The air is crisp, the sun is rising in a morning mist, and a football game and some chili await later in the day: it’s time to head out into Central Vermont’s wilderness for a few hours of exercise and excellent leaf-peeping.

Susan Shea, who chipped away at the Appalachian Trail and writes about it in the fall issue of Best of Central Vermont, and the Green Mountain Club suggest these hikes.
 

Worcester Mountain:

“This 2.5 mile trail steadily follows an old road before narrowing into a steep, rocky ascent,” writes the Green Mountain Club on its website. “The trail occasionally follows a beautiful vein of quartz in the rock. From the open summit, views of the Green Mountains, White Mountains, and southern Worcester range can be seen. If you are looking for a longer adventure, continue onto the Skyline Trail all the way to Mount Hunger.”
 

Mount Mansfield:

Enjoy views from the highest summit in Vermont on a tundra ridgeline by taking the Gondola SkyRide and then following the Long Trail for 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center at the top of the Auto Toll Road, suggests Stowe Mountain Resort.
 

Camel’s Hump:

Hike nearly 19 miles on the Long Trail for a feather in the fall-foliage cap. Writes the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation: “From the north, use the parking lot on Duxbury Road near the Winooski River. It is a rugged but very scenic 6.2 miles to Camel’s Hump summit. Along the way you will pass over Gleason Brook at 0.6 mile, a spur trail to Bamforth Ridge Shelter at 2.7 miles and have several nice vistas along the way. The trail joins with the Alpine, Burrows and Monroe Trails as well. From the south, it is a very rugged 12.5 miles to Camel’s Hump summit from the parking area on Route 17 at the top of Appalachian Gap. Along the way you will pass over five mountain peaks, Birch Glen Camp at 2.6 miles, Cowles Cove Shelter at 5.5 miles, Montclair Glen Lodge at 10.6 miles, and junctions with the Beane, Hedgehog Brook, Allis, Forest City, Dean and Alpine Trails.”
 
For more information, visit www.greenmountainclub.org