I get questions about fall foliage and when will it be PEAK?

They ask about when a particular state will peak? When they ask about Massachusetts, they ask about the “Cape”. To tell the truth, when people think of Massachusetts, it seems they think Cape Cod is all that Massachusetts has to offer... They’d be wrong but that’s another discussion.

Cape Cod is wonderful for a lot of reasons and even has nice fall colors but as I’ll detail below, everything has its time and season… This is what many of us think of when we say Cape Cod…

Fall foliage on Cape Cod

• Normal dates for New England (Not the Cape) in general versus the “The Cape”
• Why Cape Cod?
• What kinds of colors can be found?

Normal dates for New England fall colors on Cape Cod

In late September, Fall foliage begins to arrive in northern New England. It’s with a sense of anticipation that leaf peepers can’t wait for the very short season to begin.

Generally, autumn arrives on its own time schedule. The fall colors begin up north in Canada and as the jet stream brings cooler air into Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, the fall colors begin to change. This is the way of autumn and while it varies from year to year, it rarely changes from this simple beginning.

The “Cape” is the last to turn and this is why you can arrive late in New England and drive down to the Cape after the 25th of October and if the weather has been gentle to us (no big weather events, rain, wind, and hurricanes) Then you should find the “Quiet time” down on the cape to be peaceful. The summer beach lovers have gone and it’s just you and the year-round residents.

Why Cape Cod? Do they get the fall colors?

YES! The fall colors do arrive out on the Cape, but, the Cape and Islands are some of the last areas to get their fall colors. The beaches are mostly empty and the “Townies” (locals) are breathing a sigh of relief because while tourism is always needed ($$$) the Cape becomes quiet in the off-season. Even in the fall, most people don’t flock to the Cape for its fall colors.

If you know where to look, the New England fall colors can be found from late October and into November. In October, you will find the King Richards Faire in full swing in Carver (Not really the “Cape” but close) with Southeastern Massachusetts slowly turning red and orange.

What kinds of fall colors will you find?

It’s at this time when I have the road virtually to myself that exploring is really fun.

The soil is very sandy in southeastern Massachusetts and you’ll find a lot of white pines and oaks but relatively few maples. If you are already changing your plans then let me say that the fall colors CAN be found out on the Cape.

Scarlet Oaks in dark red and elms all ablaze in gold are quite plentiful. But I will say that pine and cedars are the norms for the Cape so don’t go this way expecting whole stands of color. Instead, you will get fields of green with startling spots of red and yellow.

The marsh grasses will have turned a golden hue and a walk along the coastal trails give you a chance to savor the mellow fall colors during sunny afternoons.

If you take a moment and explore the little towns of Cape Cod you’re just as likely to find a brilliantly white painted church with a red Oak and a deep blue sky overhead as you would up in Vermont.

I often talk about the fall color progression as it flows down from Canada. The colors progress on the map and it looks like the eddy currents of the ocean waves flowing on the beach. At this point, in late October, all that color has flowed down from the mountains and has reached the ocean.

It’s at this time that you can enjoy the near-empty beaches, the lighthouses, (Nobska, Highland, and Nauset lighthouses to name a few), and the fall colors without having to stand shoulder to shoulder with other leaf peepers.

Suggested Routes on the Cape

To start, if you know me I never want to stay on the main roads so I would jump on 6A which runs north of Route 6, or take a run down Route 130 to Route 28 (check your map book) which runs south of the Mid Cape Hwy (Route 6). If you run along 28 you will drive through South Yarmouth over into West Dennis and if you have the time you could explore the smaller coastal roads.

You’ll soon end up in Chatham and if you are going to be staying the night there are many B&Bs to pick from here with great views of the water. Since it’s the slow season or should be, you may also see some discounts on prices. I doubt reservations will be needed but you may want to call around to see who has a better price. (check my thrifty lodging app on this site to see what is listed)

All in all, you should be able to find some great color, great food, and wonderful ocean views to end the fall season with. OR…! Head west tomorrow into Rhode Island and Connecticut where the fall colors are just getting good!

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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