Late September Fall Color
How far do you have to go to find the September fall color?
In past years, I’ve gone north to the Canadian border during the last week of Sept 27-28 and found nice colors. But do you have to?? Usually, yes! But some years you don’t.
Newport, Lake Memphremagog, and a bit more!
I usually start getting all my batteries charged for late September trips. And usually, by the 23rd of Sept, I’m heading for Vermont. This year I’m going to wait until the 25-27th for my first trip! I don’t know if I’ll be able to stand the suspense…
In 2012 I went out on 28 Sept and met up with several members of the New England Photographers Guild, and we explored around Jay Peak and Troy VT, all the way over to Newport and Lake Memphremagog. Don’t ask me to pronounce it 🙂
The colors were nice but we didn’t see any bell ringing or knock-your-socks off colors, but being out with friends and exploring was far better. Sometimes the memories we take from these outings are the best takeaways that we will get.
Those with me were photographers Gustav W. Verderber, Jane Ogilvie, John Vose, and Jeff Newcomer.
The roads we hit (partly) were Routes 242, 100, 105, 14, and maybe 58. There are many farm landscapes and scenic views along these roads so be prepared to stop. (A LOT!)
Now, do you have to go that far north?
Depending on the year, spots of color will appear. This maple showed its peak fall foliage colors one day before my trip north to Marblehead MA. BUT! it was all alone.
So while this one tree was peak you wouldn’t have found a companion for miles and miles… Why? Who knows!
If you have any questions then drop it in the comments down below!
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
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Not a comment; a question please Jeff.
My wife and I are very keen amateur photographers and are coming all the way from South Africa to see and photo the fall colors. We’ll be staying in Marion MA from Oct 15 to 21. Where do you suggest we go from there ?
Many thanks
Max & Carol Leipold (Hermanus, South Africa)
Jeff, nice article–however, you said in 2012 the color was nice but it didn’t knock your socks off in the NEK–Well, you should have driven up Rt 114 a few miles past Burke–The color up to Island pond and beyond was the best I had ever seen–It was around Sept 26th or so–never seen so many red trees, mostly on the south side–been up there 15 times, it was the best ever–and Killington mtn at the same time had the best fall colors I have ever seen there–2012 was great in certain areas
Well Greg I didn’t mean it wasn’t of didn’t in other areas but we just kept missing it… 🙁 Just one of those things that the colors are always just around the next corner but sometimes I make a wrong turn… 🙂
also, Rt 112 in New Hampshire, the Kankamangas Hwy, had some amazing color that year
This is what I found on 2 Oct on the Kanc (link takes you to my You tube channel with videos I’ve created of fall foliage and Halloween).
Thanks Jeff–really enjoyed your videos, especially number 13, Granby Road to East Burke, never took that road before
Glad you enjoyed… Hopefully I can a few more this autumn
Hi Jeff!
First of all, THANKYOU for your incredible blog and beautiful pictures!
I enjoy every single one…. Blogs and photos!!
I reside in Texas, but my heart is always in New England, more specifically, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and most especially in Autumn
Well maybe you’ll get here some day!
Great source of information here, thank you for sharing your prior experiences. I am going to kick my fall shooting off with a trip to Baxter Sep. 22 and staying for a few days, hoping to get an idea of what is changing between there down to Portland for the following weeks.
In your experiences, how long will the leaves hold their color and what could change them more rapidly?
Good plan… Color will drop fast is the area gets a hard freeze. It may only affect small areas or more but I hope you have a way to let the rest of know what you see up there. I head to Greenville on the 25th and my concern is wifi and 4G… What a world when I have to worry about things like that…
The trees have been pretty healthy this summer with decent rain so they should stay on pretty well… Good luck!
Help! I’m not on Facebook! What is the best way to stay up to date on where the leaves are? I am a Yankee living in TX for 30 years and dying to see some color between Sept 28 and Oct 6, when I fly out of Boston. I’ll be starting in Burlington, VT with a rent car, and no hotel plans so I can stay flexible, as you suggested. Also, if you think of it, would you please add the state when you refer to, say, “Greenville” so it’s easier to figure out where you are talking about?
Your blog is just great, Jeff. I appreciate it so much.
Thanks,
Kate
For those of you not on Facebook or twitter? Really? I’m 55 and I’m on both and I’m on Google plus as +JeffFoliageAutumn where I have a world wide fall foliage community. Ok baring those, then I would say sign up here for a subscription. Look up on the upper right sidebar. You will see where it says Post your email to get foliage updates quickly as there are over 500 other subscribers I would say it’s safe to put your email in there. 🙂
Once you do that you will get an excerpt every time I post a new blog post! Home delivery service, how much simpler could it be!
Colors between Sept 28 and Oct 6th
Ok, now as you are landing in Burlington VT to start this vacation I will suggest The Northfield 5. If you enjoy Covered bridges you will love Northfield VT. Home of Norwich University (my Dad graduated from there) and 5 covered bridges all painted red!
You will travel down I-89 from Burlington to Exit 8 which is US-2/VT 12 towards Montpelier. This route to Northfield is 55 minutes and 47.4 miles. You can take any route to get there and many are more scenic. If you are coming in from the North per this route then keep your eyes open for Cox Brook Road. Where you will see the Northfield covered bridge come into view. Looking through the bridge you can see the Lower Cox Brook covered bridge and about a half mile further up this road is the upper Cox brook covered bridge.
When you get done with these three, come back out onto Route 12 and continue heading into Northfield. DON’T go too fast as your next right will be the Slaughterhouse rd and covered bridge. (Refer to the map above for my notes on these).
Last but not least. Follow 12 south until it splits into 12/12A. Take 12A until you see stony brook road on the right. A short distance up it will split and you need to take the left fork. About .06 of a mile you will find the last of the Northfield 5 (The Stony Brook covered bridge or also known as the Moseley covered bridge.
As all of this and more is in tomorrows blog I’ll let you finish reading it there… You get pictures and so much more…
Thanks so much. It sounds great! Now help me wish for those leaves!
Jeff thanks for your last response, what do you think my luck with colors if when I arrive on the 7th of Oct and considering going through New Brunswick on my way to Trois Pistoles my fathers family, or should I go via from Manchester up north that way. Thanks Paul