Top Fall Foliage Spots

The best fall foliage paddling in Vermont includes calm, mirror-flat lakes, reservoirs and lazy rivers lined with brilliant red and gold maples. Here are some top spots for quiet water canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, featuring quiet waters and stunning reflections.

SOUTHERN VERMONT

Somerset Reservoir – This large, 5.6-long remote wilderness lake in Somerset and Stratton, changes color early due to its high elevation. You will paddle past unbroken forest canopy with frequent sightings of loons and mergansers. Rolling mountains – including Mount Snow, its northern face visible from most of the lake – bound this long, narrow lake on the upper Deerfield River – and it’s surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest. The lake extends from the dam to the northern-most point, the East Branch of the Deerfield River inlet. Another arm extends farther to the east, fed by the Grout Pond outlet. Islands dot the lake’s northern extension, including Streeter Island which is maintained as a picnic area. The heavily wooded shoreline lends itself to exploring and wildlife viewing.

Grout Pond – Perfect for a quieter flatwater paddle, this smaller 86-acre gem sits inside the Green Mountain National Forest with a convenient boat launch right near the parking area and offers on-site primitive camping. Located in the towns of Stratton and Sunderland, this marshy wilderness pond – and nearby Branch Pond – offer plenty of space for a relaxed day of paddling without motorboats. It’s also an ideal place to introduce children to canoe camping. With a trail all the way around the lake and a quick paddle from the farthest campsite, you can get back to civilization easily. 

CENTRAL VERMONT

Otter Creek – This 11-mile flat and slow-flowing river section gives paddlers close-up views of vibrant swamp maples, rolling farmland, and distant mountain peaks. You can put-in at the Leicester Junction bridge and take-out at Three Mile Bridge. This section of the river flows through 15,000 acres of northern white cedar swamps through Cornwall, Leicester, Middlebury, Salisbury, and Whiting. The Nature Conservancy calls this “the largest and most biologically diverse swamp complex in New England.” Beaver activity and floods cause logjams that can require short portages between Brandon and Middlebury. Even though much of the river traverses open farm country, the wooded shores harbor lots of wildlife, including wood duck, Canada goose, flicker, white-throated sparrow and much more. 

Chittenden Reservoir and Lefferts Pond – This large, 721-acre body of water in Chittenden sits surrounded by heavily forested hillsides in the Green Mountain National Forest. The quiet waters offer stunning reflections of red, orange, and gold maples. The surrounding mountains provide a wild and remote feeling and on a peak autumn day, the area is stunning! For a paddle/hike day, a hiking trail starts at Lefferts Pond and goes around Chittenden Reservoir. Due to the reservoir’s enormous size, beware of winds by sticking to the shore and coves or paddle on Lefferts Pond. While small and shallow, Lefferts Pond is a real gem with aquatic plants and wildlife. 

NORTHERN VERMONT

Waterbury Reservoir – Located in Waterbury, this 860-acre popular reservoir lets you paddle past heavily forested shores reflecting brilliant red, orange, and gold leaves. The surrounding Mount Mansfield State Forest provides a picturesque setting, and the lake offers both car and primitive camping opportunities. The Little River State Park office also offers canoe rentals. The best paddling is on the north end because of a 5 mph speed limit. The reservoir is narrow enough that you always feel protected.

Green River Reservoir State Park – This large reservoir is considered Vermont’s premier paddling destination. This quiet, undeveloped 653-acre body of water in Eden and Hyde Park prohibits motorboats over 5 mph, making it glassy and serene for leaf peeping alongside calling loons. It’s also a treasure for remote camping enthusiasts. The Nature Conservancy purchased it and transferred it to the state for management as a state park. The total perimeter of more than 19 miles makes it Vermont’s largest undeveloped shoreline – perfect for paddling! 

The lake’s long, northernmost arm offers especially great paddling. You may see beavers, wood duck, ospreys, loons, and a variety of plants and trees along the shoreline. As you head to the northern tip, it becomes marshier and narrows to a slow-moving winding stream. The waterway sees a lot of paddlers but at least the state prohibits motorboats. 

These are just a sampling of the many beautiful places to paddle this fall. Learn more from the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Quiet Water: New Hampshire and Vermont, Third Edition by John Hayes and Alex Wilson – it’s AMC’s canoe and kayak guide to the best ponds, lakes, and easy rivers.