Appalachian Gap (Vermont Route 17)
Scenic drive · Vermont
Vermont Route 17 hairpins up to a 2,369-foot summit between Waitsfield and Bristol, with the Long Trail crossing right at the height of land. Roadside pull-offs open onto the Champlain Valley and the Adirondacks beyond, on one of the state's steepest, most scenic fall drives.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 7–October 11
Color builds from September 24 · mostly bare by October 30
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Appalachian Gap (Vermont Route 17)’s own coordinates and elevation (728 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Appalachian Gap (Vermont Route 17) on the map
More things to do in Vermont
Smugglers' Notch (Vermont Route 108)
Scenic drivePeak October 9
Route 108 squeezes through Vermont's most dramatic mountain pass, threading hairpin turns beneath 1,000-foot cliffs between Mount Mansfield and Sterling Peak. The 3.5-mile stretch between Stowe and Jeffersonville closes each winter and peaks with maple and birch color in early-to-mid October.
Don’t miss: Hairpin turns beneath Mount Mansfield · Height-of-land parking area for short hikes · Closes mid-October to mid-May
Mount Philo State Park
State parkPeak October 12
Vermont's first state park (1924) tops out at just 968 feet, but a short auto road or one-mile trail delivers an outsized payoff: a sweeping view over the Champlain Valley's turning maples to the lake and New York's Adirondacks beyond.
Don’t miss: Vermont's oldest state park · Short auto road to the summit · Views across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks
Quechee Gorge
State parkPeak October 11
Known as Vermont's Little Grand Canyon, this 165-foot-deep gorge cut by the Ottauquechee River is spanned by a US Route 4 bridge with a pedestrian walkway, framed by red maples that make it one of the state's most-photographed fall stops.
Don’t miss: 165-foot gorge viewed from the Route 4 bridge · Trails down to the river · Adjacent campground and gift shops
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Cider millColor nearby peaks October 11
Vermont's best-known cider mill has pressed apples on this Waterbury Center site since 1974, using a century-old rack-and-cloth press visible through viewing windows. The bakery's cider doughnuts and gallons of fresh sweet cider draw a steady line of leaf peepers off Route 100.
Don’t miss: Working rack-and-cloth cider press · Fresh cider doughnuts · Farm store with Vermont products
Frequently asked
- When does Appalachian Gap (Vermont Route 17) peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 7–October 11 (best estimate October 9). Color starts around September 24 and is mostly bare by October 30.
- What is Appalachian Gap (Vermont Route 17) best for?
- Steep, scenic Green Mountains crossing.
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