By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
New England is famous for fall foliage and festivals. To catch the peak of color and festivities, the trick is to zero in where and when.
Peak foliage typically begins in northern Maine and the White Mountains in mid-September before moving southward through October. Coastal Connecticut and Rhode Island often peak in late October to early November (see: newengland.com/foliage/foliage/peak-fall-foliage-map).
Vermont
Vermont’s Green Mountains rank among best places in the country for fall foliage with peak viewing typically moving from north to south between mid-September and mid-October. Among the best foliage locations:
Route 100: A scenic 200-mile highway passing through the heart of the state with mountain vistas and quiet villages.
Manchester: A historic southern Vermont village offering stunning views near Mount Equinox.
Stowe: A famous mountain town known for brilliant autumn palettes and top-tier hiking trails.
The Stowe-liage Foliage Package at Topnotch Resort includes a $100 nightly resort credit to use at the Topnotch Spa, Tennis Center or dining at the resort’s two restaurants. Rates start at $324/night. Available for travel through Nov. 30 (www.topnotchresort.com/packages-specials).
Okemo Valley Fall Foliage Train & Pop‑Up Fall Festival, Oct. 3-4: Step into Vermont’s most enchanting season aboard a vintage foliagetrain, where nearly an hour of scenic mountain views, brilliant color, and old‑fashioned rail charm create an unforgettable autumn adventure. (https://www.yourplaceinvermont.com/foliage-train/)
Get driving itineraries, lodging ideas at vermontvacation.com and the fall foliage report at https://vermontvacation.com/vermont-seasons/fall/fall-foliage-report/
Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Interactive Fall Foliage Map provides updates and forecasts on peak foliage conditions at DCR properties across the state. You can select calendar dates to see which sections of the state and specific DCR properties will experience peak fall colors. Most of the state peaks by mid-October; the higher elevations in the Berkshires start showing vibrant color by early October.
Here are some of the best foliage destinations:
The Berkshires features mountainous views. Key spots include Mount Greylock (the state’s highest peak) and the scenic towns of Lenox and North Adams.
The Mohawk Trail: Known as Route 2, this historic byway takes you through dramatic mountain passes, state forests, and small towns like Shelburne Falls.
Pioneer Valley: Running along the Connecticut River Scenic Byway, this area offers rolling farmlands, orchards, and historic Deerfield.
Lexington and Concord: Located in the Greater Merrimack Valley, these Revolutionary War towns pair vibrant autumn leaves with iconic American history during America’s 250th.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a 12.7 mile long biking and walking trail that runs through Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams, with spots along Cheshire Reservoir and Hoosic River providing excellent views.
Pittsfield State Forest, 1041 Cascade St., Pittsfield, offers an extensive hiking trail network, including the Taconic Crest Trail.
Nickerson State Park, 3488 Main St., Brewster,Cape Cod): Enjoy an easy 1.7-mile hike on the loop around Little Cliff Pond, a long and narrow 33-acre natural kettlehole pond, where the shoreline is largely wooded with pitch pines and scrub oaks, with occasional sandy beaches. Cape Cod also affords an outstanding network of biking trails, including the Shining Sea and Cape Cod Canal.
DCR’s Fall Foliage webpage also highlights 17 recommended foliage viewing spots in the state park system, along with hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks at the locations (www.mass.gov/info-details/fall-foliage-season-in-the-parks).
One of the notable festivals: Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Sept.18 – Oct. 4, is the third largest agricultural fair in the U.S., with a mind-boggling array of food (BBQ brisket sundae, anyone?), midway rides, big-name music acts, a farmers’ market, and those amazing butter sculptures. The horse, dog, and farm animal shows draw competitors from all over (thebige.com)
Planning tips at VisitMA.com
Connecticut
Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) interactive fall foliage report map forecasts the progression of color across the state. Peak foliage is predicted to arrive in the northeast and northwest corners of the state around Columbus Day and extend to the lower Connecticut River Valley and shoreline through early November (https://ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-fall-foliage-report).
Peak foliage runs for several weeks in Connecticut due to diversified terrain and variety of trees, offering more opportunities to experience the autumn beauty. The Connecticut River, starting at the mouth of the Long Island Sound (between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme) and going up toward East Haddam, changes color last – into the first week of November.
A great way to enjoy the fall foliage is biking or hiking. The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT), a partially paved trail running from New Haven CT north into Massachusetts. Historic buildings, canal locks, the remains of canal aqueducts and other landmarks are evident as the trail meanders along abandoned rail corridors and canal tow paths. The 56 miles of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) and the 18 miles of the Farmington River Trail constitute the most picturesque and historic greenways in New England.
Ride the rails: Essex Steam Train & Riverboat showcase the Connecticut River Valley (essexsteamtrain.com/train-boat); Naugatuck Railroad‘s Autumn Colors Limitedshowcases Litchfield Hills (www.rmne.org/excursions/autumn-colors-limited)
Durham Fair, Durham, Sept. 24-27: Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair combines the harvest season’s abundance of fruit and vegetables with livestock competitions, arts and crafts exhibits, live music, and food, games and rides along the midway. There’s a monster truck rally and a lumberjack show durhamfair.com
Apple Harvest Festival, Southington, Oct. 2-4 & 9-11, on the Town Green features rides, a crafts show, music, and food, with apples making their appearance in pies, fritters, slushies. Evenings are capped with fireworks, and a parade along a one-mile route highlights the opening weekend southington.org
Trip planning help at ctvisit.com
Rhode Island
Rhode Island shows its brightest colors in the heavily wooded western and northern regions in October.
Among the best locales: Blackstone Valley region (Slater Mill is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America; the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat offers cruises into mid-October); Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence; and at Blithewold Mansion & Gardens in Bristol. In South County, Route 1 and 1A from Westerly to Wickford is a great scenic drive.
Bike the 14.5 mile East Bay Bike Path from India Point Park in Providence to Independence Park in Bristol, passing many state and local parks and recreation areas.
Harvest Fair, Middletown, Oct. 3-4: 70 of the region’s finest crafters and artisans gather at the 325-acre Norman Bird Sanctuary. Pony rides, midway games, and a mud pit. Bands, food trucks, and beer garden (normanbirdsanctuary.org/events/harvest-fair)
Autumnfest, Woonsocket, Oct. 9-12: Rhode Island’s biggest fall festival features rides, food court, continuous performances by local and top-name bands, comedians, crafts displays and marketplace, classic and muscle car shows, a wine garden; and on Monday, a Columbus Day parade (autumnfest.org).
Driving routes and planning info at www.visitri.com/state/foliage.
Maine
Northern Maine & Aroostook County: Peak arrives in late September to early October. Baxter State Park has great vistas.
Western Mountains (Rangeley & Bethel): Peak arrives in early to mid-October. Drive the Route 17 scenic byway and stop at the Height of Land overlook for stunning lake vistas.
Midcoast Maine (Camden & Rockland): Peak arrives in mid-October. Hike Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for views of color rolling down to Penobscot Bay.
Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor: Peak arrives in mid-October. Combine ocean views with brilliant autumn leaves along the Park Loop Road or from Cadillac Mountain.
Southern Maine & Portland: Peak arrives in mid-to-late October, featuring vibrant oaks and coastal back roads.
The Maine Fall Foliage Map has weekly state updates and live reports, www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/projects/fall_foliage/whenandwhere
Cumberland County Fair, Cumberland, Sept. 27 – Oct. 3: Southern Maine’s biggest fall festival packs in events as diverse as truck and tractor pulls, rodeo, demolition derby, nightly fireworks and 10 live-music acts spanning blues to bluegrass (cumberlandfair.com).
Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg, Oct. 4-11. Since it began in 1851, western Maine’s harvest fest has grown into an eight-day celebration of the region’s farms, gardens, foods, and crafts. Midway rides and oxen pulls, calf and pig “scrambles,” an anvil-throwing contest, midway rides and a farm museum. Woodsmen’s Field Day draws loggers from across the U.S. to test their mettle (fryeburgfair.org)
Fall Foliage Festival, Boothbay, Oct. 10-11, takes place on a handsome four-acre town green, done up as a “vintage village” featuring art exhibits, food trucks, booths selling local crafts, live music, and children’s corner. Take a ride on a steam-powered train at Boothbay Railway Village, and visit the adjacent antique car museum (railwayvillage.org; boothbay.org).
Take advantage of fall cruises – the last of the year – aboard one of the historic Maine Windjammers fleet: Windjammer Angelique, Schooner American Eagle, Schooner Grace Bailey, Schooner Heritage, Schooner J. & E. Riggin, Schooner Ladona, Schooner Lewis R French, Schooner Mary Day. Schooner Stephen Taber (mainewindjammerfleet.com).
Trip planning at the Maine Office of Tourism, visitmaine.com
New Hampshire
Peak colors usually arrive from late September through mid-to-late October. The best place to see fall foliage in New Hampshire is the White Mountains region (visitwhitemountains.com).
Kancamagus Highway (Route 112), Highway 3. This 34.5-mile scenic byway runs between Lincoln and North Conway, offering continuous mountain views, bright red and gold trees, and easy stops like Sabbaday Falls and Rocky Gorge Scenic Area.
Mount Washington Auto Road. This steep, scenic drive climbs to the highest peak in the Northeast for panoramic views of fiery autumn forests.
Mount Washington Cog Railway: An amazing way to experience Mount Washington. The three-hour round trip Includes a one-hour layover at the top (www.thecog.com)
Franconia Notch State Park, Lincoln: Located in a deep mountain pass, this park features stunning foliage, the Flume Gorge, and the popular Artist’s Bluff hike
Crawford Notch State Park, Hart’s Location: Route 302 winds through this park past dramatic cliffs, towering trees, and roadside waterfalls.
Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, NH: This mountaintop estate looks out over Lake Winnipesaukee and colorful surrounding forests.
Trip planning help at www.visitnh.gov.
Find seasonal lodging offers at New England Inns & Resorts
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