Four Can't-Miss Fall Adventures Around White River Junction (Plus a Sleeper Favorite)

Hikes, harvests, and hidden gems for your Upper Valley visit

The most colorful time of year is almost here in Windsor County. Crunchy leaves underfoot, hillsides lit up in red and gold, that first bite of cold morning air. Fall in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire is one of our favorite times of year, and if you're planning a visit, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the options. There's just so many places to hike, to eat, and to snap photos, and so very little time before the leaves fall down, and it's stick season again.

If you're short on time, here's a local's guide with tips on some of the best places to spend your stay.

1. Go take a Hike

You don't need to be a champion hiker to enjoy a gorgeous walk through the woods. The Quechee Gorge is one of the region's most stunning sights, with a view from above and the Ottauqueche River in the rapids below and the main trail is short (only 1.4 miles, even less if want just the highlights) and gentle enough that I've seen people walk it in crocs. It's an easy way to check off one of the most beautiful sights in Vermont with minimal steps and fuss.

For a bit more a thigh-burner, Gile Mountain in Norwich is a short but rewarding hike up a few hundred stone steps. The old fire tower at the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of the Connecticut River Valley that still takes our breath away after over a decade in the area. For a less intense (but longer) woodland walk a treck around the Pogue in Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is incredibly tranquil in October, especially in the late afternoon (or very early morning) light. You'll feel like you've been transported back to the age of the transcendentalist writers, or are stepping right into a Robert Frost poem. You can also pair it with a stop at neighboring Billings Farm while you're next door.

Local tip: Foliage weekends bring heavy traffic to he whole area. If you can hike on a weekday or arrive early you'll trade the crowds for better light, more peaceful views and easier parking.

2. Visit a Farm

Fall is also harvest season, offering the full banquet of cider (hard and soft), ripe apples, pumpkins, corn and squash. You can pick your own crisp apples or late-season berries at a number of small-owner farms in the region, including Riverview Farm, Sweetland Farm, or Poverty Lane Orchards. If you want to add moos to your views, both Billings Farm and Sugarbush Farm offer a close-up view Vermont's working dairy heritage, along with craft cheese and spiced cider tastings.

If you'd rather get to eating fall's bounty as efficently as possible, you can also catch one of the seasonal farmers' markets held around the region in Woodstock, Hartland, West Hartford, Hanover, and Norwich. Each has its own personality, and most run right through the fall, with Wednesday as the most likely day. There, you'll find local homesteader's crops, Vermont handcrafts, and prepared meals, with each trip offering something slightly unique.

Local tip: Bring cash. Plenty of farm stands and market vendors are still cash-or-Venmo only, and it saves you potential heartbreak.

3. Dive Into the Local Arts Scene

For a small region population, the Upper Valley punches well above its weight when it comes to fine arts. Northern Stage is a regionally-famous playhouse that has up-and-coming local talent taking to the boards with well-known actors from Broadway and TV. The Lebanon Opera House is a little more of-the-moment, featuring everything from Grammy-nominated musical artists, to variety shows, to drag shows to ballet, while  Pentangle Arts features indie film gems alongside it's theatre offers. Finally, the Hopkins Center offers all that and more, also featuring director-talks with Darthmouth alums like Ken Burns.

If you're more of a do-er than a viewer, downtown White River Junction full of handcrafts. Throw clay (and make something to bring home) at Tip Top Pottery, try your hand at art of vintage printmaking at Two Rivers Printmaking, or do a gallery tour of locals artists works at Scavenger, Kishka, and Long River Gallery.

Local tip: many studio classes fill up fast in October. If there's a specific workshop you want, book a few days ahead rather than walking in. Also, check out our newsletter for updates on upcoming classes.

4. Eat and Drink Your Way Through

The greater Upper Valley has an excellent and diverse food scene, covering everything from comfort to upscale, and spanning every possible price point and cuisine. It's impossible to hit all the best places (or even our personal favorites) in a single article, so here's some quick must-eats. Dinner by the river at Simon Pearce offers expensive plates, and a priceless view, while James Beard-nominated Wolf Tree is tucked so far down a backstreet it'd be easy to miss it (and you really shouldn't).

For more casual fare, Tuckerbox brings Turkish flavors to the mix, and Big Fatty's covers classic Southern barbecue, while Two is new, and also delicious, but there's plenty to find. White River Junction (and West Lebanon, just over the river) are full of hidden gems that let you you skip the Hanover and Woodstock crowds, with an unassuming-but-delicious resteraunt around nearly every corner. Give 'em a chance, and you won't regret it.

Local tip: reservations matter more here in the fall than any other season. Popular spots book out for foliage weekends, so call ahead if you have your heart set on somewhere specific. Also, resteraunts close earlier than you expect (sometimes as early as 8:00PM), so check hours, and when in a doubt, call ahead.

Sleeper Bonus: Thrift and Vintage Shopping

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but White River Junction and West Lebanon have a good claim as the best place for vintage and secondhand shopping outside a major city.

Revolution offers curated boho, Y2K, and vintage military-style styles for all genders, while Rue and Ren is the best place to find gorpy workwear, including chunky Pendleton flannels and vintage LL.Bean. The Pink Alligator, meanwhile, hits full marks for an upscale vibe. If you're looking for more than clothes, the Cover Store covers everything from furnature to secondhand books, and purchases support weatherization for locals, so you're not just shopping, you're also supporting a good cause.