Although some trees have lost their leaves, there is still amazing color to see from Hogback Mountain! Oranges, reds, brown and yellow leaves as far as the eye can see!
Music at 3PM on Saturday and Sunday at Vermont Distillers.
Hike to the fire tower for the best view in town!
Due to our high elevation (around 2,000') we are already seeing great colors. Colors range from deep reds, to burnt oranges and bright yellows as well as plenty of green leaves. Peak color doesn't appear to be far away!
Join us for live music on Saturdays at 3pm, this week is comedy county with Case of Bud. Try a complimentary sample of Vermont Maple Bourbon and grab a bottle to-go, or relax and enjoy a cocktail on our deck with a 100-mile view!
Great selection of Vermont foods and souvenirs available next door at the Hogback Country Store.
We are at the start of foliage! The pops of color within the green highlight the beauty of our changing seasons. From the top of Mt. Equinox you get to enjoy the majesty of Green Mountain forests.
While still in a sea of green, vibrant reds and yellows are peaking through!
Basin Harbor is set on the shores of Lake Champlain, overlooking the Adirondacks. As of today, we are seeing the Adirondacks become speckled with brown/red colors. While mostly green, we are beginning to see the color change. On property at Basin Harbor we are experiencing a similar pattern, some subtle shift in hues, but no drastic color pops.
Vergennes Farmers Market occurs on Thursdays from 3pm to 6pm. Join the local vendors in Vergennes for delicious veggies, berries, bread, desserts, crafts, and prepared foods. Occurring until October 9th.
Lulu's ice cream, located at 185 Main St in Vergennes, is a cool and creative café whipping up homemade ice cream, pastries and sandwiches featuring local ingredients.
Looking for flowers for any occasion? Diddle and Zen at 221 Main St Vergennes is your go to Farm-to Vase florist. They craft thoughtful and sustainable arrangements that pulse with life, and possess movement and soul
Consensus around here is that October, 8th is annually when we reach "peak" foliage. After a quick drive around today, I would confirm this sentiment. We received a bit of rain and wind last night which accelerated some of the leaves falling off the trees, but those vibrant colors are still very easy to find from the valleys through the higher elevations. The newly littered leaves on the ground also adds a nice touch to the scenery. Peep it while you can.
Even today, Wednesday, route 108 through the Notch was hopping busy. Take this into consideration if you plan on spending time there. Arrive early, park appropriately, and be aware of distracted (for good reason) pedestrians and drivers. Local dirt roads and less traveled country roads are in my opinion the best way to view the foliage in a car, slower pace, less people, great and unique views.
Yesterday, Caleb (our social media manager) and I went for a local drive to take in the nearly peak colors in our quaint little valley. We took off from Smuggs and drove up Dejardins Road, a small dirt road that parallels Route 108 South, heading up into the notch. This road offers a peek-a-boo view of Madonna, and the framing of Liftline with the shades of foliage reminded us why people come from around the world to see this area at this time of year.
We continued up the hill and into the notch. The top parking area was buzzing with folks from all walks of life taking in the stunning transition. The hardwoods’ leaves—showing vivid oranges, yellows, and reds—contrasted beautifully against the deep greens of the conifers, their respective roots somehow clinging to the sheer cliffs. We took a quick walk up past the smuggling caves to an overlook (where I proposed to my wife—she said yes!) to get a bird’s-eye view back north out of the notch. From this perspective, we once again got a view of the peak of Madonna, peeking over the ridgeline of Spruce Mountain. Pictures were snapped, content was captured, and the small effort to get to a different level was well worth it.
We continued our mission for views by taking a local country road loop through Jeffersonville. We cruised down into town and took a left onto the aptly named Pleasant Valley Road. This road continues all the way to Underhill, and for those who prefer to keep the wheels on pavement, it alone is quite spectacular. We quickly veered off onto Williamson Road, a dirt road that connects Upper and Lower Pleasant Valley and runs along the uphill side of the Lamoille River. This road acts as an alternate route between Jeffersonville and Cambridge if Route 15 becomes impassable. At the end of Williamson, we turned left onto Bryce Road, which, in my opinion, may offer the best view of Mount Mansfield in the entire state of Vermont. The road splits between two classic New England cow farms, and there’s a good chance you might even encounter a heifer out of its pasture—so drive slowly and remember to take your eyes off the mountain occasionally. Mount Mansfield and its proud prominence stand tall in the southern distance. The ridgelines run true and strong into the valley, almost like roots holding the mountain in place. We admired the authority the mountain holds and were once again reminded of what a special place Northern Vermont is.
We then moved along to one of my favorite roads in Vermont—Thompson Road. This nearly Class 4, mostly single-lane dirt road plunges directly into a deciduous forest. The canopy tunnels the road, and the high banks pinch your vehicle into the lane. As we ventured forward, multiple gusts of wind released showers of leaves that cascaded down in front of my pickup truck—the quintessential fall moment.
From there, we made our way back to Smuggs—an hour-long tour in total. What struck us most was how much pure fall foliage we experienced in such a short time. It made me think about how many memories you could make spending an entire extended weekend going through these same motions. Fall is absolutely fleeting—so act now and get your chance to peep the peaks at peak.
Llama Treks. Wednesday, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm.
Sign up today for maybe one of the most unique foliage peeping activities in Vermont.
Hike and picnic with these gentle, intelligent creatures from Northern Vermont Llama Company in the woods and trails surrounding Smugglers’ Notch. Remember, llamas are pack animals only; you may not ride them. Please come prepared for hiking with sturdy footwear and water. These three-hour treks are fun for all ages but are not stroller accessible. Please bring your own snacks and water, which your family’s llama will carry for you! We will supply a dessert of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and beverages.
The food trucks in Jeffersonville are outstanding, both Gerber's Tacos and Burger Barn offer delicious options that will have your taste buds popping, like the foliage.
Just about at Peak Colors in Burke and the Northeast Kingdom.
Visit https://www.burkevermont.com/ for more activities and events.
As autumn moves forward, the three Mountains at Smuggs are beginning to reveal a life beyond a dream. The canopy that once felt endless and uniform is now alive with ruby waves of maple, birch, and beech, creating a divided sky between the deep blue above and the fiery stash on the slopes. This year, the dry weather has pushed the season along quicker than usual, and the mountains in the mist are glowing limb by limb as the colors come on strong. It feels as if everything’s right for those who love the outdoors, though the pace of change reminds us that nothing remains simple for long.
Walking along the wire road, one cannot help but notice how the leaves shimmer in the low afternoon light. Each step along the path is a reminder of free moments, a chance to set your soul free. The palette this year ranges from golden horn yellow to burning fuego orange, with bursts of deep scarlet that sparkle like a theme from the bottom of a painter’s brush.
Our hillsides are already closer to peak than in years past. From the wedge of Sterling Mountain to the farmhouse fields below, the forests seem to twist with intensity. Sand and soil crunch underfoot where rain might normally soften the sound, and the scents and subtle sounds of autumn are sharper in the dry air. This quickening of color will punch you in the eye and completely fill your loving cup.
Birds of a Feather gather above the forests, their calls mixing with the rustle of branches, as though nature itself is running through a setlist. The colors blaze on across the ridgeline, even as the season feels about to run faster than usual, there is a balance, a mercury shimmer in the light that slows you down. Standing still beneath the canopy, the joy comes clear and contact with this cycle is the thread that ties the community together.
On the quiet Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, one might pause by the river, where steam rises like a ghost against the cool dawn. The colors reflect in the water, and a modest glance captures the essence of what is happening: a landscape in motion, a split open and melt into brilliance. Like a maze of trails weaving through the forest, the season challenges us to keep up, to notice, and to taste the fleeting brilliance while it lasts. The landscape itself becomes a sample in a jar, preserved in memory even as it changes by the hour.
As the foliage nears its crescendo, it reminds us to slow down, to waste no time. Whether you view the hills from the notch itself or take in the spectacle from the valley roads, the message is the same: now is the moment. Set your course, let go of the heavy things, and let the colors guide you to find love and light.
The Northeast Kingdom is getting some good colors right now especially north of Burke and along the lakes. Peak Foliage will probably be within the next week. We should have some good foliage for the Annual Burke Fall Festival on September 27th.
The 36th Annual Burke Fall Festival is Saturday, September 27th on the village green in East Burke from 9-3. Parade, wagon rides, rubber duck races, pony rides, HUGE craft fair with over 75 vendors, music, wildlife show, BBQ and more!
The local weather forecast is calling for some much needed rain early this week, this will also act as an accelerant for foliage colors. Don't wait, book your cozy Northern Vermont stay at Smugglers' Notch Resort. https://www.smuggs.com/vacation-packages/autumnfest-package/
9-24-25 Jeffersonville Farmers' Market 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Farmers’ and Artisan Market unites our community’s producers, musicians, and neighbors with weekly live music. Enjoy the freshest local foods and more. You can find our summer market at 49 Old Main Street, in the field at the Route 15 & 108 South roundabout intersection. Please access parking at the silo space and the field off Old Main Street.
9-24-25 Line Dancing
Join Better In Boots at the Boyden Valley Barn every other Wednesday night from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm! Come out for a fun, welcoming night of line dancing, great food, and local brews! Whether you’re brand new or have a few dances under your belt, there’s something for everyone. We’ll teach a new dance each week, most around 32 counts, though the speed and difficulty may vary. After the lesson, stick around for open dancing and song requests to close out the night.
Schedule:
6:00 pm – Open dancing & warm-ups
6:15 pm – Lesson begins and continues through roughly 7:30 pm
Followed by open dancing & requests until 9:00 pm
Beginner-Friendly!
No experience required—we’ll teach you everything you need to know!
A Few Quick FAQs:
Purchase tickets to reserve your spot or pay Cash at the door! Do I need boots? Nope! Wear whatever is comfortable.
Is this couples dancing? No, this is single line dancing—though you’re welcome to turn it into a partner dance if you like.
Hydration reminder: This is exercise! Please stay hydrated. The bar will be open for drinks and you can bring your own water!
Clean shoes, please! If your shoes are muddy, bring a clean pair to change into for the dance floor.
Do I need to know how to line dance? Absolutely not—that’s what I’m here for!
Can’t wait to see you there! Let’s dance!
We have a Ben & Jerry's on-site! Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 3:30 pm- 8:00 pm.
Dry and warm weather has been dominating our region for weeks now, with no change in the forecast. This has leaves changing a bit sooner this season. This is not at all bad news, you now can take advantage of foliage colors and still enjoy summertime activities.
Check out our events calendar here:
https://www.smuggs.com/events/
Visiting Smugglers’ Notch Resort in the fall feels like stepping into a living postcard. The mountains are matted in layers of red, yellow, and orange. The mornings have you reaching for a sweatshirt and a hot cup of coffee, while the afternoons beg you to drop a layer and invoke cravings for a maple creemee. Roads wind beneath canopies of color, while farms, fields, and woods encompass the landscape, every view looks ready to be printed and mailed. This is Vermont’s foliage at its best!
That’s how the days unfold at Smuggs: one postcard after another. Each stop feels like its own snapshot, the kind of picture you can imagine on glossy card stock with a quick note scrawled across the back. A line that says wish you were here or thinking of you, paired with an image that tells the rest of the story. Here’s a glimpse of what a postcard day might look like.
You hop in your car and drive three and a half miles north to Pratt Road, a dirt road that bends between wooded stretches and open fields. Trees meet overhead to veil the way, while sunlight filters down in shifting patterns. Leaves, well past their prime, fall from the trees and dance to the tune of the wind. You might see a neighbor out for a walk, kids swinging in a tire, or some deer parading across the road. Then a view opens wide across a hay field revealing ski trails that will soon be coated in white. It’s quiet, local, and unhurried, a perfect start to the day.
After a picturesque mile and a half, you’ll find Stony Grove, a family orchard where the rows of trees stretch across the rolling property, each one heavy with apples. You wander through with a bag in hand, dew covered grass wetting your Blundstones, that first bite of apple is crisp and sweet. At the barn, the farm stand is stocked with baskets of apples, shelves of jams, maple syrups, jars of pickled vegetables, and trays of baked goods warm with cinnamon. It feels like the kind of stop you hope to stumble on when you come to Vermont, genuine and welcoming.
After getting your fill of fresh made apple beignets, if that’s possible, continue your postcard day at Golden Dog Farm, where the fields come alive with motion. Golden retrievers zoom through the grass, ears flying, tails wagging, and before long you’ll find yourself in the middle of the play, laughing as one nudges your hand and another chases after a ball. If the dogs seemingly smiling furry faces weren’t enough, the Golden Dog property boasts some of the best views locally, and they produce their own maple syrup. This experience is uniquely Vermont, a memory that, like the fur, will stick with you long after you leave.
Each postcard stands on its own, the canopy of Pratt Road, the rows of apples at Stony Grove, the dogs at Golden Dog Farm. Together, they create a day that feels both complete and personal, a collection of moments that belong as much to you as they do to the place.
All across Vermont, fall delivers its colors and flavors, but at Smugglers’ Notch Resort you are right at the crossroads of it all. From here, the experiences begin as soon as you walk out your door, mountains proudly wearing their seasonal colors, quiet tree-lined dirt roads, and local businesses abounding with their season’s best. The postcards are waiting, but it is up to you to dig them up, to harvest them, to make them your own. Some come with dew on your boots and apples in your bag, others with blonde fur on your jeans and wagging tails drumming your leg. Together they create not just a picture of fall in Vermont, but your own set of memories written on the backs of postcards that always say the same thing: wish you were here.
Sun is shining and the weather is sweet here at Smugglers' Notch. We are starting to see the first hints of color throughout the region. A very dry summer has the leaves starting to blush a bit earlier this year. Now's the time to make those travel plans, because our annual spectacular is right around the corner. Located directly at the base of one of America's most noterized foliage drives, Smuggs is ideally positioned for your Fall retreat.
2025 Green Mountain Championship at Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Join us this fall for a Disc Golf Pro Tour Playoff Event! Spectator tickets are available now—kids 10 & under are free with a ticketed adult.
Discounted lodging for GMC attendees is available through our Group Vacations team. Call 1-800-521-0536 or email [email protected] and mention the disc golf tournament.
️ Please arrive no earlier than 7:30 am.
Located at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT
No cameras, flash photography, or live streaming allowed.
Spectators must wear credentials, stay in viewing areas, and respect all event staff, players, and fellow guests.
No pets or outside alcohol. Food and beverages available on-site.
Rain or shine – no weather refunds. Cancellation policies apply.
For complete event details, rules, caddiebooks, maps, highlights, and policies, visit:
www.dgpt.com/green-mountain-championship/
Fiddlehead’s FallFest – Friday, September 19 & Saturday, September 20
Doors Open: 6:00 pm
Opening Bands: TBD – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday Headliner is Vermont based singer and songwriter Kat Wright 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday Headliner: we’re excited to welcome back art-pop and indie-rock band from Brooklyn, NY – Rubblebucket!
Fiddlehead Beer on Draft
• Enjoy a selection of Fiddlehead Brews on draft throughout FallFest
Local Food Carts
• Selections from several local purveyors of delicious eats
Other Details
• PARKING: Please park in the main parking lot in Smuggs Village. Follow parking attendants.
• REFUND POLICY: No refunds. Event is rain or shine.
• Children 12 & under are admitted free of charge with a paid adult accompanying them.
Don't sleep on Jeffersonville and Smuggs. We might not get the press that Stowe receives, and I believe that's to your advantage. Fall to me is intimate and cozy, the pace slows down, and you try to find your slice of quiet. That's what you'll find here, no lines, no traffic, just quiet roads, delicious food, and postcard views.
Basin Harbor is set on the shores of Lake Champlain, overlooking the Adirondacks. As of today, we are seeing the Adirondacks become speckled with brown/red colors. While mostly green, we are beginning to see the color change. On property at Basin Harbor we are experiencing a similar pattern, some subtle shift in hues, but no drastic color pops.
Vergennes Farmers Market occurs on Thursdays from 3pm to 6pm. Join the local vendors in Vergennes for delicious veggies, berries, bread, desserts, crafts, and prepared foods. Occurring until October 9th.
Lulu's ice cream, located at 185 Main St in Vergennes, is a cool and creative café whipping up homemade ice cream, pastries and sandwiches featuring local ingredients.
Looking for flowers for any occasion? Diddle and Zen at 221 Main St Vergennes is your go to Farm-to Vase florist. They craft thoughtful and sustainable arrangements that pulse with life, and possess movement and soul
