When
Fall foliage season in New England is upon us. The best times are between mid September and the end of October. The farther north you go the earlier the leaves change. The next two weeks are the best in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. We’ll be heading for a weekend in western Massachusetts over Columbus Day where the leaves should be beautiful. This is the time that you should find beautiful scenery in Connecticut and Rhode Island as well. There have been years when the fall foliage has been amazing and some years it hasn’t been as great. We try to arrange our trips with other activities just in case the foliage isn’t at its peak or we missed it by a week!
Why
Due to the shorter length of daylight and colder temperatures the leaves fall off. Right before this happens the green summer leave turn to gorgeous colors of yellow, red and orange. This is caused by transformations in leaf pigments, primarily the green pigment chlorophyll. The leaves of trees produce sugar from carbon dioxide and water by the workings of light and chlorophyll during the summer months. This causes the leaves to appear green.
Where
These are my leaf peeping locations. If you hike then you will really be in for a treat but you can view this feat of nature from your car. You can just drive on almost any street to see this beautiful transformation. In fact that is one of my top locations.
Your neighborhood: We are often so focused on traveling long distances that we don’t see the beautiful colors in our back yards. Well we actually don’t have many trees in our back yard but we have a State Park in our town and several within an hour away. For most of us we don’t have to go a day trip away to see fall foliage. Pay attention to your surroundings and you will go ooh and ahhh even if you are ten minutes from home.
Kancamangus Highway: For as long as I can remember the Kancamangus Highway which stretches from Lincoln New Hampshire to North Woodstock has been the place to go. Ask any New Englander where they are going to see the foliage and I would almost guarantee many will name the Kancamangus, which has been dedicated by the US Forest Service as a Scenic Byway. The area designated as a Scenic Byway is 28 miles in the heart of the White Mountains. Watch for moose and deer and get gas before heading on the road since there are no facilities.
Berkshire Mountains: This year we will be heading to the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts. The Berkshire Mountains, home to Tanglewood, is one of the prettiest areas I think in New England. Everywhere you go you’ll see our beautiful fall foliage.
Pittsfield State Forest: One of the best places in western Massachusetts to see foliage is in Pittsfield State Forest.You can hike Berry Mountain.
Mt. Wachusett: In eastern Massachusetts head to Mt. Wachusett in Princeton, Massachusetts. Mt. Wachusett, known by my family is a place to go skiing, is 2,006 feet high. You can hike to the summit.
Blue Hills Reservation: When my children were young their school offered ski lessons at Blue Hills Reservation In Milton, Massachusetts. Although the summit road is not open to cars, you can walk up to the Observatory. I’ve done the 3-mile loop trail which I didn’t find difficult but there is also a 2-mile loop on a paved road.
Enjoy our trees!
