Marketing Peak Fall Foliage, get here EARLY or you’ll miss it!
Originally published in 2019; fully updated for the 2026 season with new data and maps
Today, I’m going to discuss the reality of finding peak fall foliage versus the Marketing of peak fall foliage.
I once asked Google, “When can I expect to find Peak fall foliage in New England?” You never know, it could get it right. 😂
I found a few good answers (it referenced my website, imagine that...) But I also found a Vermont vacation website saying, “Visit Vermont for peak fall foliage in early to mid-September!” 😱
If you are an experienced leaf peeper, then you will know that (real) leaf peeping doesn’t really begin until around the 25th of Sept. (according to Jeff)
Marketers want visitors to arrive before the peak times to increase profits. Before the 20th of September, most hardcore leaf peepers will most likely be disappointed. Really, before 1 Oct in almost any year…
How Early Will You Find “Peak” Fall Foliage in September?
For this question, the reality is never black and white. I try to give my best guess on what the fall arrival is looking like. Over the last hundred years, peak fall foliage used to arrive earlier in September, but thanks to the slow warming of our planet (AKA: Climate Change) peak fall foliage almost never arrives in September. Outside of during Covid (2020) and a few locations in northern New England, we rarely see peak or near-peak colors in September. That said… 😁
If you are stuck and HAVE to arrive in mid Sept, here is an article that asks IF you will find fall colors by 15 September (in any year)
I’ve gone back through my archive of images, and this image below provided so much promise of fall color, but outside of this, on Route 93, north of Franconia Notch, we saw nothing more than a branch or a tree here or there in New Hampshire and all the way up to Swanton, Vermont.
The pumpkins were orange, the apples were red, but the trees were still mostly green. I did declare that I found peak the week following this on 26 and 27 Sept 2020.
Drone view of the Northwestern Maine at Flagstaff Lake and the Bigelow Mountains on 27 September 2021, not peak but nice!
It’s the nature of tourism, and their job is to get you to arrive as early as possible and spend money. BUT! as one interviewer pointed out to me, “You don’t work for the tourism industry, so why do it?” My response was a simple, “I like to be helpful… See Connor Knighton‘s interview for CBS Sunday Morning.
Relying on the Foliage Maps to determine Peak Fall Foliage
I wrote an article about good and bad fall foliage maps, [click link]. But you can see below that if you relied on just this one source, you might show up for the “Early” Near Peak fall colors in Vermont and New Hampshire. (If you really want to know, let me know)
If you rely on this map, you would not stick around through Columbus Day Weekend because, by their map, ALL of Vermont and 3/4 of New Hampshire are all PAST peak!
So, Is There EVER… Peak Fall Foliage Color in September?
I can confirm that it does occur. On September 26th and 27th, 2020, I also observed peak fall colors on September 30th in Sugar Hill, NH, on September 28th in Eustis, Maine, and on September 29th just east of Dixville Notch, NH. You may notice a pattern: the only “peak” fall colors I found in September were during the last few days of the month, not a widespread display of colors throughout the entire month.
This is a reminder that Mother Nature will always be unpredictable! During COVID in 2020, we had peak fall color around the 27th of September. I was finding some “really decent”OK” colors on the 20th of September in Vermont and New Hampshire. But the next weekend, we drove back up into New Hampshire and over into Vermont. WHAT A DIFFERENCE a week made.
This is not normal, and peak fall colors rarely show in sufficient quantities before 1-5 October. Thank you, climate change…
You could drive up to the Connecticut Lakes in northern New Hampshire, and see some color because that far north is essentially like being in Canada at that latitude.
What to expect for Early Fall color on 25 Sept
Please notice I did not say “Peak fall color“… (as noted above it can happen in Sept)
I will be the first to acknowledge that you may find/good/above-average fall colors by the end of September. But in most areas, “Peak” or what some people perceive as peak, fall foliage is yet to come.
You will find your best results in places like the northern Vermont region known as the North East Kingdom (NEK), New Hampshire’s First Connecticut Lake area in NH, and northern Maine like Greenville, or up towards Katahdin National Park. It would be very unusual to find many areas of peak fall foliage by the 25th of September in ANY southern areas.
Should we change our Expectations?
If you lower your expectations a bit in mid to late September, you can still have a wonderful visit. The weather is pleasant, and there are plenty of places to explore. Throughout New England, you’ll find beautiful trails and charming towns that are less crowded than in October. The gondola rides, quaint shops, and delicious New England food are still available.
If you arrive with the “expectation that you may only find a few leaves here or a full tree turned there, then by all means arrive in Mid-Sept. I head out the door with the expectation that I will be mostly disappointed, but sometimes I get a surprise, just like on Christmas morning, because I do not know for sure if I will often ask myself: Good enough for whom? For a first-time visitor, even a few trees starting to turn can be exhilarating. As a leaf snob, though, I feel let down if I don’t see an entire hillside in vibrant colors.
Were the fall colors we found good enough?
I often wonder: good enough for whom? For first-time visitors, even a few trees changing color can be exhilarating. However, as a leaf enthusiast, I feel disappointed without entire hillsides of vibrant colors. For someone who has never seen New England’s fall, a single tree in scarlet or yellow can make their trip feel successful. They can visit in mid-September and be content. But for seasoned leaf peepers, when will the colors be good enough?
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
Looks like it is going to be a warm fall, pushing off those colors:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/wsi-hot-summer-very-warm-fall_2011-07-25
Hi Sam, well that could put a crimp in our fall foliage… Hmmm Um Sam, How often are the weathermen where you are from 100% on in their forecasts? 🙂 I will keep a positive outlook but I will keep the Weather Channel’s forecast in the back of my mind… The effect of this will slow down the progression of colors and they won’t pop as much as other years unless the temps drop into the 40s at night.. (even the upper 30s are needed but no frost)…. One thing they noted is that all the really warm temps will be in the mid section of the country and it really depends on what the jet stream does and if it pushes south a little then we should be good.
I really appreciate the point out and I hope to hear from you again…
Looks like it is going to be a warm fall, pushing off those colors:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/wsi-hot-summer-very-warm-fall_2011-07-25
Hi Sam, well that could put a crimp in our fall foliage… Hmmm Um Sam, How often are the weathermen where you are from 100% on in their forecasts? 🙂 I will keep a positive outlook but I will keep the Weather Channel’s forecast in the back of my mind… The effect of this will slow down the progression of colors and they won’t pop as much as other years unless the temps drop into the 40s at night.. (even the upper 30s are needed but no frost)…. One thing they noted is that all the really warm temps will be in the mid section of the country and it really depends on what the jet stream does and if it pushes south a little then we should be good.
I really appreciate the point out and I hope to hear from you again…
I knew I should have caveated my statement with “But when are weathermen ever correct?”
Let’s hope for those cool nights and calm days….
Amen to that!!! cool nights and warm days are the ticket… Are you in the area here or are you going to be traveling in from out of state? If so what are your fall foliage plans for 2011?
I am sort of in the area, upstate NY. I will be traveling to the area this fall. Not sure of the plans quite yet. Probably the Waterbury, VT area. I will also be up in the Adirondack area (since it is really close) checking out all the trees have to offer.
Nothing wrong with the upstate NY area for fall foliage.. I even have a shot from route 2 on the NY side just west of North Adams that is very nice and a few years ago we came down the NY side from Fort Ticonderoga and as we got to the bottom of Lake Champlain I came to a pull out and the whole hillside was a flame with the afternoon sun and there was a farm all surrounded with these beautiful colors… I may have been stranding the line between NY and VT, I don’t know but that is one of my fav shots of that trip.
Here is a shot of it http://photo.vistaphotography.com/fall_foliage/h216e9604#h25de1f66
I knew I should have caveated my statement with “But when are weathermen ever correct?”
Let’s hope for those cool nights and calm days….
Amen to that!!! cool nights and warm days are the ticket… Are you in the area here or are you going to be traveling in from out of state? If so what are your fall foliage plans for 2011?
I am sort of in the area, upstate NY. I will be traveling to the area this fall. Not sure of the plans quite yet. Probably the Waterbury, VT area. I will also be up in the Adirondack area (since it is really close) checking out all the trees have to offer.
Nothing wrong with the upstate NY area for fall foliage.. I even have a shot from route 2 on the NY side just west of North Adams that is very nice and a few years ago we came down the NY side from Fort Ticonderoga and as we got to the bottom of Lake Champlain I came to a pull out and the whole hillside was a flame with the afternoon sun and there was a farm all surrounded with these beautiful colors… I may have been stranding the line between NY and VT, I don’t know but that is one of my fav shots of that trip.
Here is a shot of it http://photo.vistaphotography.com/fall_foliage/h216e9604#h25de1f66
Jeff, I am making the long journey from Houston to New England this fall, and based my reservations on the foliage predictor on the Yankee web. I will be in White Mountains on Sept. 26 and in Stowe by Oct. 1. Will I be too early for peak color? Should I think about trying to push my reservations back a week?
Well Sarah, As I wrote in my last article find peak fall foliage before 1 Oct is always a hit or miss proposition. I won’t say you won’t find color and sometimes it will be good color. But finding whole hillsides with eye popping color is a hit or miss.
In the article http://wp.me/p1wtar-c5 I found some decent color near Sugar hill area of NH and this was on the 25th BUT it wasn’t eye popping color. You also need to start early in the morning and later in the afternoon to get the best light… This isn’t just for photographing the colors. For just viewing the colors between 11-2PM you will find they aren’t always the prettiest if the sun is out and harsh… But this is another article… 🙂
If you could start you vacation a week later then I “think” you would be happier..
But lets say you can’t… Let’s ask this.. Will there be any color in the White Mountains on 25 Sept?
The answer is a qualified “Yes” You see the color will have started weeks before this but it will be a tree here and a tree there… No, I can’t predict where these trees are or will be… But you you will need to look to higher elevations because the temps higher up will be lower and this will bring the colors on earlier. So you can think about the Mount Washington auto road (drive to the top of Mount Washington… No there are no trees on top but driving up from where it will be mostly green through colorful trees to the alpine zone and no trees can be awesome… Plus on a sunny day the view into other states is great…
Next you can take the Kancamagus highway which has varying elevations between 600′ to 2200′. All of these drives will be pretty and fairly colorful during that week. but for most of these areas it will be hit or miss.. Much of your luck will depend on the weather we receive during September. IF the temps drop into the 40s at night and the 50s-60s during the day then there is a real good chance for great color by the last week in Sept.. If we get upper 80s during Sept and lows in the 50s then this will delay much of the eye popping color until October.
I wish I could give you a 100% guarantee on what the color will be at a given time but over the years of searching for peak myself I find the later I look the better…
What you can do to help yourself is come up with alternate plans for things to see. Many of the ski resorts in both NH and VT offer Gondola rides to get birds eye views of the foliage and peaks in the distance. Also bewteen 25 Sept and 1 Oct is the NEK fall festivals where each day its in a different VT town…
Stowe has auto-toll road up mount Mansfield with alpine slide, down spruce peak and bungee trampolines to name just a few things to do.
I hope this gives you some helpful ideas…
Jeff, I am making the long journey from Houston to New England this fall, and based my reservations on the foliage predictor on the Yankee web. I will be in White Mountains on Sept. 26 and in Stowe by Oct. 1. Will I be too early for peak color? Should I think about trying to push my reservations back a week?
Well Sarah, As I wrote in my last article find peak fall foliage before 1 Oct is always a hit or miss proposition. I won’t say you won’t find color and sometimes it will be good color. But finding whole hillsides with eye popping color is a hit or miss.
In the article http://wp.me/p1wtar-c5 I found some decent color near Sugar hill area of NH and this was on the 25th BUT it wasn’t eye popping color. You also need to start early in the morning and later in the afternoon to get the best light… This isn’t just for photographing the colors. For just viewing the colors between 11-2PM you will find they aren’t always the prettiest if the sun is out and harsh… But this is another article… 🙂
If you could start you vacation a week later then I “think” you would be happier..
But lets say you can’t… Let’s ask this.. Will there be any color in the White Mountains on 25 Sept?
The answer is a qualified “Yes” You see the color will have started weeks before this but it will be a tree here and a tree there… No, I can’t predict where these trees are or will be… But you you will need to look to higher elevations because the temps higher up will be lower and this will bring the colors on earlier. So you can think about the Mount Washington auto road (drive to the top of Mount Washington… No there are no trees on top but driving up from where it will be mostly green through colorful trees to the alpine zone and no trees can be awesome… Plus on a sunny day the view into other states is great…
Next you can take the Kancamagus highway which has varying elevations between 600′ to 2200′. All of these drives will be pretty and fairly colorful during that week. but for most of these areas it will be hit or miss.. Much of your luck will depend on the weather we receive during September. IF the temps drop into the 40s at night and the 50s-60s during the day then there is a real good chance for great color by the last week in Sept.. If we get upper 80s during Sept and lows in the 50s then this will delay much of the eye popping color until October.
I wish I could give you a 100% guarantee on what the color will be at a given time but over the years of searching for peak myself I find the later I look the better…
What you can do to help yourself is come up with alternate plans for things to see. Many of the ski resorts in both NH and VT offer Gondola rides to get birds eye views of the foliage and peaks in the distance. Also bewteen 25 Sept and 1 Oct is the NEK fall festivals where each day its in a different VT town…
Stowe has auto-toll road up mount Mansfield with alpine slide, down spruce peak and bungee trampolines to name just a few things to do.
I hope this gives you some helpful ideas…
Jeff, Thank you so much for all your information. I was able to change all reservations to start my time in the White Mountains on the 29th. Only three days later, but I feel a little better. I will follow your suggestions and thanks again for your help.
Well visit the Yankee site in September for the foliage ambassadors postings to see where they say they are finding color and of course check back here as I have my own cadre of spotters for foliage and they will be popping in on my foliage forum for daily or weekly updates. Plus I will be polling other people in New England for what they are seeing.
Well we won’t know until after you get home whether those days will make a difference but I think you have a good chance of seeing good color. I hope you’ll stop back in and let me know if you found good color and whether you had a good time or not…
Hello…I am potentially getting married on October 7, 2012 in Greenland, NH (town over from Portsmouth – seacoast area), and am curious if you’d expect decent foliage at that time in that area of NH. I know foliage is unpredictable and differs from year to year based on weather conditions/temperatures and so forth, but I’m just trying to get a general sense of how the foliage might be. It would be an outdoor ceremony so we’d really love at least a little color. Any insight you might have would be greatly appreciate. Thanks!
Hi Julia and Congratulations.
Well I don’t know what kinds of trees are in your outdoor location and for starters that is key.
Second (and you should have checked with me during the planning phase) and I would have put you up in the White Mountains. I know up on Loon Mountain that they have an outdoor chapel with tiered seating and the view would be incredible.
The coastline always changes last but! I suggest you find out what kinds of trees around the church… They may be slightly stressed and be turning as we speak. Ask your photographer to look for fire bushes as they turn very early (they are in Salem MA right now) and they make for a great back drop. (I know I shot a bridge against that on 23 Oct since that was all I could find with out taking the couple out of town.. 🙂
I would suggest that if you can’t have as great color as you want, you see if your photog will make a deal for you and do a after wedding shoot up north in the White mountains… Depending on their schedule and yours it could be worked out…
I hope this helps.
Jeff Foliage