Peak Foliage in Central Vermont
Central Vermont in October is a stage act. Kilbourne Lodge sits at the intersection of the two best foliage drives in the state — the Killington-Stockbridge corridor and the Woodstock-Quechee loop. Grand fireplace for crisp nights. Fenced yard for long golden-hour walks with the dog. Sleeps eight.
Why Kilbourne for Foliage
The foliage capital. Woodstock Green, the covered bridges, Quechee Gorge, Simon Pearce. All a 35-minute drive from the lodge. Perfect day trip — leave after coffee, back by fire-lighting time.
The Long Trail crosses Killington. Multiple access points within 15 minutes of the lodge. Fall foliage from the summits of Pico and Killington peaks is the full tourism-bureau postcard, but you actually get to be in it.
October nights in Vermont run cold. The grand wood-burning stone fireplace is the heart of the lodge this season. Firewood provided. Six-burner range next to it — a big soup, a long dinner, firelight.
Fully fenced backyard. Leash-friendly Vermont trails in every direction. Foliage hikes with the dog are the reason many of our repeat guests come in October.
Killington runs scenic foliage gondola rides through peak color (check current operating schedule). Go up on the K-1 gondola, walk around Killington Peak, come back for sunset over the valley.
Peak-weekend foliage books out a year in advance. But Tuesday-to-Thursday peak foliage is the local's secret — same color, less traffic on the scenic drives, softer rates. Worth a thought.
Planning Notes
Central Vermont peaks during the first-to-second week of October in most years. The exact window varies by 5–10 days depending on summer rainfall and early-autumn temperatures. Vermont's state foliage tracker at vermontvacation.com/fall is the best real-time reference.
Columbus Day weekend (the second weekend of October) is the single most-booked weekend in Killington outside of winter holidays. It fills 8–12 months in advance. If you know you want a foliage weekend, book as soon as you're confident about dates.
2-night minimum for most foliage weekends; 3-night minimum for Columbus Day weekend specifically.
Three we recommend: (1) Killington → Stockbridge → Warren → Mad River Glen loop — about 2 hours round trip. (2) Killington → Woodstock → Quechee → Plymouth, ending at Calvin Coolidge State Park. (3) Route 100 North from Killington through Rochester and Granville Gulf — one of the top-rated foliage drives in the country.
Ready to Book
Check availability on your preferred platform. Early October books earliest.