If you are in north/central VT tomorrow, you will LOVE t
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:38 pm
I spent the day today driving around (and around, and around) Lincoln, Starksboro, Waitsfield, Warren and vicinity. I had a BLAST! The color is actually superb, if you know where to go and do it at the right time of day.
First and most important point: get off route 100! Sure, it's okay as highways go, but it's still a highway. To really enjoy the foliage you need to get onto the side roads.
Okay... here's my gift to you leaf peppers.. a loop suggestion for someone staying in Burlington or Montpelier. This is somewhat similar to what I did today (only I did some of it several times.)
In the morning, take I-89 over to Waterbury and go south on route 100 to the intersection of 100B. Go north towards Moretown and turn right on Pony Farm Road, going south. This becomes North Road into Waitsfield, then Common Road and then E. Warren Road. It goes all the way from Moretown to the Roxbury Mountain Road. TONS of cool farms, big maples and mountain views, including the Camel's Hump. Explore the side roads here too -- you could spend a whole day in just in Waitsfield and Warren. This area is probably best done between 8 and 11 am.
Head up to the Roxbury Gap for IMO the best views of any of the gaps. Go back down to Warren and head over the Lincoln Gap road. Then drive around Lincoln.. superb views and great color. Get some lunch. Lincoln is best done in the afternoon.
From the Lincoln Gap road go south on Geary St. to Grimes, to Ripton and then to West Hill Road. This has GREAT views of Mt. Abraham and that whole range. Then follow that to York Hill Road. More great views.
Take W. River to Quaker St. and follow that north to Downingville Road up into Jerusalem... follows the mountains with lots of color. Then take 17E to Gore Road and go north up into Huntington for a good view of the back of the Camel's Hump. (Trick: the best views of the Hump IMO are not on the road to Camel's Hump SP but further north on Main Road, near Spence Rd.)
If it's late, keep going north to get back to I-89. Otherwise.. double back and take route 17E back over Appalachian Gap. Colors are a bit past prime at the top, but what the heck. Then on 17 before you get to Irasville look for Number Nine Road or something like that.. turn left to go into Fayston. Follow that to Bragg Hill Road... excellent views across the valley!
Take 100 back north or head up to Roxbury Gap for the best place IMO to watch the sunset in this area.
If anyone does this route, please report back and tell me what you think! --c
First and most important point: get off route 100! Sure, it's okay as highways go, but it's still a highway. To really enjoy the foliage you need to get onto the side roads.
Okay... here's my gift to you leaf peppers.. a loop suggestion for someone staying in Burlington or Montpelier. This is somewhat similar to what I did today (only I did some of it several times.)
In the morning, take I-89 over to Waterbury and go south on route 100 to the intersection of 100B. Go north towards Moretown and turn right on Pony Farm Road, going south. This becomes North Road into Waitsfield, then Common Road and then E. Warren Road. It goes all the way from Moretown to the Roxbury Mountain Road. TONS of cool farms, big maples and mountain views, including the Camel's Hump. Explore the side roads here too -- you could spend a whole day in just in Waitsfield and Warren. This area is probably best done between 8 and 11 am.
Head up to the Roxbury Gap for IMO the best views of any of the gaps. Go back down to Warren and head over the Lincoln Gap road. Then drive around Lincoln.. superb views and great color. Get some lunch. Lincoln is best done in the afternoon.
From the Lincoln Gap road go south on Geary St. to Grimes, to Ripton and then to West Hill Road. This has GREAT views of Mt. Abraham and that whole range. Then follow that to York Hill Road. More great views.
Take W. River to Quaker St. and follow that north to Downingville Road up into Jerusalem... follows the mountains with lots of color. Then take 17E to Gore Road and go north up into Huntington for a good view of the back of the Camel's Hump. (Trick: the best views of the Hump IMO are not on the road to Camel's Hump SP but further north on Main Road, near Spence Rd.)
If it's late, keep going north to get back to I-89. Otherwise.. double back and take route 17E back over Appalachian Gap. Colors are a bit past prime at the top, but what the heck. Then on 17 before you get to Irasville look for Number Nine Road or something like that.. turn left to go into Fayston. Follow that to Bragg Hill Road... excellent views across the valley!
Take 100 back north or head up to Roxbury Gap for the best place IMO to watch the sunset in this area.
If anyone does this route, please report back and tell me what you think! --c