Driving Vermont’s Scenic Mountain Gaps: 4 Epic Fall Foliage Passes

Vermont has plenty of quiet valley roads, but the best fall colors are up in the mountains.

The state has four famous mountain roads called “gaps.” Because these passes are high up in the mountains, the leaves here turn bright red, orange, and gold about a week earlier than down in the towns.

Driving these roads is fun, but they are steep, winding, and narrow. Here is a simple guide to driving Vermont’s four best mountain passes this fall.

💡 Mountain Gap Driving Rules

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Shift Down on Steep Descents: Riding your brakes down sustained 15% to 24% mountain grades will quickly cause brake fade. Shift your transmission into low gear (L, 2, or paddle manual mode) to let engine compression regulate your descent speed safely.

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Understand Uphill Right-of-Way: Where road passes narrow to single lanes between roadside boulders or tight switchbacks, uphill drivers have the legal right-of-way. Downhill vehicles must pull off into designated shoulders until the pass is clear.

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Account for Elevation Foliage Windows: Gap summits sit between 2,100 and 2,424 feet. Foliage reaches absolute peak here roughly 5 to 7 days earlier than in valley towns like Stowe, Bristol, or Middlebury.

Table of Contents

1. Smugglers’ Notch Pass (Route 108)

This is the most famous mountain pass in Vermont. It connects the town of Stowe to Cambridge on Route 108.

The road starts wide, but near the top, it turns into a tiny, winding road that cuts between 1,000-foot rock walls and giant boulders. In some spots, it is only wide enough for one car at a time, so you take turns passing. In late September and early October, the bright yellow and orange tree leaves hang right over the road like a tunnel.

Elevation: 2,162 feet
Road Condition: Paved, but very narrow with sharp turns.
Good Stops: Bingham Falls (an easy waterfall walk near Stowe) and the Long Trail trailheads at the top.
Big Warning: Big RVs, campers, and large trailers are banned on this road. If you get stuck, the fine is over $1,000.

2. Appalachian Gap (Route 17)

Locals call this road the “App Gap.” It runs between Waitsfield (in the Mad River Valley) and the small town of Bristol.

If you enjoy driving, this is the best road on the list. It has smooth pavement, wide corners, and exciting S-turns cut right into the rock face.

At the very top, there are pull-off areas to park your car. Looking west, you can see all the way past the colorful foothills to Lake Champlain and the mountains in New York.

Elevation: 2,375 feet
Road Condition: Smooth paved highway with steep turns.
Best Time to Go: Late afternoon. It is one of the best sunset views in the entire state.
Easy Route Link: It connects right to scenic Route 100 in Waitsfield.

3. Middlebury Gap (Route 125)

Texas Falls cascading through rocky gorges right off Middlebury Gap — **Source / Credit:** New England Waterfalls

Route 125 runs through the Green Mountain National Forest between Hancock (on Route 100) and East Middlebury.

This is the easiest mountain pass to drive. It is a normal, two-lane paved highway with wider lanes and fewer scary drop-offs, making it great for any car.

The road winds through quiet woods and follows a mountain stream. It is famously known as the area where poet Robert Frost lived.

Elevation: 2,149 feet
Road Condition: Smooth, standard two-lane road.
Best Stop: Texas Falls. It is just 3 miles west of Route 100. You can pull off, walk across a short wooden bridge, and see a rushing waterfall surrounded by fall leaves.
Extra Stop: The Robert Frost Trail, a flat wooden boardwalk walk through the woods with his poems posted along the path.

4. Lincoln Gap (Lincoln Gap Road)

Winding through golden autumn woods along the steep Lincoln Gap Road — **Source / Credit:** Happy Vermont (Erica Houskeeper)

Lincoln Gap connects the town of Warren to Lincoln. It is the steepest paved mile of road in America, with hills as steep as 24%.

The drive starts paved under dense maple trees, then switches to hard-packed dirt and gravel near the top. It feels wilder and sees far less traffic than Smugglers’ Notch.

At the summit, you can park and hike 20 to 30 minutes south on the Long Trail to Sunset Ledge for incredible valley views.

Elevation: 2,424 feet
Road Condition: Part pavement, part packed gravel. Closed in the winter.
Warning: Do not drive this in a car that sits very low to the ground or has worn-out brakes. Take it slow on the gravel turns.

How to Drive Two Passes in One Day

If you are staying near Stowe or Waitsfield, you can easily connect the two best mountain passes into a single day trip:

Morning: Start in Stowe and drive north through Smugglers’ Notch before the morning crowds and tour buses pack the narrow pass.
Midday: Descend into Jeffersonville, then head south on Route 116 toward Bristol along the quiet mountain foothills.
Afternoon: Head east on Route 17 and climb the winding switchbacks of Appalachian Gap to catch the best afternoon light and mountain views.
Evening: Drop down into Waitsfield for a local dinner, then take Route 100 north back to Stowe as the sun sets.

Best Time to Drive the Mountain Passes

Because these roads sit high up in the mountains, the leaves change here on a different schedule than the rest of Vermont.

Late September to Early October: The highest summits (Appalachian Gap and Lincoln Gap) turn first. If the valley towns like Stowe or Waterbury are still mostly green, the top of the passes will already be bursting with red, orange, and yellow leaves.

Early to Mid-October: When the valley towns hit peak color, the very top of these passes will start losing leaves. But the roads leading up the mountains will look incredible.

Best Time of Day: Drive Smugglers’ Notch early in the morning before the traffic arrives. Drive Appalachian Gap in the late afternoon to see the sun set behind the mountains.

Final Tips Before You Go

Driving Vermont’s mountain passes is the most exciting way to experience fall in New England. The views are huge, the roads are fun, and you get away from the crowded main highways.

Take your time on the sharp turns, downshift into low gear on steep hills, and use the pull-offs if cars behind you want to pass.