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Home » Foliage Articles » Late July Fall Foliage update 2025

Late July Fall Foliage update 2025

New England Fall Foliage Posted on by
Mount Willard and Webster Cliff as seen from Wiley Pond in Crawford Notch
On a crisp, golden autumn afternoon in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, Mount Willard and the imposing Webster Cliff cast a breathtaking reflection upon the tranquil waters of Willey Pond. View this in my gallery.

Happy July 24th, My Foliage Friends

magic 8-ball to help me make decisions
magic 8-ball to help me make decisions

Only 60 days until the first day of Autumn, and YES… the Arboreal Oracle is still not fully (100%) positive as to what this fall will look like, but I think I’m ready to give you a fall foliage update all the same.

We moved from Salem, MA, to New Hampshire’s White Mountains

I’m sorry I haven’t posted much this year so far, but Lisa and I just moved to the western White Mountains of New Hampshire. We are drained from clearing out our place in Salem, MA, and moving up here.

I have been unable to focus much on the fall colors due to closing on this place AND getting it ready for winter. It seems everybody delays doing any maintenance and just puts it on the market so the new buyers can do ALL the upgrades that the sellers should have done!

But enough whining…

I can’t wait to see the hills around me start to change color as we move into Sept. Even now, I am looking at a tree across the road at the edge of the forest.

It looks like it’s tinging orange already… but I’m sure that is just my imagination, or is it?

Looking forward to this fall…

For those who are saying, “It’s still summer! Don’t rush the fall!!! Well, I hate to tell you this, but the farm stand (7 doors down on my street) has put out vegetables already, and they tell me the sweet corn will be ready in 1 to 2 weeks. So stop putting off enjoying summer because fall is almost here. (read that first line up above again…) (Check my top 20 signs that fall is about to arrive)

(If you don’t know your way around New England, pick up a Gazetteer from my Amazon affiliate store)

Drought or a lack thereof… or too much rain?

Drought worries are low “for the moment”, and the weeks of high humidity/temps appear to have broken as we have had a few chilly nights. New England has had it’s share of 90+ degree heat so far this summer. And looking at the 10 day forecast (not terribly reliable), it looks like we will get a welcome respite for the next week or so with highs in the 70s and average rainfall. Sounds real nice, but it also depends on humidity and the actual weather received.

Someone asked if all the rain we got this spring will hurt the fall colors… Hmmm, we’ll have to see. The general weather pattern was rainy weekends and dry weekdays from spring to summer. Last Saturday was one of the first dry and sunny ones in recent memory, but Sunday was off and on rain… so we didn’t escape with a sunny weekend.

Vermont's gentle giants carriage rides
Vermont’s gentle giants carriage rides through the fall colors.

I usually start to worry about the increased chances of Anthracnose (a fungus that affects the leaves of Maples and other trees) when the weather remains cool and conditions are consistently rainy or cloudy for a week straight. Some areas in central or western MA did get these conditions, and those areas will likely have higher reports of premature browning leaves/falling leaves than other areas. Up here in the White Mountains, I don’t see it yet.

The BIG Joker is still the Actual temperatures we get

As every year, I look at the Climate prediction folks at NOAA, and they say average rainfall and slightly above average temperatures.

The Farmers Almanac says we’re going to have a cool and dry autumn with early fall colors??? (I wish I felt this way)

What Jeff thinks will happen

Here are a couple of articles that I find useful “a fall foliage primer for finding autumn colors in New England. ALSO, you should read my Art of Getting Lost.

I think we will see… (the room grows quiet and all ears point in my direction…) Barring any dramatic weather over the next two months. We are looking at a spectacular fall foliage season. If the temps stay moderate highs in the 80s or even 70s (even a 90-degree day or two in August), and we see the temperatures start to drop slowly over the rest of July through August, and into September. This will set us up for a good possibility of the chilly temps at night that we hope to see.

This doesn’t mean we won’t see another hot spell in August, or a big storm come up out of the Atlantic, and if we do, we will watch it the the fascination of watching a slow-motion accident, knowing there is nothing we can do about it. But watch it, we will (especially me).

Drought is still a possibility…

Right now, (this minute), I’m seeing average to below average chances for rainfall from August to November. Last year, the spigot turned off before the end of July and didn’t turn back on till October (WAY TOO LONG).

The good news is I have rain in our forecast (Western White Mountains) on July 25th, 27th, and then nothing till the 7th of August. As I said before, the 10-day is not very reliable, but it gives me hope that we will not be as dry as we were in 2024.

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Where and when I think we’ll see color first

Need some ideas on what to do? Here is a list of some things to do.

I think the fall colors will once again show early in Stratton, Maine, with good color as early as 20 Sept around Flagstaff Lake, ME. This will NOT be widespread and mostly in the crowns of trees. Better color will be seen by the 25th.

In NH and VT, the bright vibrant colors will make their appearance around the 27th to the 1st of October in limited places but quickly fill in around Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and the New Hampshire White Mountains…

For early arrivals in New Hampshire

(thinking 15 to 20 September), Some people do show up this early. You are likely to find nice color in Dixville Notch on Route 26 and “Maybe” around Stark, NH on Route 110.

For early arrivals in Vermont

Looking for things to do in Vermont, here are a few suggestions.

I do not expect to see early color in September in Vermont. IF you arrive early and you want to visit Vermont, check Conventry, Irasburg, Montgomery, and areas of higher elevation like Jay and North Troy. (If you don’t know where they are, pick up a Gazetteer from my Amazon affiliate store)

The bottom line is there are no guarantees as far as the weather goes, and the day-to-day weather is critical to what happens

Insects and Storms

Tips for creating your autumn vacation itinerary

I haven’t heard much about insect damage this summer. That isn’t to say that there isn’t any, but the incidence of insect damage to the trees has not gotten my attention. The tropical storm season has been very slow since it started in July. With Tropical Storm Chantal, there have been no others as of yet. The season runs to the beginning of November, and NOAA expects to get between 13 to 19 named storms in the Atlantic, and 6-10 of those should be hurricane strength. Whether or not they make landfall along the eastern seaboard, we will have to see what happens.

Have a wonderful fall foliage day, remember it’s a mindset more than a time of year…

Jeff Foliage Folger

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

Visit my Amazon affiliate store for items that Lisa and I have curated for you. These items are either New England-made or things we think will make your fall foliage trip more successful.

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Comments

Late July Fall Foliage update 2025 — 24 Comments

  1. Hi Jeff. Thanks for the detailed report! Things look promising! Planning a trip to Western Maine/NH White mountains area. Thinking October 5th-10th. Focusing on Rangeley Lakes, Grafton Notch, Pinkham Notch. You think I’ll be hitting peak in these areas? Last update you mentioned it might be a slow burn fall. So there’s a chance it could be a longer better window of peak color? Also was going to hit the kancamagus hwy. Tho I’m thinking it won’t be peak just yet with those dates. But still will have some color. Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated!

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  2. Hi Jeff, we are from California and will be seeing NE foliage for the first time. We will be on a business trip in the East Coast so we have 4 days available, either Oct 3-6 or Oct 10-13. Which weekend do you think is best?

    We will be flying to Boston, then driving to Conway to spend the night. First day we plan to do Kancamagus Highway, Franconia Notch State Park – Flume Gorge, Artist bluff, Cannon Mtn Aerial Tramway, and possibly Hart’s location and Cathedral Lookout if there is time. Seoond day we are driving to Stowe, visiting Smuggler’s Notch and Gondola Skyride etc. Third day, we are going to Woodstock. Fourth day we will be driving o BDL. Where do you recommend we stop along the way? Do you think the first day is too packed/aggressive?

    Thanks so much for your advice! Very much appreciated.

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  3. Thanks so much for all these updates! Any thoughts on what it will be like in the Sunapee NH area early October (specifically 10/4)? We’re attending a wedding that way and were hoping for some foliage!

    Reply ↓

    • The Sunapee area may not be full color until closer to the 8th but there will be some trees turning nearer to the 1-4th. Anywhere near a lake will turn later. you might have to drive and hour north to see better color…
      Unless the Old Farmers Almanac is right and its an early year for the fall colors… I’ll know more in a month or so… the temps in Sept will tell us much…

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  4. Hi Jeff,
    ​Thanks for the detailed report. My family and I are finally planning our long-awaited fall foliage trip to Boston from California! We’re looking at arriving on October 4th or October 11th.
    ​We understand that peak fall colors can be unpredictable, but based on your experience, which of those dates would likely offer the best chance to see vibrant foliage? Also, could you recommend some places to visit to experience the fall colors?

    Thank you

    Reply ↓

    • both… it all depends on where you go… the 4th my be more northern White mountains, Stark NH, Dixville Notch, Errol NH.
      Northwestern Maine, Stratford Maine, Eustis ME
      Vermont, Groton State Park, Irasburg, Craftsbury, Waits river,

      And while these places may be better earlier the will be very nice for the later dates as well… Unless there is a big storm blowing through, A week doesn’t make a big difference…

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      • Understood, than you very much!
        ​In that case, we can just arrive before the indigenous people’s day to beat the crowd.

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        • As I just told someone else… DO NOT ARRIVE ON FRIDAY and expect to find travel easy, you will join 10,000 other people trying to drive north that afternoon… I only tried this ONCE… you will never make that mistake again…

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  5. Hi Jeff, we are coming to Vermont (Stowe Lake Champlain and Woodstock, and driving through Kancamagus Highway to Maine. We were going to start in Boston, arriving 10/9/25. But from what I’m reading it might be better to start in Vermont and end the trip in Boston. Our travel dates are the 9th through the 19th. What would you do if you were planning a trip. This is our first time seeing the fall colors. Thank you for any advise you can give me.

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  6. Will be spending a week October 11-18 in Stowe, Vermont and perhaps 3 or4 extra days before tha either before or after, perhaps in New Hampshire.
    Any suggestions ? Have enjoyed your blog and ideas for close to twenty years.
    Thanks always for your insight and ideas.!!!
    Greg Gazda from Carlsbad, CA

    Reply ↓

  7. I am originally from Syracuse, but live in Texas now. Do you ever give your forecasts for the ADK Mountains? Just curious. I will be up in the Old Forge area, around Sept 22,23. Thanks! Love your site as I am also a photographer.

    Reply ↓

    • Well, my forecasts are based on years of experience in New England. There is an I Love NY website and they usually have fall recommendations. Also I would look for a Facebook group that is all about New York fall colors…
      I’m looking at the drought map and it happens that the ADKs have been without much drought since this past March, but now or as of 5 August they are starting to show the first signs of being dry there. The weather looks close to Vermont for the next 5-7 days so I would assume there may be some early turning due to stressed trees and higher elevation could also give some early colors… So my guess is the earliest colors will be 20-25 Sept but more enjoyable color will be 25-30 Sept, peak may show up during the latter dates but no later than 1-5 Oct… If a cold front comes in and sits on that area, then the colors will come faster… That is my best guess…

      Reply ↓

  8. Hi Jeff, We are from Russia; we’ll spend 3 nights in Boston, and I want to spend an additional 2 nights to see New England. I think New Hampshire could be the best choice. We are going back from Boston to Russia on the evening of September 28th, so we have 3 days, 26-28 September, for New Hampshire. We want to see the Kancamagus scenic route, and I don’t know what else. What places do you advise visiting? On the one hand, I understand that this time would be too early, not the best time for foliage colors. On the other hand, we see fall foliage in Moscow every year, so I don’t know if we should take care about finding the best colors at this time. What places do you advise visiting? Thank you in advance, and sorry for my bad English. 😉

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  9. Hi Jeff!
    Your website is awesome! I already used it in 2023. Then we again came in the fall of 2024. Well… both years were rather lame in terms of color… Now we will give it a last shot, but only in mid October. What do you think, where should we go to see spectacular color in mid October? Thanks so much!

    Reply ↓

    • Sorry to hear you are giving it a “last” shot because I can’t guarantee it will be better we moved into Severe drought so it will be a bit tough like the past couple years.
      But I posted last year that I was able to find spectacular fall colors in southern NH and Massachusetts like Groton Mass
      Groton MA fall colors after a passing rain shower
      You just have to be flexible in you expectations…

      Reply ↓

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