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 Desjardins Road, a small dirt road that parallels Route 108 South, heading up into the notch. This road offers a peak-a-boo view of Madonna, and the framing of Liftline with the shades of foliage reminding 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 stands 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.
Weather Forecast
Today
Sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Light south wind.
Activity Spotlight
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.
Text Smuggs to 855-421-2279 for real-time alerts about weather updates, schedule changes, and more!
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