Fall Foliage Drives Near Avon, CT: Farmington River to Riverton

In October people drive for hours just to see the leaves in northwest Connecticut; if you live in Avon then you can enjoy the view in the course of an afternoon. The Farmington River flows right by the town and if you go north along it you reach some of the most colorful areas in the state. The distance from Avon to Riverton is about 25 miles and you can cover it in less than an hour by driving straight there. However, you shouldn't do so because the advantage lies in the stops.

The guide shows you the route, where to pull over, and when to set off. It also covers what to do if your car isn't ready for back roads, wet leaves, and cold-morning starts, which is where O'Neill's Chevrolet on Route 44 in Avon comes in.

When to Go

In the hills situated near Barkhamsted and Riverton the peak color generally appears in mid-October, while the valley area around Avon and Canton reaches color about a week later. Therefore, if you plan to visit early on, go north first; if you go later, the color will be nearer to where you are.

A few tips for timing:

• If possible, go on a weekday since the traffic on Route 44 and the river roads becomes heavy during October on weekends.
• Begin as early as possible since the light on the river in the morning is difficult to match and the parking areas at the trailheads become full by late morning.
• Look at the state's foliage report; the Connecticut DEEP puts out updates every fall so that you can see how far the coloring has progressed.

The Route: Start at O'Neill's Chevrolet in Avon

Starting Point: O'Neill's Chevrolet, 5 West Main Street

The drive begins on Route 44, and that is also where O'Neill's Chevrolet is located. The dealership is directly on the road which leads west, making it a convenient first stop. If you've been planning to test drive a new Chevy, then this is the day to do so. Over a few miles of Route 44 you will gain a good deal of insight into how a car performs on hills and around curves.

If you need to have your car checked beforehand, you should arrange this with the O'Neill's service department a few days before your trip; it's better to discover a flat tire or a weak battery in the parking lot than on East River Road.

Stop 1: Collinsville

Start at O'Neill's and go west on Route 44 before taking the signs that lead to Collinsville. It is a small mill village located on the Farmington River in the town of Canton; the old axe factory buildings of the Collins Company still stand along the river. In October the hills behind it turn red and orange.

Take a walk and enjoy the scenery. The Farmington River Trail goes through Collinsville and is mainly on a paved, flat, and easy surface. You'll have views of the river and tree coverage along most of the route.

Stop 2: Route 44 Through New Hartford

Head back onto Route 44 from Collinsville and continue westward. When you reach New Hartford, the road begins to follow the river more closely. Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area is located right off Route 44; it's a narrow gorge in which the river cuts between steep, wooded hills and a good spot to stop and look around.

This road is busy, so make use of the pull-offs and avoid stopping on the shoulder to take pictures.

Stop 3: Pleasant Valley

In New Hartford go north on Route 181 and you will reach Pleasant Valley, a small village in Barkhamsted. The road crosses the West Branch of the Farmington River at this point. Just after the bridge you will come to East River Road and that is the turn you should make.

Stop 4: People's State Forest and East River Road

The best section of the journey is East River Road; it goes north along the river through People's State Forest, having tall trees on either side and the water right beside you. The road is slow and bends around so you should take your time.

To get a view from above, go to the Jessie Gerard trailhead, which is located about 2.4 miles up East River Road on the right. The trail marked with yellow leads to two lookouts above the valley; one branch climbs 299 stone steps, making it a considerable effort, but the full-color view of the river and the hills is worth the trouble.

West River Road goes through the American Legion State Forest across the river, and a number of people drive up one road and come back via the other to complete a loop.

Stop 5: Riverton

The East River Road leads into Riverton, a small village at the point where the Still River joins the West Branch of the Farmington, and it is most famous for being the home of the Hitchcock Chair Company, which began producing its well-known painted and stenciled chairs there in the 1800s; the old factory building is still located by the river.

Riverton is a nice place if you want to stretch your legs, have a coffee or a snack, and then walk over to the water.

What Your Car Needs for This Drive

It's not a journey on a highway; instead you'll be traveling on two-lane roads with sharp curves, a few hills and leaves on the road. In October you could be leaving Avon on a morning when the temperature is 40 degrees only to encounter rain by afternoon, so your car should be prepared for this.

Here's what matters on a drive like this:

• The tires are good; wet leaves are slippery, almost as slippery as ice, and used tires make the situation worse.
• All-wheel drive is useful, since while it's not essential when driving on pavement, it does provide better traction on wet leaves, dirt pull-offs, and on the hilly areas of trailhead lots.
• Fast-acting heat. In Connecticut, cold mornings are one of the features of fall.
• There's room for equipment: hiking boots, jackets, a cooler, and possibly a dog. A small sedan becomes full very quickly.

The new Chevrolet range is available at O'Neill's Chevrolet, and some of the models are well suited for a journey of this type.

The Chevrolet Equinox offers three trims: LT, RS, and ACTIV. AWD is available for all of the trims and the front seats as well as the steering wheel are heated and these features are standard on each of them so that you will value them on a cold October morning at a trailhead.

If you're looking for a smaller car that's easier to park in a crowded village parking lot then the Trailblazer is worth considering since it does have all-wheel drive while the smaller Trax doesn't.

If you're looking to take the whole family with you, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse offers three rows and can tow up to 5,000 pounds provided it is properly equipped; the Z71 trim has AWD as standard.

Why Buy From O'Neill's Chevrolet

There are many Chevy dealers in Connecticut, so what's the point of going to Avon?

They've been there for a long time; O'Neill's has been selling Chevrolets since 1920, which is more than 100 years of selling Chevys.

You have only one person to deal with; at O'Neill's that same salesperson looks after you from the moment you ask your first question until the point at which you receive your keys.

The prices are available online and allow you to see the current inventory together with the prices before you even go there.

The location is convenient since O'Neill's is on 5 West Main Street off Route 44, the road you would use to begin the drive; it's a straightforward journey from Hartford, Canton, New Britain, Simsbury, and the other towns in the valley.

The service is provided at the location itself, and all oil changes, tune-ups, and repairs are carried out at that same address.

Plan Your Drive, Then Plan Your Visit

One of the easiest fall journeys available from Avon is the route from the Farmington River to Riverton; it's nearby, it's attractive, and you can choose how short or how long you want the trip to be. Select a clear weekday in mid-October, leave early, and don't omit East River Road.

And if your current car isn't up to the trip, stop by O'Neill's Chevrolet at 5 West Main Street in Avon. Take a test drive on Route 44 and see how a new or pre-owned Chevy handles the roads you'll actually be driving this fall.