Red, Orange and Gold Vermont Shows its Fall Colors

Author: Alyssa Thurston

The times, they are a-changin' - and so are the leaves in Vermont. That's right, folks, autumn is here, and with it, the landmark foliage that causes the mountainsides of Vermont to burst into a myriad of colors.

The changing fall colors that cover the rural Vermont landscape define the state's character. Jim Kappel, co-owner of the Swift House Inn in Middlebury, says that Vermont is particularly known for its fall foliage due to the relatively large number of maple trees that are indigenous to the state's landscape. Every fall, generally between Sept. 15 and the end of October, it is the brilliant red colors of the changing maple leaves that add a fiery touch to Vermont's autumn landscapes, attracting visitors from all over the world.

"When people think of Vermont, they think of foliage and maple syrup. These are features that Vermont is historically known for and which other states cannot duplicate," Kappel says. He adds that Vermont is a particularly attractive destination because out-of-state visitors "often want to get away from the city and see more natural beauty and color" that the rural character of Vermont provides in droves.

As a result, foliage-related tourism is one of the greatest contributors to Vermont's economy, drawing the largest amount of visitors to the state compared to any other season of the year. According to 2003 statistics from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, 33 percent of Vermont's visitors come in the fall, followed closely by 32 percent of visitors coming in the spring. Of these, nearly 12 percent make trips specifically to view the state's foliage, with 31 percent returning on repeat visits.

This adds up to big bucks for the state's businesses. According to a 2001 University of Vermont study on fall foliage and tourism in Vermont, nearly $1.6 billion of the state's income comes from the influx of tourists in the fall. Marguerite Senecal, information specialist for the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, comments that foliage-related tourism "definitely impacts us locally, big time. If we didn't have the foliage in the fall, we wouldn't have the tourists, and the bed-and-breakfast establishments, restaurants and stores would be empty."

Where can tourists find the best foliage viewing opportunities? It depends on the year. According to Brian Stone of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, every fall there is great variability in the levels and amount of foliage color in Vermont. "Predicting where and when the most brilliant foliage is, is at best difficult" due to the numerous environmental factors influencing the changing colors throughout the state. "On the other hand, we can predict that across the state there will be brilliant spots in every area."

Tourists who come to see those brilliant spots certainly have no shortage of guides to consult on the best times and the best places to visit. Besides state guidebooks, visitors can refer to the state and local Chambers of Commerce for area-specific foliage viewing information. Senecal estimates that the number of visitors to the Addison County Chamber of Commerce seeking information quadruples during foliage season.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce runs a popular Web site, vermontvacation.com, which provides twice-weekly updated foliage reports provided by the Vermont Forestry Department. The comprehensive site also features a thorough scientific explanation of why leaves change color in the fall, as well as "foliage travel tips" offering advice on when and where to see the best colors throughout Vermont. Another source of information are local innkeepers, who provide out-of-town guests with personal assistance and advice. Both the Middlebury Inn and the Swift House Inn, for example, offer advice to guests about scenic routes or day trips organized around the best places to view foliage at the time of their visit.

As Stone of the Forestry Department states, "I have lived in Northern New England all my life and have never seen a bad foliage year yet. Sometime [in the fall] we will have beautiful foliage somewhere in Vermont." And as long as the colors of the leaves in Vermont keep turning, the tourists will keep coming.