This story by Patrick Bilow was first published in the Stowe Reporter on Oct. 23, 2025.
Stowe’s Visitor Center was a foliage hotspot this season.
More than 10,000 people have entered the visitor center so far in October, compared with 6,500 for the entire month last year, according to guest services coordinator Adrianne Johnson, who said visits have been up all year. The visitor center also doubled its previous one-day visitation record — 581 last year to 1,148 this year.
Those visitors traveled from nearly every continent, with people coming from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Greenland, China, Japan, India and Sudan, according to Johnson.
Dispelling notions that Canadian visitors aren’t visiting Stowe, Johnson said the visitor center has seen many tourists from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, as well as a few first-time visitors from the western provinces.
On any given weekend this month, a line of leaf peepers has snaked through the visitor center toward the bathroom and front desk, behind which Johnson and her colleagues have done their best to answer a litany of questions about Stowe. While the questions may seem similar, each set of guests is unique, according to Johnson.
“They want to know the best photo spots, where they should shop, which of the trails they should hike for the best colors and best views, or the most accessible ways to experience Stowe beyond scenic drives and shopping downtown,” Johnson said. “Sometimes they have no idea what they should do and other times they aren’t sure they can do all they have planned.”
The gondola skyride and auto toll road at Stowe Mountain Resort and the von Trapp Family Lodge are among the most popular destinations for people who pass through the visitor center, Johnson said.
This time of year, roadways and trails with foliage views are also popular. A lot of people are interested in traveling Smugglers Notch, or Stowe’s gravel roads with covered bridges. The Stowe Recreation Path and Cady Hill mountain bike trails attract recreationists.
According to Johnson, Stowe history was another popular topic this foliage season.
The visitor center sends history buffs over to Stowe Historical Society, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, Stowe at Night Lantern Tours and the self-guided hiking tour of historic sites in Sterling Forest.
Johnson and her colleagues give food and beverage recommendations as well. They keep menus at the visitor center and can describe to guests how many crosswalks it takes to reach a restaurant, or where on the rec path it’s located. They regularly receive phone calls from people who get lost on their adventure and frequently give directions over the phone.
“Sometimes guests will come back to tell us how much they enjoyed their time in Stowe, which stands as a testament to how everyone does such a great job welcoming visitors,” Johnson said. “The only real complaints we hear are that they wish there was a little less traffic, a little more parking and a few more public restrooms.”
