Vermont in late October is the trip most people don’t think to take, and that’s exactly its appeal. Once Columbus Day weekend passes, the peak-foliage crowds head home, the Route 9 traffic thins, and the Deerfield Valley settles into its quietest stretch before ski season. The ridgetops fade first, but the valley often holds bronze and gold well past the holiday, and by the end of the month you’re into what locals call stick season. Here’s what the second half of October actually looks like around Mount Snow, what’s still open, what isn’t, and how to make a long weekend of it.
| Dates | Foliage | What’s happening | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 13–18 | Late peak in the valley | Orchards, corn mazes, flea market weekends | Dropping fast after the holiday |
| Oct. 19–23 | Fading, bronze and rust tones | Quiet trails, easy dinner tables | Light |
| Oct. 24 | Mostly past peak | Gilfeather Turnip Festival in Wardsboro | Busy for the day |
| Oct. 31 | Stick season | Halloween trick-or-treat in downtown Wilmington | Local and family |
What Vermont Looks Like in Late October
In the Deerfield Valley, peak color typically lands somewhere around October 8 to 15, with the high ridges turning first and the valley floor a week or so behind. That lag is the whole case for a late-October trip. By the third week, the maples on the summits have dropped, but the lower slopes and roadsides often hold color, and the trees that turn last – oaks and beech especially – add deep rust and bronze tones you don’t see at peak.
By the last week of the month, most leaves are down and the hills turn silver and brown. That’s stick season, and it has its own beauty: the leaf-off woods open up views that were hidden all summer, and on a clear, cold morning the ridgelines look sharper than they do in July. Average October highs run about 54°F with lows near 36°F, and the first flakes on the summits are possible by month’s end. Our Mount Snow weather by month guide has the details.
Why Late October Is a Smart Time to Go
The math is simple. Columbus Day weekend is the most in-demand weekend of the fall, and the weeks after it are among the least. Trails are quiet, dinner reservations are easier to get, and lodging that was booked solid for peak weekends often has openings. If your group cares more about time together than about catching the exact peak, the back half of October gives you the color that’s left, the cozy weather, and the valley mostly to yourselves.
Things to Do in Vermont in Late October
🍎 Pick apples. Cortland Hill Orchard near Brattleboro is open daily from mid-August through mid-November, one of the longest picking windows in the area.
🎃 Find a pumpkin and a corn maze. The seven-acre corn maze at Gaines Farm in Guilford is typically open weekends from mid-September through late October; our pumpkin patch and corn maze guide covers the options.
🥕 Celebrate a turnip. The Gilfeather Turnip Festival takes over Wardsboro’s Main Street on Saturday, October 24, 2026 – its 25th year, and as only-in-Vermont as it gets.
🏔 See the 100-mile view. The Hogback Mountain overlook on Route 9 is free and open year-round, and leaf-off season sharpens the layered ridgelines.
🥾 Hike a summit. Haystack Mountain outside Wilmington climbs about 1,025 feet in roughly 4 miles round trip to a rocky 180-degree view across the valley.
🛍 Browse Wilmington. The Wilmington Antique & Flea Market runs weekends through October, and Main Street’s shops in Wilmington make an easy morning.
👻 Chase a ghost story. Late October is the season for our Vermont ghost stories road trip, from Wilmington’s White House Inn legends to the Bennington Triangle.
🍽 Book the dinner you couldn’t get on a peak weekend. Our fine dining near Mount Snow guide covers the valley’s best tables – call ahead, since some keep shorter hours in the shoulder season.
What’s Closed by Late October
An honest late-October trip plan accounts for the shoulder season. Molly Stark State Park’s operating season ends on the second Monday in October, October 12 this year, and Mount Snow’s scenic chairlift wraps up in mid-October as well. Ski season doesn’t start until mid-to-late November – OnTheSnow’s projected opening day is November 21. And some local restaurants shorten their hours or take a short break between the foliage crowds and the ski crowds, so call ahead or check social media before driving over for dinner, especially midweek.
Halloween Weekend in Wilmington
Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31 in 2026, which makes the last weekend of the month a natural family getaway. Participating shops and restaurants in downtown Wilmington hand out candy to costumed trick-or-treaters, and the old village makes a great backdrop for it. Our Halloween weekend getaway guide has the details, and a house with a fire pit is the right place to hand out s’mores to a crowd of tired superheroes afterward.
A Cozy Base for Vermont in Late October
Late October rewards a trip built around the house as much as the outings. At Valley View Villa, that means a hot tub on a cold night, a fire pit under clear skies, a fireplace and game room for a rainy afternoon, and a spring-fed pond and private trail on five acres. Eight bedrooms sleep 20-plus, so two or three families can split one house for a long weekend, and there’s Wi-Fi 7 and EV charging for anyone who has to log on or plug in.
As of October 3, 2026, the villa still had open dates through the middle of the month and over Halloween weekend. Late openings like these don’t usually last, so check live availability if a late-October trip sounds right.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Things to Do in October – the full month around West Dover and Wilmington
- Halloween Weekend Getaway – trick-or-treat and a costume weekend
- Things to Do in Vermont in November – stick season and opening weekend
- Vermont Fall Packing List – what to bring for cold mornings
- A Last-Minute Fall Getaway in Vermont – how to plan a foliage trip this week
Frequently Asked Questions
Is late October a good time to visit Vermont?
Yes, if you want quiet over crowds. The weeks after Columbus Day weekend bring fewer visitors, easier dinner reservations, and more lodging availability, and the valleys often still hold color into the third week of October.
Are there still leaves on the trees in Vermont in late October?
Often, yes, at lower elevations. Near Mount Snow, peak color typically lands around October 8 to 15, and the valley floor runs a week or so behind the ridges. By the last week of October, most leaves are down and stick season begins.
What is stick season in Vermont?
Stick season is the local name for the stretch from late October into November, after the leaves fall and before the snow arrives. The hills turn silver and brown, the towns get quiet, and the leaf-off woods open up long views.
What is there to do in Vermont at the end of October?
Near Mount Snow, late-October highlights include apple picking and corn mazes, the Gilfeather Turnip Festival on October 24, the Hogback Mountain overlook, a Haystack Mountain hike, Wilmington’s shops, and Halloween trick-or-treat downtown on October 31.
