hump, where summit winds can be intense.
3. Bring Footing Helpers
Leaf-covered trails hide rocks and roots, and October can also mean wet or icy ledges. Consider bringing trekking poles (these are my favs) and Microspikes if you’re heading above 3,000 feet later in the season.
4. Start Early
Popular foliage hikes, especially Camel’s Hump and other high peaks, draw big crowds. Aim for weekday visits, and hit the trail before 8 am. Do not park on the roadside if the parking lot is full. You will likely. be towed.
5. Expect Limited Services after Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Most Vermont State Parks close for the season by mid-October. After that, you can often park outside the gates to hike or paddle, but facilities (bathhouses, water, staff) won’t be available. Pack extra water, snacks, and a map, and be sure to leave it better than you found it.
6. Protect Fragile Ecosystems
Above treeline in places like Camel’s Hump, stay on marked paths to avoid damaging alpine plants. In quieter parks such as Holbrook, respect shoreline signs and private land near the trails.
7. Don’t Forget the 10 Essentials
Fall days get short quickly. Bring a headlamp, a paper map or downloaded offline map (cell service is unreliable in much of Vermont), and enough food and water for a longer-than-planned day outside. Here are the 10 essentials that you should pack for every hike.
8. Camp Smart in Cold Weather
If you’re fall camping at parks like Brighton or Woodford, lean-tos and cabins add an extra layer of comfort when overnight temps dip below freezing. Don’t forget a sleeping bag rated for cold weather, and plenty of layers for cozy nights under the stars.
Leaf-peeping in Vermont doesn’t have to mean elbowing your way through crowded overlooks or settling for views from the car window.
These six state parks deliver everything fall in Vermont is famous for: misty mornings, fiery forests, and trails that crunch underfoot, without draining your wallet or your patience.
And of course, Vermont is home to 55+ state parks that are worth visiting year-round.
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