The things to do in Vermont in November are quieter than October’s, and that is exactly the appeal. Locals call it stick season: the leaves are down, the ridgelines turn silver and brown, and the valley exhales between foliage crowds and ski crowds. In the Mount Snow area, this November brings the resort’s projected opening weekend, the start of holiday shopping on Wilmington’s Main Street, and Thanksgiving on November 26 – plus the best lodging availability of the fall.
Here is how to spend November in West Dover and Wilmington, with the dates that matter this year and a few honest caveats about what’s closed.
| What | Where | November 2026 timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening weekend skiing | Mount Snow, West Dover | Projected Nov. 21 | Eager skiers, short lift lines |
| Ridge hiking | Hogback Mountain, Route 9 | All month; blaze orange Nov. 14–29 | Clear, leaf-off views |
| Holiday shopping | Main Street, Wilmington | All month | Gifts that aren’t from a mall |
| Maple spirits tasting | Hogback Mountain | Call ahead for hours | A brisk afternoon outing |
| Thanksgiving | At home or reserved out | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Multi-family gatherings |
❄️ Catch Opening Weekend at Mount Snow
Snowmaking is what makes a November ski season possible here. The guns start firing as soon as nights run cold enough, and OnTheSnow’s projected opening day for 2026-27 is Saturday, November 21. Opening weekends usually offer a handful of trails rather than the whole mountain, but that is part of the fun: the lift lines are short, the energy is high, and the first chair of the year has its own following.
Keep plans flexible. Early-season terrain depends on how cold November runs, so check the resort’s snow report the week you drive up. Mount Snow is about seven minutes from the villa, which makes it easy to ski a few morning laps and be back by the fire by lunch.
🥾 Hike the Ridge Before the Snow Flies
November gives the clearest ridge views of the fall. With the leaves down, views that were screened all summer open up, and the cold, dry air after a front sharpens the horizon. The Hogback Mountain trails on Route 9 are free, and the Tower Trail from the Hogback parking area climbs to the Mount Olga fire tower. Note that Molly Stark State Park’s operating season ends in mid-October, so park facilities are closed by November.
One non-negotiable: Vermont’s rifle deer season runs from Saturday, November 14 through Sunday, November 29 this year. Wear blaze orange on any trail in that window, keep dogs in orange too, and favor midday hikes over dawn and dusk.
🛍️ Start Holiday Shopping in Wilmington
Wilmington’s Main Street is at its coziest in November, with lit shop windows and a pace that feels like a small town rather than a tourist strip. Start with a latte at The Village Roost, browse the shelves at Bartleby’s Books, and pick up fudge and Vermont-made gifts at the 1836 Country Store. You can knock out half a holiday list in a morning without setting foot in a mall. Our full guide to shops in Wilmington, VT covers the rest of the street.
Wilmington is about 12 minutes from the villa down Route 100, so it pairs well with a late breakfast or an early dinner in town.
🍲 Settle In for Comfort-Food Season
November is when the valley’s restaurants shift to hearty food and slower evenings. Trail 87 on Route 100 is a dependable pick for a warm dinner, The Sawmill Bar & Table has a cozy room with a speakeasy on site, and the Valley View Saloon – no relation to Valley View Villa, despite the name – is where locals go for burgers and a pint.
Here is the local tip that saves an evening: many restaurants shorten their hours or take a break between foliage season and ski season. Call ahead or check social media before you drive over, especially midweek.
🥃 Taste Maple Spirits at Hogback Mountain
Pair a Route 9 drive with a stop at the Vermont Distillers tasting room, which pours maple liqueur, maple bourbon, and other small-batch spirits right beside the 100-mile view. Stick season is underrated here: with the trees bare, the layered ridgelines read more clearly than they do in July. Hours shift in the off-season, so call before a special trip.
🔥 Stay In and Let the Weather Happen
November evenings are made for staying in, and a house built for a crowd makes it easy. At Valley View Villa, that means the indoor fireplace, pool and foosball in the game room, and the outdoor hot tub steaming into the cold night air. On clear nights, the fire pit and a wool blanket are worth the chill, and the leaf-off woods around the pond feel more open than at any other time of year.
Outside Thanksgiving week, November is also the easiest window of the fall to land a big house for a multi-family weekend – peak foliage dates are past and the ski holidays haven’t started. Check November dates if you’re planning one.
🦃 Thanksgiving in Vermont
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, and it is one of the most popular weekends in the valley. If you plan to eat out, reserve early – many local restaurants either close for the holiday or run a limited holiday menu, and the ones that stay open fill fast. Our guide to Thanksgiving weekend near Mount Snow covers what’s open and what to do on the long weekend.
Plenty of families skip the reservation hunt entirely and host at the house. A fully equipped kitchen, a big dining table, and eight bedrooms turn a rental into the family’s Thanksgiving home for a weekend. See our guide to a Vermont vacation-home Thanksgiving for how groups make it work.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- Thanksgiving Weekend Near Mount Snow – planning the holiday weekend itself
- Mount Snow Weather by Month – November temperatures and when the snow starts
- Shops in Wilmington, VT – the full Main Street shopping guide
- Things to Do in December – holiday season and the first full ski month
- Vermont in Late October – quieter stick-season weeks after the peak
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Vermont in November?
Near Mount Snow, the highlights are the ski resort’s opening weekend (projected for November 21 this year), leaf-off ridge hikes at Hogback Mountain, holiday shopping on Wilmington’s Main Street, maple spirits tastings, and Thanksgiving with family on November 26.
Is November a good time to visit Vermont?
Yes, if you want quiet and value. November sits between foliage season and ski season, so crowds thin, lodging is easier to book, and the leaf-off landscape gives the clearest ridge views of the fall. Some restaurants run shorter hours, so call ahead.
Does it snow in Vermont in November?
Usually. November highs average about 42°F with lows near 27°F, and the first accumulating snow of the season typically falls sometime in the month, especially at higher elevations. Our Mount Snow weather by month guide has the full breakdown.
When does Mount Snow open for the season?
Mount Snow usually opens in mid-to-late November, using snowmaking to get ahead of natural snow. OnTheSnow’s projected opening day for the 2026-27 season is November 21. Check the resort’s snow report before you go, since opening depends on temperatures.
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 trees are bare, the hills turn silver and brown, and the towns get quiet between the fall and winter crowds.
