Your Ultimate Stick Season Guide
It's the season of the sticks here in Vermont and it’s one of the best times to explore and try something new. The fall crowds have left and it’s fairly easy to get around and actually get into restaurant without a 2 hour wait line. End of October - November (and end of March/April) tend to be quiet and cool and people don’t always find it attractive to get out and explore. I disagree! This is one of the BEST times to get out and explore.
The question is: What is there to do in stick season?
I got you covered.
Here is my list of things I like to do in stick season and how you can get out and enjoy it too.
Hiking
You can really hike anywhere in stick season. However, with hunting season well underway it's highly recommended to wear orange hats/clothing. If you're adventuring with a dog, put them in a orange vest or bandana as well.
Some great stick season hikes are:
Camel's Hump (Duxbury): Highly recommend hiking the Monroe trail to the top of Camel's Hump. You can check out my reel here which tells you more about this trail. It is a 2.9 hike with a 2,393ft elevation gain up to the Long Trail which is then another 0.3 mile hike to the summit. Plan on taking a few hours to hike the whole thing up and down, it can take a while, but is worth it! You have incredible views of the valley, Lake Champlain, and Mount Mansfield.
Lake Willoughby (Westmore, pictured below). One of the more popular hikes in northern Vermont is Mt. Pisgah, where you have sweeping views of the lake and the mountains. It is a stunner and if you haven't been, I highly recommend. There are multiple trails up the mountain, all ending around the same spot with multiple lookouts with the incredible views.
North Trail: Park along State Route 5A, you'll see a parking lot along the road, and possibly other cars parked for the hike. The hike is a 1.9 mile (one way) hike with an elevation gain of 1,494ft. It is not particularly difficult, however, a few spots of rock scrambling. I've seen kids do this no problem before.
South Trail: Park in the Willoughby State Park parking lot along Route 5A, just past the beach and camping ground on your left, parking lot will be on your right. From here you will see signs for the South Trail. This is a 1.8 mile hike with an elevation gain of 1,499 ft. Very similar to the North trail in difficulty.
If you get hungry, I highly recommend stopping at Parker Pie either before or after the hike. This is one of my favorite pizza places and they have an incredible local draft list. Catch it right, and you'll be listening to live music while eating the delicious pies.
Stratton Mountain Fire Tower (Stratton). This is approximately an 8 mile round trip hike along the Long Trail in Stratton Vermont. Upon reaching the top, you'll find a fire tower to climb that offers sweeping views of the area and is worth the climb. Park along Stratton Arlington Road 6 (between Arlington and West Wardsboro) for the trailhead. This is a very popular hike and so you will most likely see other cars parked here for the hike.
Lyle Brook Falls (Manchester). This 4.6 mile round trip hike in the Green Mountain National Forest leads to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vermont. You gain around 900ft in elevation so it is not a very strenuous hike and is very popular in the warmer months. No matter how much rain we've gotten, the 125ft water fall will have some sort of flow for viewers to enjoy.
Tips for hiking in stick season.
The trails are usually very muddy. So it's best to wear appropriate footwear knowing you'll get a bit muddy and possibly wet. Waterproof hiking shoes are the way to go. See below for my hiking boot recommendation.
Hunting season - so wear orange or another color so you don't look like deer.
Hydration. Even though it's cold, and you don't sweat as much hiking in stick season as you would in the summer months, it is extremely important to stay hydrated. Drink along the hike.
Varying temperatures. Especially when you reach the summit, so dress accordingly.
Layers! I always have on a base layer (usually merino wool based), a puffy jacket, and hiking pants. I really enjoy getting my gear at online at Backcountry or locally at Outdoor Gear Exchange. Both places have a variety of brands and gear that you can use for all stick season adventures.
Wool socks.
I exclusively wear Darn Tough Socks. Not only are they made here in Vermont, they are made out of merino wool with dry wicking properties to pull moisture away from your sweaty feet so they basically are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The mid-weight padding helps protect your feet in hiking boots and keeps your feet cozy.
Waterproof hiking boots.
I love Oboz hiking shoes and the ones below are just like the pair I have. They are mid-length to protect your ankles and waterproof. These are sturdy hiking shoes that you can hike confidently knowing your grip strength is all there and your feet won't get wet (unless of course you walk knee deep into a lake or river).
Biking
Mountain biking is coming to an end this season as trails are closing for hunting and all the leaves on the ground can cause safety issues as you can't see the trail or the features on the trail. That being said, some trail networks do go through and either rake or leaf blow every now and again to stay open a little longer.
Mountain biking in stick season with leaf-blown trails.
If you're wondering what trails are open, I'd suggest heading to vmba.org and check out the trails near you before you get ready to bike.
Since mountain biking is on its way out, you can go trail riding instead on trails like the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, the Burlington Bike Path, Stowe Recreation Path, or the Cross Vermont Trail . These are all very popular for walkers, runners, and bikers alike. They are either paved or gravel paths that wind along the country and not only offer beautiful views around the state, but they provide a way to get out and get moving.
Kayaking in stick season can get cold. I like to bring a blanket and warm beverage.
Kayaking/Canoeing
While it may be a bit cold out, you can still get out and paddle around before all our lakes/ponds/reservoirs become skating rinks.
Here are some places you could go:
Colchester Pond
Lake Champlain (areas in Burlington, South Hero, Charlotte)
Waterbury Reservoir
Shelburne Pond
Monkton Pond
Woodford State Park
Lake Shaftsbury
It will probably be cold on the water (most definitely be cold) so bring extra layers and maybe a blanket to drape over your legs. Also, a thermos filled with a warm beverage is always a good idea.
Don't have a kayak? Unfortunately, a lot of outdoor stores are changing over their gear to winter activities and are not renting kayaks, canoes, paddleboards. Hopefully, you have a friend that has one you can borrow instead!
If none of these outdoor activities sound appealing to you, here are a few ideas to do that still get you out and about exploring Vermont without freezing your toes off:
Foley Brothers Brewing Grumpy Wench (American IPA)
Brewery / Cider Tours
There are so many breweries and cideries that are open during the season and often have food and sometimes lives music to go and enjoy. I like to plan my brewery trips by going to the Vermont Brewers website. They have a lot of helpful information and a map of where all the breweries are located.
Here are a few places to get started:
Foley Brothers Brewing. Right off Route 7 in Brandon, Vermont, this place is truly one of a kind. Their motto is "do it the hard way" meaning they don’t take any shortcuts when it comes to making their beer making sure that they use the finest ingredients in their beer. One of my favorites of theirs is the Fair Maiden (DIPA).
Whetstone Beer Co in Brattleboro. The Restaurant and Brewery is a great place to stop offering great local comfort and grilled dishes. With indoor and outdoor seating (including rooftop bier garden) you have incredible views of the Connecticut River and Mount Wantastiquet.
Shacksbury Cider in Vergennes (pictured below). This craft cider is made organic with amazing flavors, no one alike. The brewers have a passion for the community and the outdoors and taking a pause to visit their tasting room in Vergennes is a must. Their Rose is my favorite, not as sweet as you might think *chef’s kiss*.
Four Quarters Brewing in Winooski. If you're hanging in the Burlington area, a stop into Four Quarters is a must. They are a 10 barrel brewery specializing in stouts, sours, and hoppy beers. Their taproom is dog friendly and they also have a heated beer garden if you choose to sit outside. Great food menu!
Stowe Cider. Located at the base of Mount Mansfield and Stowe Mountain Resort, this cidery is on point. They have dozens of cider on tap with an incredible food menu from Shakedown Stowe. Make sure you stop by for a visit and for live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Other Places to Visit
Moss Glenn Falls. Located in Stowe and only a short 5 minute drive from downtown, Moss Glenn Falls is a very popular place to visit in the summer and fall months. Thankfully, in stick season the crowds have left and you can visit the falls with some peace and quiet. It's a very short, max 8 minute walk to the falls from the parking lot and really is a place you should go. The 125 waterfall is worth the stop.
Queeche Gorge. This is another very popular spot to visit in the summer and fall months. Located right outside of Woodstock, Vermont, you can go and walk down to the bottom of the gorge and explore a bit with views of the picturesque Route 4 bridge. The walk down to the gorge is not difficult and is very family friendly with wide walking trails snaking down to the bottom.
And if I can walk down in this dress for engagement photos, then you can walk down in your regular clothes.
Red Hen Bakery. If you haven't been, run, don't walk here. And by run, I mean drive. Red Hen Bakery started in 1999 and every day since have been baking and delivering bread 7 days a week. The café and bakery is located right off Route 100 in Middlesex. You will not be disappointed when you visit seeing and smelling all of their baked goods. You don't have to get just bread either, they have a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items on the menu and trust me it's as good as it gets.
Red Hen Bakery and Café is the perfect place to visit and grab a bite to eat.
Cabot Creamery. While most of their cheese is made in Cabot, their farmer's store in Waterbury is a great place to visit. Not only do you get to sample some of their cheeses, you can take a look at all of their other products like their to-die-for Cabot Popcorn and their luxury bath and body products such as Cabot Bath Fizzes. Don't take my word for it, go take a visit for yourself. Their staff members are so friendly and can help you find anything and answer any question.
Whew! What a list. While these are just a few ideas of what to do in Vermont during stick season, there are so many other things to do and don’t let this list keep you from exploring other things! Be sure to let me know how you spend stick season this year.
Your Vermont adventure friend,
Rachel
