Why Vermont’s 2026 Fall Foliage Could Be Especially Beautiful

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Every August, the same question begins making its way around Vermont: What do you think the foliage will be like this year? With newly renovated rooms and an ideal location, COHO Inn & Motor Lodge should be your home base this fall.

Of course, no one can predict the leaves with absolute certainty—September weather always gets the final say. But from where we sit in Weston, the trees look full, green and healthy, and several of the conditions heading into fall give us reason to feel optimistic about Vermont’s 2026 foliage season.

Vermont’s Trees Have Had More Moisture This Year

One of the most encouraging signs is that Vermont is not currently experiencing significant drought.

According to the latest information from the National Integrated Drought Information System, no Vermont residents were living in an area classified as being in drought as of August 11. Statewide precipitation from January through July totaled 25.29 inches, making it Vermont’s 44th-wettest January-through-July period in 132 years of records.

That matters because prolonged drought can stress trees, cause leaves to develop brown edges and sometimes lead them to fall before reaching their full autumn color. The USDA’s explanation of fall foliage science notes that drought stress and strong winds can both cause premature leaf drop.

Compared with the drought conditions that affected parts of Vermont during the 2025 foliage season, this year’s trees are entering late summer with a much better moisture foundation.

Healthy Green Leaves Are a Good Starting Point

The leaves around Weston currently look remarkably lush. While abundant summer rain cannot guarantee brilliant fall color, healthy leaves remaining on the trees through August give us a promising canvas to work with.

The final intensity of the reds, oranges and golds will depend heavily on what happens next. Researchers at the University of Vermont explain that the best foliage conditions generally include warm, sunny days followed by cool nights as daylight hours shorten.

During the day, sunlight allows leaves—particularly maples—to continue producing and storing sugars. Cool nights slow the movement of those sugars out of the leaves, helping create the brilliant red pigments for which Vermont is famous. The National Park Service similarly notes that sunny early-fall days and cool nights encourage the production of anthocyanin, the pigment responsible for many of the deepest reds and purples.

So, while the summer growing season has set the stage, what we would really love now is a September filled with bright days, crisp nights, limited wind and no unusually early hard freeze.

The Honest Answer: September Still Matters Most

We are cautiously optimistic—but Mother Nature enjoys keeping some mystery in the process.

An extended stretch of warm nights could delay the change or make the timing less synchronized. Too many cloudy, rainy days during the color-changing period can limit the intensity of the reds, while a hard frost or major windstorm can shorten an otherwise beautiful season.

That is why foliage predictions made in August should always be taken as an early outlook rather than a promise. What we can say is that Vermont’s trees have received generally favorable moisture this year and, at least here in southern Vermont, they currently appear healthy and full. Those are both very good signs heading into the final weeks of summer.

When Will Foliage Peak in Southern Vermont?

There is no single “peak foliage day” across Vermont. Color typically begins in early to mid-September at higher elevations and in northern Vermont, then works its way south and into the valleys.

Vermont’s official tourism guidance explains that foliage generally moves from the state’s higher and northern areas toward southern Vermont as September turns into October. Here in Weston, we typically begin seeing meaningful color toward the end of September, with the most vibrant stretch often arriving during the first half of October.

Even within our immediate area, elevation makes a difference. A mountain overlook may be approaching peak while a nearby river valley is still holding onto plenty of green. That progression is part of what makes southern Vermont such a wonderful home base: if one area is early or late, beautiful color can often be found with a short scenic drive.

Our Early 2026 Foliage Prediction

Is it too early to officially call it? Yes.

Do we have a good feeling about this year? Also yes.

The trees are lush, Vermont is currently free from significant drought, and the landscape looks healthy heading into the latter half of August. If September brings the sunny days and cool—but not freezing—nights that help produce vivid color, 2026 could give us a truly beautiful foliage season.

We’ll be sharing updates from Weston as the first leaves begin to turn. In the meantime, if a Vermont fall getaway has been on your list, this might be a very good year to make it happen.

Come stay with us at COHO Inn & Motor Lodge and experience foliage season from the heart of southern Vermont. Book Now

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