October Foliage Report: Top New England Destinations for Vibrant Colors (and Areas to Maybe Skip)
Well, everyone we are in October and there is no more wondering if or where the fall colors will be showing up, THEY ARE HERE!!!
Lisa and I drove up Route 16 in New Hampshire, NO great color along Route 16 up till jumping on Route 112 (the Kancamagus). The colors started slow but as we climbed it got to where we would call it peak or near peak. We drove up 93 through Franconia Notch and while most of all the trees had started to turn, there were few bright spots on the hillsides in the Notch.
As we left the northern end of the Notch the colors did NOT get better and driving into St Johnsbury it was mostly dull rusty color. We started to head up to Lake Willoughby and I Made a snap decision to veer off at Lyndonville to his Burke. The colors at the roadside are dry along Darling Hill Rd. We stopped at the Wildflower Inn and they think the colors will be coming in good but it has not happened yet. (see images below)
We drove over the Granby Rd (catch the Victory Rd off Route 114) and much of the way the color did brighten but was not “peak”. We cut over to Route 3 in New Hampshire and as we entered Carroll NH the colors were more pronounced but not bright. We took Route 302 through Crawford Notch and as you can see Bretton Woods (see above) is very pretty but there are no bright colors as of yet…
The North end of Crawford Notch was really pretty but mostly yellows. I stopped at the small parking lot at the top snapped some cellphone shots and continued south on 302 through the Notch. The colors weakened the further south we went. By the time we reached Bartlett, we were back to decent roadside color but not anywhere near peak. More at the bottom in Jeff’s thoughts (below)
New Hampshire
Chris Whiton of White Mountain Images.
Chris has been hiking over hill and dale to find the fall colors. In this shot, he hiked to the top of The Devil’s Slide in Stark NH.
A lot of the colors Chris has been finding, is this mono-pallet of color in the orangy color the last few days. There are many areas that show great fall colors in certain areas but you will have to look for them
Jeff “Foliage” Folger
Lisa and I on October 2nd drove over the Kanc…
The Kanc was some of the best colors seen this week. Maybe not as good as in past years, but it was still stunning.
Franconia is still dull as of Tuesday this week, The view from Artist Bluff or a ride up the Cannon Mountain gondola will still provide stunning views of the Notch.
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Joann Vitali Photography
Joann has been on the road in more southern areas of New Hampshire this week Such as Eaton New Hampshire, and Lake Chocorua…
Joann can be found on Facebook at Joann Photography and on Instagram at… Cobblestone and Birch
Vermont
John Rowe Photos
John has been flying his drone around the lakes/Ponds
Newark Pond (off Route 114 in the NEK of Vermont) had the brighter color this week. The other image of Lake Willoughby while peak is this dull orange compared to past years where more bright yellows and reds would be evident. On Facebook John can be found here and on Instagram here.
Jeff “Foliage” Folger
While most of our driving on Tuesday (2 Oct) was fruitless, we saw promising colors (depending on where you look around Burke Vermont).
Jeff can be found on Facebook at New England Fall Foliage and on Instagram here.
Maine
Scenes of Maine Photography
Stephen Beckwith traveled up Mount Baldpate and then over to Screw Auger Falls.
Stephen feels that there are bright colors along the road in Groton State Park around Screw Auger Falls.
Jeff’s Thoughts
Well if you are up here for this weekend (5/6 October) then you will have your work cut out for you. Northern New Hampshire from the Kancamagus north to Start and Dixville Notch should be explored. I would also look at North Western Maine (Rangeley, Greenville and up to Baxter State Park) These are long drives to be sure but that is were the colors are so far.
In Vermont I have a feeling Groton State Park in Vermont, Orleans and up to Jay peak are your best bets. I saw a picture of Holbrook State Park in the NEK (Northeast Kingdom) as looking really colorful.
I wish I had some better news at this point, but I’m going to share this out and hit the road
Jeff Foliage Folger
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Was waiting for this update all week! Thanks Jeff!
I plan on visiting places like Franconia Notch State Park(Artists Bluff),Crawford Notch State Park(Mt. Willard), Flume Gorge and Kangamongus.
Should I be going this weekend or would the next weekend be suitable? I did notice that the weather is a bit harsh next week.
We found excellent color in Dixville Notch on Oct 3 and thought the Kanc on Oct 4 was pretty great.
glad to hear that!!!
We also found very good color on the Kanc, Bear Notch road, and Pinkham Notch under sunny skies on Oct 6. Color not as good from Cathedral Ledge, but still a magnificent view
Thanks Jim, I just sent out my Monday report for subscribers so if you signed up for that you’ll get more details…
https://jeff-foliage.com/subscribe/
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Hi jeff,
We just landed in Boston and our orignal plan was to go to the green mountain throgh road 100 and to stowe and next week to continue to the white mountains for a week and finishing whith costal maine start in Acadia national park and south.
We thought the fall will start in stowe before the white mountains but now we thinking maybe to start in the white mountains.
The cacth is we mist be in Burlington in Friday and Saturday.
(I subscribe now so i didnt saw yesterday report)
Yes the White Mountains are progressing faster than the Vermont areas but the are all close together and I would go back and forth between them because someone said the NEK (Northeast Kingdom) in VT was getting past… I’m not sure that this is accurate but more someones opinion… It is happening fast though so get out there and enjoy…
Lincoln Gap in Vermont had really good color today under cloudy / grey skies. Also had good color on the back roads by Warren airport.
Thanks Jim, heading that way in the morning…!!!
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for all the information!
My family and I will also visit NH this weekend. We will stay at Wolfeboro. Do you have any recommendations on what to see in this area?
Thank you very much!
Castle in the Clouds, Grace Metalious, the author of Peyton Place, is buried in Smith Meeting House Cemetery in Gilmanton NH, https://www.wolfeborochamber.com/directory/attractions
you could try Historic Sandwich Notch road but! BUT it is a single lane dirt road and I would not do it in inclement weather (rain) and it’s many miles long and if you have any doubts about your car… don’t do it.
Hi Jeff,
We’re in the NH area for the Oct 12-13 weekend. Planning to go around the White mountains area for the fall colors. Do you think we’ll be past-peak? If so, what areas do you recommend?
I think there will be fall colors but this year they are turning fast. I would take a drive though Crawford Notch (route 302) Pinkham Notch (Route 16) then check Castle in the Clouds in the Lakes Region.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Castle+in+the+Clouds/@43.7283981,-71.3245833,916m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cb33dd62f898745:0x69f1aeea12005a5c!8m2!3d43.7283943!4d-71.322003!16s%2Fm%2F04jpm19?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwNS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Route 109 off Route 25 in Moultonborough NH. Also check out Rumney NH and Enfield (A Quaker museum there), There is a ton to explore but the colors will be tough to find and I put in my articles you need to schedule “Plan Bs”. I would look for all the interesting things you can find and if you find great color, then enjoy it. You WILL find good color but this year there are equal chances of dull color as well.
Good luck…
With the rains expected next week, any suggestions? We are there in the area for 3 days, do not plan to go to Stowe but can if that will have better colors.
Well today (spoiler alert) we went into SW Vermont. Orwell, Pawlet, Poultney, following 7A down to Bennington. This section of 7A is called the Shires of Vermont scenic byway Also Route 30 near Orwell had some lovely views. These areas are not what I would call peak… yet… But soon. We then traveled to the Berkshires and the hairpin turn above North Adams Massachusetts (NY border) is looking very near peak… with pretty colors but as of today the sun was needed to brighten what you can see from the lookout point at the Hairpin turn.
Driving East from there, the colors were good to at least Savoy but started to fade after that… But they are coming along. I “Just” got back in the door after driving 472 miles today and I have not heard anything current other than what we saw… To be clear I didn’t really see what I consider to be peak but we saw a lot of color that most people would find beautiful…
Greetings Jeff,
I’m in Brattleboro, VT Oct 12-15. Any drive or hiking suggestions for southern Vermont? Thanks so much!
Yesterday Route Royce Hill Road Near Orwell was nice but not peak, Route 7A from Manchester, Arlington, Shaftsbury, to Bennington was nearing peak and if you explored the Shires of Vermont along 7A and the areas around them you should find some very nice colors…
The Berkshires was also looking good yesterday (hairpin turn in Massachusetts on Route 2 at the overlook (Golden Eagle restaurant)