Vermont Fall Foliage Scenic Drive – Route 100 – From Granville to Stowe
When it comes to chasing fall foliage in Vermont, Route 100 is arguably the greatest road to travel. Scenic Route 100 Byway is often referred to as “Vermont’s Main Street” since there are so many iconic spots along it. The highway vertically stretches the whole state, but this blog post is going to focus on the mid-region from Granville to Stowe. Waterfalls. short hikes, covered bridges, and more are included in this list of a dozen spots to stop at and enjoy the foliage. Just cruising down Route 100 is a treat within itself!
Check out these spots and let us know any additions you have in the comments!
Stop #1
Moss Glen Falls
Town: Granville, Vermont
Location: HERE
The names of two of Vermont’s most charming waterfalls are the same. There are Moss Glen Falls in Stowe and Moss Glen Falls in Granville. Granville’s Moss Glen Falls is a beautiful horsetail of water that drops 35 feet along a slightly angled rock face. The falls begin by bubbling down some short steps before falling into a light teal pool about 25 feet wide.
The falls are located on VT 100, and they are a major reason why this road is widely regarded as Vermont’s most scenic byway. Moss Glen Falls is easy to access as it is located only a few hundred feet off the highway.
Stop #2
Warren Falls
Town: Warren, Vermont
Location: HERE
Warren Falls is a popular local swimming hole along the Mad River in Warren, Vermont. Warren Falls is located just off Route 100 and can be reached via a short trail from the parking area. The pools below the falls are large and filled with clear green water which has made them a popular spot for cliff jumping in the summer. The falls, a series of small plunges, are mostly overshadowed by the allure of the pools and the striking gorge walls. Don’t miss out on this beautiful Vermont waterfall!
Stop #3
Warren Covered Bridge
Town: Warren, Vermont
Location: HERE
Vermont’s covered bridges are among its most treasured and symbolic historic resources. The Warren Covered Bridge is the only bridge that still stands in Warren. The Warren bridge, when combined with other surviving bridges in the area, reflects the widespread construction of covered bridges on Vermont’s public highways from around 1820 to 1904.
The Warren Bridge is a short and simple structure. It was built in 1879-80 by Walter Bagley and has a single span supported by queenpost trusses. Unlike many other historic covered bridges, it has not required reinforcement devices to date. This shows the quality of the Warren Covered Bridge!
Stop #4
Waitsfield Covered Bridge (aka. Great Eddy Covered Bridge)
Town: Waitsfield, Vermont
Location: HERE
Waitsfield Covered Bridge, also known as the Great Eddy Covered Bridge and the Big Eddy Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge in Waitsfield, Vermont that spans the Mad River. It has a single-span Burr truss formation and is 105 feet long. It is one of Vermont’s oldest covered bridges, having been built in 1833. The bridge has undergone numerous repairs in recent years, most likely as a result of the heavy traffic on it. Various repairs were made in 1973, 1989, 1992, and 2001.
In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Stop #5
Pine Brook Covered Bridge
Town: Waitsfield, Vermont
Location: HERE
The Pine Brook Covered Bridge, also known as the Wilder Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses Pine Brook on North Road in Waitsfield, Vermont. It is one of two surviving 19th-century covered bridges in town, having been built in 1872. It is 48 feet long and 17.5 feet wide, with a roadway width of 14.5 feet (one way), and is made up of two king post trusses. It is supported by steel I-beams and is built on stone abutments with concrete faces. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is one a lovely covered bridge to visit.
Stop #6
Wu Ledges
Town: Waitsfield, Vermont
Location: HERE
The 145-acre Wu Ledges Town Forest is owned by the Town of Waitsfield and it has a lot to offer. It is home to extensive woodlands, a variety of habitats, bedrock outcrops, shorelands along the Mad River, and open land. The iconic Wu Ledges is a large outcrop with cliffs that offer boasts outstanding views of Mad River, Mill Brook, various hillsides, and the spine of the Green Mountains. When the fall foliage of Vermont is peaking, the Wu Ledges are a must-visit location!
Stop #7
Gold Brook Covered Bridge (Emily’s Bridge)
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
Gold Brook Covered Bridge, also known as Stowe Hollow Bridge or Emily’s Bridge, is a small wooden covered bridge located in Stowe, Vermont. Covered Bridge Road is carried 48.5 feet over Gold Brook by the bridge. The bridge is iconic for many reasons, including the fact that it is the only 19th-century covered bridge in the state built using wooden Howe trusses used to carry a public roadway. Furthermore, it is the town of Stowe’s only surviving 19th-century covered bridge.
Stop #8
Sunset Rock
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
Looking for a breathtaking view of Stowe’s Main Street and the surrounding area? Sunset Rock is the place to go!
The Sunset Rock Trail climbs steeply for about 200 yards with a 100-foot elevation gain to the actual Sunset Rock and its bird’s-eye view of Main Street. Don’t pass up the opportunity to go to Sunset Rock in the fall!
Stop #9
Moss Glen Falls
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
Moss Glen Falls in Stowe, Vermont is one of the best places in the state, and it’s only three miles off Route 100 on Randolph Road. Parking is available at the park’s entrance before continuing your journey on foot. The short trail will take you to the bottom of the falls, where you can witness the wonder for yourself!
Stowe’s Moss Glen Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the state, but it is surely high on the list considering it cascades down 125 feet! Feeling the rush and taking in the glorious views make the .25 mile hike WELL worth it!
Stop #10
Stowe Community Church
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
The Stowe Community Church is arguably the most iconic building in downtown Stowe and it is one of the prettiest churches in all of Vermont. The stunning white church has a striking spire with 4 watch faces which brings the height of the church to 170 feet. The church was built in 1863 and its outside has remained essentially unchanged since then.
There are many places to photograph the Stowe Community Church.
The Stowe Community Church is a true gem of downtown Stowe. The iconic white church has a striking spire and it was built in 1863. There are many different locations to photograph the church from aside from just right in front of it. The photo featured in the blog post was taken from a small parking lot on Mountain Road, about a quarter-mile off Route 100.
Stop #11
Brookdale Bridge
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
The Brookdale Bridge is a beautiful and lowkey covered bridge just off Mountain Road in Stowe. There honestly is not much history on the covered bridge, but on the bridge a plaque states it was built in 1964. This is a relatively newer covered bridge, and it is well worth checking out! It carries both pedestrians and cars over the West Branch Little River. Right next to the bridge is the trailhead to the Stowe Recreation Path.
Stop #12
Bingham Falls
Town: Stowe, Vermont
Location: HERE
Bingham Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the Mt Mansfield State Forest located off the east side of Upper Mountain Road. The waterfall is one of the key features of the 72-acre forest. Bingham Falls flows through long, tight gorge walls and plunges 25-feet at the bottom. The falls have carved out some beautiful swimming holes that are popular for summer swimming, but also great to photograph during any season.
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