Athletic leaf peepers can view Vermont’s fall foliage on foot in the 23rd annual Mad Dash, a foot race and fitness walk near the Mad River. Five- and 10-K dirt-road courses treat participants to stunning views of mountains and farms. As if that weren’t quaint enough, the routes even pass through an 1855 covered bridge. Youngsters get in on the action in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Kids’ Fun Run. A homemade lunch, live music, raffle prizes and a silent auction augment this benefit for the Mad River Path Association, a nonprofit working to create a network of public pathways through the Mad River Valley.

Price: $15-30, free for kids.