A charming backroad in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom was nearing peak this past weekend.
Photo Credit : Jennifer Hannux
During one of my afternoon commutes this week, it hit me that fall is really arriving at last. And that realization came in the form of a question:
Did the trees look THIS colorful this morning?
With the recent warm and beautiful weather, it’s been easy to pretend that we simply extended summer through September this year. And given that mind-set, the sudden onset of autumn color this week seems truly surprising. Nonetheless, it’s true: In northern and western New England, fall is here, and the foliage is coming in quickly!
Fall colors are emerging quickly in Norther New England now. Photo Credit : Jim Salge
And it’s just in time, since this three-day weekend is one of the busiest weekends for tourism in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The combination of an early Columbus Day and late foliage was potentially troublesome, but a couple of cool mornings have kick-started the color, providing plenty of opportunities for foliage fans and visitors from around the world.
Visitors from all over the world are en route to see our fall colors. Photo Credit : Jim Salge
2018 FOLIAGE UPDATE: WHERE TO FIND COLUMBUS DAY COLOR
The places most likely to be at or near peak this weekend continue to be the areas farthest north or at high elevations. Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, New Hampshire’s Great North Woods, and the mountains of western Maine, as well as the Crown of Maine, will all have great opportunities for leaf peeping and photography amid vibrant color. These include the popular recreation centers around Burke, Vermont; Pittsburg, New Hampshire; and Rangeley, Maine.
A charming backroad in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom was nearing peak this past weekend. Photo Credit : Jennifer Hannux
Just south of these areas, the trees are turning rapidly, although they’re lagging a bit when compared with historical averages. The central White Mountains, the spine of the Green Mountains, and the Appalachians up to Maine’s Baxter State Park are all seeing some nice color, but it’s varied: cool valleys and northern slopes seem to be ahead, and there are still lots of swaths of green.
The color in the White Mountains is coming in, but is varied right now. Franconia Notch was a brighter spot. Photo Credit : Michelle Ettelson of Shell Ette Photography
Drives and hikes in these areas should be treated as a treasure hunt, with great color to be found, but expectations should be tempered given the early holiday and late leaves. (This variation has a positive side too, though, as peak color will likely last for a good span this year barring any windstorms!)
Other places in the White Mountains, like south facing Zeacliff, were largely green last weekend. Photo Credit : Jim Salge
Color is beginning to emerge in Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire’s Monadnock and Lakes regions, and Maine’s Lakes and Mountains all the way to the coast in Down East Maine. Here, primarily green woodlands are dotted with turning trees and areas of surprising color.
Gile Mountain in Western NH showing more color now. We posted a similar shot in a recent blog for comparison. Photo Credit : Phillip Forsyth
Peak color in Maine’s Acadia National Park is likely a week or two away, but swamp maples and alpine areas provide hints of what’s to come. Dots of color continue down the coastline through Portland, Portsmouth, and Boston, where prime time also will be later this month.
We at NewEngland.com have been constantly monitoring tourism groups, hotels, highway cameras, and, most important, our favorite photographers for information on these rapid changes to share in our reports every week. We encourage you to join in by reporting what you’re seeing on our live peak foliage map and by tagging your images on Instagram with #MyNewEngland for a chance to be featured on our feed.
Whether you have lived in New England all your life or are here for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we hope this report helps you find your peak this weekend. We’ll see you out there!
As a former meteorologist at the Mount Washington Observatory, foliage reporter Jim Salge is a keen observer of the progression of the seasons in New England. He uses his knowledge of weather, geography and climate to pinpoint the best time to visit various New England locations to find the best light, atmosphere, and most importantly, color.
