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Setting Expectations for New England Fall Foliage — 28 Comments

  1. Coming from England I have to take what’s happening at the time. I’ve always found great colour somewhere if you go with the flow.

  2. Coming from England I have to take what’s happening at the time. I’ve always found great colour somewhere if you go with the flow.

  3. Last year I traveled to the White and Green mountains during the first week of Oct. I reported on my findings here, I was at least a week early and possibly 10+ days for what I considered “peak” in the lower elevations. This year I postponed my travels to begin 10/15. Of course, given the vagaries of weather etc, I may be late (or possible early). However, I still look forward to very pleasant conditions.

  4. Last year I traveled to the White and Green mountains during the first week of Oct. I reported on my findings here, I was at least a week early and possibly 10+ days for what I considered “peak” in the lower elevations. This year I postponed my travels to begin 10/15. Of course, given the vagaries of weather etc, I may be late (or possible early). However, I still look forward to very pleasant conditions.

  5. Considering the last 3 years and the late foliage, we have moved our trip to NH to the 2nd week of October…fingers crossed!

  6. Considering the last 3 years and the late foliage, we have moved our trip to NH to the 2nd week of October…fingers crossed!

  7. Jeff is correct and we have also discovered that Fall Foliage is not an exact science. We have been going to New England every year (with two exceptions) since 1996 and we love it every time. Sometimes the colors are at peak and sometimes they aren’t, however if you’re willing to drive a bit and explore you can always find somewhere in New England with spectacular colors. We usually go around October 2 or 3 every year and stay for 7 to 8 days. Our perspective is a little different from most folks because we are from Arizona and going to New England every October is paradise for us: cool temperatures, the colors, creeks and streams that actually have water in them, charming villages, cider donuts, apple cider, you get the idea. So, go ahead and enjoy!

  8. Jeff is correct and we have also discovered that Fall Foliage is not an exact science. We have been going to New England every year (with two exceptions) since 1996 and we love it every time. Sometimes the colors are at peak and sometimes they aren’t, however if you’re willing to drive a bit and explore you can always find somewhere in New England with spectacular colors. We usually go around October 2 or 3 every year and stay for 7 to 8 days. Our perspective is a little different from most folks because we are from Arizona and going to New England every October is paradise for us: cool temperatures, the colors, creeks and streams that actually have water in them, charming villages, cider donuts, apple cider, you get the idea. So, go ahead and enjoy!

  9. We’re leaving NC September 30th and we’ll return October 9th. We’ll be in Maine Oct 2-4 and Vermont Oct 5-7. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

    I have a feeling we’ll get next to nothing in Maine (staying in and around Portland) but I have high hopes for Vermont 🙂

  10. We’re leaving NC September 30th and we’ll return October 9th. We’ll be in Maine Oct 2-4 and Vermont Oct 5-7. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

    I have a feeling we’ll get next to nothing in Maine (staying in and around Portland) but I have high hopes for Vermont 🙂

  11. Florida-born and raised here. Spent countless summers on Long Island and never been north of Ridgefield CT. My wife and I are driving up to New England this year October 6 – 20th….a costly vacation, but we haven’t taken one in years and this is for all the marbles. I’ve been doing my research and am reading more and more about late peaks due to warmer summers. We are going to every NE state during those 2 weeks. Would you say the chances we hit peak fall foliage are 100%? 😉

    • I would like to say your chances are pretty good. I’ll be in Woodstock on the 6th but it may still be a bit early there. You need reservations over the Columbus Day Weekend (CDW) but try to be flexible and barring that be ready to wander North if it stays a slow burn and if it picks up speed may be further south. Climbing in elevation can yield more color but only so high because you can actually get above it…There ain’t no color at the top of Mount Washington… Take a drive up and see what I mean!

      Let me know how you do!

      OH! and I guarantee 100% you have a very good chance of seeing peak on one day during the trip. I have to be honest, on no trip have I ever found peak over a period of days because it doesn’t take much to move out of it. Those maps with mands of color would be more realistic if they were polka dotted, that would be more accurate to viewers on the ground. going through Crawford Notch, it is color up both sides of the highway and you turn the next bend and you realize you left peak behind you and now its either past peak or not yet arrived… What do you do? Go back and stay safe where you know the peak is or was or do you take a chance and see where you find it next…?
      I guarantee even if I get to 50%, I’m pretty darn happy and if I hit 75% I’m freaking out… anything above that is a wonder for your soul… Good Luck on the journey!

  12. Florida-born and raised here. Spent countless summers on Long Island and never been north of Ridgefield CT. My wife and I are driving up to New England this year October 6 – 20th….a costly vacation, but we haven’t taken one in years and this is for all the marbles. I’ve been doing my research and am reading more and more about late peaks due to warmer summers. We are going to every NE state during those 2 weeks. Would you say the chances we hit peak fall foliage are 100%? 😉

    • I would like to say your chances are pretty good. I’ll be in Woodstock on the 6th but it may still be a bit early there. You need reservations over the Columbus Day Weekend (CDW) but try to be flexible and barring that be ready to wander North if it stays a slow burn and if it picks up speed may be further south. Climbing in elevation can yield more color but only so high because you can actually get above it…There ain’t no color at the top of Mount Washington… Take a drive up and see what I mean!

      Let me know how you do!

      OH! and I guarantee 100% you have a very good chance of seeing peak on one day during the trip. I have to be honest, on no trip have I ever found peak over a period of days because it doesn’t take much to move out of it. Those maps with mands of color would be more realistic if they were polka dotted, that would be more accurate to viewers on the ground. going through Crawford Notch, it is color up both sides of the highway and you turn the next bend and you realize you left peak behind you and now its either past peak or not yet arrived… What do you do? Go back and stay safe where you know the peak is or was or do you take a chance and see where you find it next…?
      I guarantee even if I get to 50%, I’m pretty darn happy and if I hit 75% I’m freaking out… anything above that is a wonder for your soul… Good Luck on the journey!

  13. Yes! We are going to Jefferson, NH on Oct 7th to Santa’s Village. I was looking at the drive on google maps and noticed the street photos were taken in Oct 2016 and Mt Washington was green! We are thinking of spending CDW, Oct 7-11 in Hanover, NH to explore Vermont and New Hampshire, and then Oct 12-15 in Westford, MA to explore Maine and Massachusetts. Lots of driving, but a scenic drive makes it all the better.

    • Well, to be honest, the color has been later than desired the past few years and I’m attaching a cell phone shot of mine from Bear Notch lookout which is a road that connects Bartlett NH to the Kancamagus highway.
      Bear Notch Road on 6 October 2016 to gauge the fall color.
      I still think your dates will work out. The temps this month are starting to moderate and start to lower. Not to say they are where they should be, but they are(at this time) showing lows in the 40s and in a few cases the upper 30s in places like Peacham VT, and Littleton NH. But I’m only looking 10 days out. Rangeley isn’t showing any 30s for low temps and that means that area of Maine will show a slower start to the colors than over in NH and VT where over the next 10 days the temps are a little bit cooler. What really matters is the lows and if they stay mostly in the 40s with the days getting lots of sun then the leaves will slowly develop color and also slowly drop the leaves because it has not been as dry as past years… I’m still very optimistic.

  14. Yes! We are going to Jefferson, NH on Oct 7th to Santa’s Village. I was looking at the drive on google maps and noticed the street photos were taken in Oct 2016 and Mt Washington was green! We are thinking of spending CDW, Oct 7-11 in Hanover, NH to explore Vermont and New Hampshire, and then Oct 12-15 in Westford, MA to explore Maine and Massachusetts. Lots of driving, but a scenic drive makes it all the better.

    • Well, to be honest, the color has been later than desired the past few years and I’m attaching a cell phone shot of mine from Bear Notch lookout which is a road that connects Bartlett NH to the Kancamagus highway.
      Bear Notch Road on 6 October 2016 to gauge the fall color.
      I still think your dates will work out. The temps this month are starting to moderate and start to lower. Not to say they are where they should be, but they are(at this time) showing lows in the 40s and in a few cases the upper 30s in places like Peacham VT, and Littleton NH. But I’m only looking 10 days out. Rangeley isn’t showing any 30s for low temps and that means that area of Maine will show a slower start to the colors than over in NH and VT where over the next 10 days the temps are a little bit cooler. What really matters is the lows and if they stay mostly in the 40s with the days getting lots of sun then the leaves will slowly develop color and also slowly drop the leaves because it has not been as dry as past years… I’m still very optimistic.

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