Route 4 Vermont Fall Foliage Scenic Drive (Woodstock, Quechee, Killington, etc.)
Vermont is a beautiful state which boasts some of the best displays of fall foliage in the country! In this blog post, we showcase one of the best fall foliage road trips in the state, which primarily revolves around Vermont Route 4. The road trip begins at the iconic Quechee Gorge Bridge and ends in the beautiful town of Killington with the Deer Leap Overlook. Along this route, you will find stunning farms, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints covered bridges, trails, and more!
From Quechee to Woodstock to Killington, here are the best places to stop along the 51-mile route! If you check out any of these spots, be sure to share them to the GoXplr Explore Feed!
Stop #1 – Quechee Gorge Bridge
- Town: Quechee – Hartford, Vermont
- Location: HERE
The Quechee Gorge Bridge is located on US Route 4, approximately halfway between Woodstock and White River Junction, Vermont. It’s perched high above the Ottauquechee River near the southern end of Quechee Gorge. The bridge is a very popular tourist destination and it is part of Quechee Gorge Park. It’s a three-span steel deck truss structure that’s 285 feet long, 41 feet wide, and 163 feet tall, with two lanes of traffic (one in each direction) and sidewalks on both sides. Its main span is a 188-foot-long parabolic spandrel-braced Pratt truss.
The view from the bridge offers magical views down the river and the fall foliage all around!
Stop #2 – Quechee Covered Bridge
- Town: Quechee – Hartford, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Just a short drive from the Quechee Gorge Bridge, you will find the Quechee Covered Bridge. It is a beautiful covered bridge that spans 70 feet over the Ottauquechee River. The first covered bridge at this location was built in 1970 and a new bridge was constructed in 2011 after the original was destroyed from Hurricane Irene. Cars and pedestrains are permitted to use the bridge.
Don’t forget to also stop at the Simon Pearce Restaurant and Mill which is just steps away from the bridge. You can witness live glassblowing, shop, and dine.
Stop #3 – Taftsville Covered Bridge
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Continuing west on Route 4, you will find Taftsville Covered Bridge. It is a must-see covered bridge in Vermont near downtown Woodstock, VT. It measures 189 feet in length and allows cars to cross alongside people. Taftsville Covered Bridge was constructed in 1836 to carry traffic across the Ottauquechee River. A two-span multiple kingpost truss with an arch is used in the bridge’s design. The bright red bridge is always a fun structure to photograph, especially when it is surrounded by fall foliage!
Stop #4 – Sugarbush Farm
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Sugarbush Farm is one of the most beautiful farms to visit in Vermont. The farm is family-owned by the Luce Family and they have run the farm for 3 generations. Sugarbush Farm is notorious for its cheeses and pure maple syrups which are both made right at the farm. At the farm, you will find a shop, maple shack, maple walk, animals, barns, and more!
In total, the farm spans about 500 acres and consists of many great fall foliage views!
Stop #5 – Cloudland Farm
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Cloudland Farm is a diverse working farm that the Emmons family has owned since 1908. It is situated in the rolling hills of Pomfret, Vermont (just west of Woodstock). As part of the Cloudland experience, the four-mile trip up the picturesque Cloudland Road offers stunning views. The farm raises/grows Black Angus cattle, laying hens, Cornish-cross meat chickens, turkeys, pastured Berkshire pigs, and a variety of vegetables. Items made on-site and in the surrounding area are sold at the farm’s market.
Stop #6 – Sleepy Hollow Farm
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
If you have even a passing interest in New England fall photography, you’ve probably seen images of this farm. Sleepy Hollow is located just outside of the all-things-autumn town of Woodstock, off Cloudland Road, a winding dirt road lined with stately maples and restored farmhouses. Sleepy Hollow is a photographer’s dream, with its massive barns, late-1700s Cape farmhouse, and knack for capturing the light just right. The narrow road to the farm may be lined with as many as 20 cars in the morning or early evening, as photographers hunker down with their tripods.
Stop #7 – Middle Covered Bridge
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Middle Covered Bridge is a beautiful and historic covered bridge which can be found in the heart of Woodstock. The bridge was originally made of iron and built in 1877. The current covered bridge was constructed by Milton Graton in 1969 to carry Union Street over the Ottauquechee River. The covered bridge is 139 feet long and is built in the town lattice truss style. From the shops in downtown Woodstock, you can easily walk to the covered bridge.
Stop #8 – Woodstock Inn & Resort
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Woodstock Inn & Resort is a year-round destination in the village of Woodstock, Vermont that embraces the vision of Laurance and Mary Rockefeller. The hotel is very well maintained and in the fall you can find beautiful colored trees and stunning fall displays of flowers and pumpkins! Be sure to stop at this lovely inn located just a few hundred feet from Middle Covered Bridge!
Stop #9 – Lincoln Covered Bridge
- Town: Woodstock, Vermont
- Location: HERE
The Lincoln Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge located in West Woodstock, Vermont, just south of US Route 4. It was built in 1877 and is one of the few remaining examples of a wooden Pratt truss bridge in the United States. In 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Many people drive right past the Lincoln Covered Bridge, so make sure you add it to your map and stop to photograph it!
Stop #10 – Killington Peak
- Town: Killington, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Ski Resorts may be popular destinations in the winter, but many actually embrace the fall too! Killington Ski Resort’s K-1 Express Gondola runs in the fall to bring visitors to the top of Killington Peak where they can enjoy epic views of the fall foliage in Vermont and the surrounding states. The quarter-mile ride up the 4,000-foot mountain is an unforgettable fall experience! It also gives visitors access to 15 miles of designated hiking trails, including the Appalachian and Long Trails.
Tickets can be purchased/collected at the K-1 Base Area (no other services are available) or the Snowshed Lodge. The lift runs 7 days a week from September 15 – October 10.
More info: https://www.killington.com/plan-your-trip/summer-activities/scenic-gondola
Stop #11 – Thundering Brook Falls Trail
- Town: Killington, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Thundering Brook Falls Trail is a 0.4-mile out and back trail near Killington, Vermont that features a waterfall and is suitable for all skill levels. The 900-foot boardwalk is lovely and provides stunning views of the surrounding foliage.
Stop #12 – Thundering Brook Falls
- Town: Killington, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Thundering Brook Falls is said to be Vermont’s sixth tallest waterfall as it drops about 140 feet through a steep and narrow cataract. The magnificent cascade is fueled by a branch of Kent Brook which flows from Kent Pond. The falls were also the site of a historic mill that once use the waterfall for power
Stop #13 – Deer Leap Overlook Trail
- Town: Killington, Vermont
- Location: HERE
Deer Leap Overlook Trail is a short 0.25-mile trail that brings you to a rock outcrop with dramatic views of the Coolidge Range and Sherburne Pass. The short hike results in some of the most beautiful views of fall in the area! It is well worth it to stop and complete this short hike.
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