Vermont's Small Town With Scenic Mountain Views And Artsy College Vibes Is A Quaint Stowe Day Trip

In the fall, when the leaves change color and farm stands start selling apple cider donuts, tourists flock to Vermont. Stowe, nicknamed "Fall's Color Capital" for a beautiful reason, is an especially popular destination. During peak season in October, you'll be hard-pressed to find a hike, restaurant, or hotel that isn't packed with leaf peepers. If you're hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds, consider Johnson, Vermont, instead. Johnson is a small town just 16 miles, about 25 minutes, from Stowe. It's similarly picturesque, complete with a quaint Main Street, nearby mountain hikes, and college greens. Vermont State University's Johnson Campus is about a mile away from downtown, contributing to a cozy, academic feel.

Johnson got its start in the 19th century as a mill town thanks to the water power from the Lamoille and Gihon Rivers. Johnson Woolen Mills, which dates back to the 1840s, still operates a factory store downtown today, and the railroad tracks that once intersected the landscape have been converted into an extensive "rail trail" for hikers and bikers.

In other words, this small town, still home to less than 1,800 people, has taken care to honor its past in the midst of change. Mountains stand tall over the college in the distance, snow-covered in the winter, vibrant green in the summer, and red and orange in the fall; they promise miles and miles of trails to explore.

From Johnson, you can easily hop on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail via Old Mill Park. The trail, which spans a total of 95 miles across multiple towns and counties, is a go-to for explorers of all kinds, from dog-sledders in the winter to mountain bikers during the summer and fall. There's also parking nearby, making it easy to access for out-of-towners. "If riding from Morrisville to Johnson, you will have more uphill on your return ride to Morrisville," notes one trail-goer on Tripadvisor, with another adding, "The trail is very smooth and goes through spectacular scenery [of] farmland and views of the mountains."

You can also enjoy the mountain views at Dog's Head Falls, named for the rock formations that bear a striking resemblance to a canine. The trail that winds past the waterfall spans about 2.5 miles, and hikers often highlight the wildlife — there are kingfishers, beavers, and otters. "It really does look like a dog's head; when we went they were absolutely rushing with water," reads one review on Google Maps.

The town is also anchored by college greens at Vermont State University, which sprawl out in front of brick academic buildings. Johnson is just one of many college towns in Vermont. For example, Burlington, a lakeside escape that has indie shops, local eats, and fun campus energy, is just an hour from Johnson. It's also where many of the long-distance visitors to the state choose to fly in, given that it has its own international airport.

The presence of Vermont State University in Johnson has resulted in a walkable, quirky downtown. You'll find most restaurants, cafes, and storefronts along Main Street (aka Route 15), just a 20-minute walk from campus across the Gihon River. Jenna's Coffee House, which serves fresh-baked goods from Two Sons Bakehouse, has plenty of comfortable study nooks and local art decorating the walls. "The atmosphere is warm and cozy. A gem of a place, housed in a wonderfully restored building, right on Rt. 15," reads one review on Google Maps. Venture just a few steps down the street, and you can dine in at Marsala Salsa, a go-to for Caribbean and Mexican food. Gift shops like Butternut Mountain Farm store, meanwhile, are stocked with plenty of local items to bring home from your trip, like maple sugaring supplies.

Wandering downtown, you may also notice the old red mill building alongside the Gihon River, which is home to the Vermont Studio Center. Since the 1980s, VSC has hosted artist residencies and community classes, like figure drawing, adding to the little town's creative vibe. "Johnson is a quaint, walkable town... Easy to get a lot of work done here as everything slows down," reads one review of the residency program on Google Maps.

Along with the old-fashioned storefronts, restaurants, and artist studios, you'll also find historic covered bridges that complete Johnson's old-fashioned, storybook feel. There are dozens upon dozens of other covered bridges in Vermont, which you may notice as you head on to Stowe, home to a particularly famous ghostly covered bridge with haunting lore and fall charm, Emily's Bridge.