Where to See Fall Foliage This Weekend | 2022

2022 Where to See Fall Foliage This Weekend

Few things in nature are more beautiful than New England in the fall. If you’re hoping to get out this year for some leaf peeping, we’re here to help, with our updated forecast predictions, a peak fall foliage map, and a slew of prime road trip routes. Wondering where to see peak fall foliage now? We’ve asked Jim Salge, our resident foliage expert, to collaborate with us on choosing a prime spot each weekend where you’re sure to find great color. We’ll be updating this page weekly, so bookmark it and check back often!

October 28 – October 30, 2022

Boston, Massachusetts

Foliage Talk:

Well, that was quick! This will be the final fall foliage report of the 2022 New England foliage season, as colors have not been lasting long this year, an unfortunate effect of the recent drought. Up north the foliage arrived fast and bright, but as the wave of color slipped south into the most severely drought-stricken areas, the colors began to fall quickly. All in all, this year was beautiful, but fleeting. Still: it’s not quite over.  

Most of the bright leaves across New England have now fallen, leaving only the rusty hues of past-peak foliage across much of southern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. That said, there’s still color to be found in these places, perfect for a walk in the woods to appreciate the golds, coppers, and auburns that remain. Heading into Halloween weekend you may even find a stately old maple still holding onto its color, perhaps in a spooky cemetery somewhere! But maples with lingering leaves are quickly becoming the exception.  

For leaf peepers seeking peak color this weekend, there are still a few options along the region’s coastlines, both in the coastal cities as well as in the very southern areas of New England along the Long Island sound.  

North of Boston there is a short window every year where the oaks glow in crimson before they fade to brown. Great places to view these colors are largely along the bays and creeks near the coast, including the areas around the Wiggly Bridge and Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine. For those looking around southern New England, the coast is prime territory as well.  There are still plenty of green trees still in the forest there, where bright maple colors are still coming in. Peak will likely be reached within the next ten days in Mystic, Lyme, and New Haven, Connecticut, while heading inland leads to more bare maples and late oak color. In these southern areas of New England the gradient is pretty dramatic!  

Finally, there are the cities, where heat islands prevent lows from dropping as far as the surrounding forest and countryside, and the trees reach peak later. Urban parks might also have irrigation, so the effects of the drought can be blunted in dry years like this. Boston is a prime example of a city that turns late, and the peak colors about to emerge in Boston will likely be spectacular! 

What to Do in Boston:

It’s hard to find a more vibrant fall city than Boston, both in terms of atmosphere and foliage color.

The world-renowned Boston Public Garden, next to The Common by Beacon Hill, is where your Boston leaf peeping day should begin. There, trees from all over the world turn in waves of fall color from mid-October to mid-November every year, and the landscape is perfect for photography with the city skyscrapers looming in the background. If you’re lucky, the swan boats will even still be in the water!

From the garden, wander through the Beacon Hill neighborhood to see picture-perfect fall decor on every doorstep, and don’t miss the leaf-covered cobblestones of Acorn Street! From there, it’s only a fifteen minute walk to the Charles River Esplanade, where hundreds of cherry trees line the walking route, all turning vibrant crimson in early November.  

If you travel a bit further west, the Mount Auburn Cemetery doubles as a fantastic arboretum. Japanese Maples are the cemetery’s big draw, but the foliage-filled views of the city skyline at the cemetery’s higher elevations are just as inviting. After that, if you aren’t quite ready to end the peeping, the parks down the hill near Harvard along the river continue the show.

After all that leaf peeping, some of our favorite dining options are in the North End and the Seaport District. Finally, a walk through the Greenway Trillium Beer Garden for one last pop of color would be the perfect end to a Boston day. 

Thanks for following along with our 2022 fall foliage updates. We’ll see you next year!

Special thanks to Jack Daryl Photography for images of Boston fall foliage this week. 

Other Spots to Leaf Peep: 

• York, ME
• Lyme, CT
• Salem, MA

October 21–23, 2022

Scituate, Rhode Island

Foliage Talk:

October is flying by, and so are the fleeting days of peak fall foliage. This year the color arrived quickly, in a surprisingly uniform fashion from north to south. We suspect that this likely has to do with the drought. That said, these big pops of bright color have been brief, as we are seeing a lot of trees drop their leaves soon after peak color is reached. Still, there’s plenty of leaf peeping to be had in southern New England, which only recently reached peak color!

Last weekend, peak colors were as far south as northern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Our previous weekly pick, Woodstock, Connecticut, saw great foliage and fantastic weather. This coming weekend, all these same areas should still look pretty good. Likewise, there’s still time to spot great colors in a large portion of eastern and central Massachusetts, as well as in the Pioneer Valley. But these colors won’t last for much longer, as the highest hills of the Berkshires have already begun to move past peak.

The northern reaches of New England are another story entirely, as the wind and rainstorm at the end of last week took down many leaves across the north country. The decline continued this past week, and now many of the mountainous areas in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine only have color left in the larches and beeches. River valleys and lake regions are the exception in these states, but the colors there will soon fade.

Coastal Maine remains the exception in the northern tier, as it is still holding on to some great color. The leaves are swiftly falling from early-to-turn maples, but the late maples, oaks, and hickories haven’t lost their foliage just yet. It will still be a great weekend to visit Camden, Kennebunkport, or York, Maine, as well as the charming town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But outside of these coastal towns, it’s probably best to head south.

Likewise, one holdout remains along the coast of southern New England, where peak colors are still approaching peak. This area will need some more time, and we expect peak colors to stick around in coastal Rhode Island and Connecticut until early November.

What to Do in Scituate:

Scituate sits along scenic Route 102 in Rhode Island. This year, with leaves lagging closer to the coast, we are suggesting you start your leaf peeping around the Scituate Reservoir. This lake is the largest in Rhode Island, and is the water resource for Providence as well as a great photo opportunity, thanks to the beautiful morning fog and fine surrounding foliage. The Scituate Reservoir Causeway offers great morning views, as does a walk on the nearby Gainer Dam.

After the fog burns off, it’s time for a hearty breakfast at either Knight Farm or Granite Farm, after which you should have plenty of time for a drive up or down Route 102 to take in the sights.

The most photographed scene in the area at Ponagaset Falls, where the foliage forms a beautiful backdrop for the dam’s crashing waterfall. Nearby there are also some great places to stretch your legs, including the dirt road loop around the Barden Reservoir, Westconnaug Meadows, and the Audubon’s George B. Parker Woodland.

A slight side trip off of the main route will bring you to Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, Rhode Island’s only authentic covered bridge, and another picturesque scene. Or you could head back east out of town to Confreda Farm for their pumpkin patch, fall festival, and famous pies.

The colors will be best north of town, but it’s never far to the ocean in Rhode Island, and the asters and goldenrod are still in bloom near the coast! Make a quick detour and catch the sunset over the ocean – it might just be the perfect way to end a weekend in the Ocean State.

Other Spots to Leaf Peep:

• Kennebunkport, ME
• Watertown, CT
• Deerfield, MA

October 14–16, 2022

Woodstock, Connecticut

Foliage Talk:

The foliage was spectacular in northern New England last weekend, with bright peak colors and beautiful weather to boot. If you were fortunate enough to be in New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine during that time, lucky you!

But what about the upcoming weekend? Well, while the weather looks like it will be wonderful, the leaf peeping will be decidedly less so. We knew that the show of colors would be brief this year because of the drought, and as expected, the leaf drop has already been considerable. Gone are a lot of the bright reds, leaving a more even orange tone. In addition, we can easily assume that the big storm on Thursday and Friday will considerably impact the areas that were previously peak.

And so we move southward, downhill, and towards the coast.

First, southward. While peak colors have yet to arrive in much of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, the bright leaves have been coming in quickly. Some of this color should survive the storm, plus there’s plenty more left to turn afterwards. This area includes our foliage pick of the week: Woodstock, Connecticut.

Second, you could head downhill. Even in northern New England, there are places that hold onto fall color much longer than the mountains and the North Country. The Connecticut, Saco, and Androscoggin River Valleys all have pockets where the forest mix is more diverse and peak color holds on longer. Woodstock, Vermont, and North Conway, New Hampshire, are also great examples of where there should still be foliage next week. The same is true for the areas around Lake Champlain, Lake Winnipesaukee, and Sebago.

Finally, the coast. In Maine’s Acadia National Park, as well as down the Maine and New Hampshire coastline, fall colors were still on the upswing this past week. But how will the coastline’s emerging color fare against the rough storm winds this week? That’s a tough guess. Fortunately, the further south you go along the coast, the more oaks there are, and the longer season you will have. Plus, the New Hampshire seacoast tends to get a second wave of bright color in the oaks and late maples in late October.

Our original fall forecast predicted that parts of coastal southern New England could even see peak colors as late as early November this year, and we are hopeful that this will hold true. This storm doesn’t mean the end of the 2022 foliage season!

One last thing: many of the northern areas do experience a second peak (of sorts) after the leaves in the canopy fall. Young beech trees in the understory line the hiking trails in the mountains, and should be prime in another week!

What to Do in Woodstock:

Connecticut’s ‘Quiet Corner’ offers a great mix of landscapes, food, and activities for leaf peepers to enjoy. Dotted with working farms, there are farm stands and sweeping field views around every corner, giving the area a quintessential and charming New England feel.

If you’re staying at The Inn at Woodstock Hill, start your day with a walk next door to the Woodstock Orchard store to stock up on cider donuts! For those in need of a more robust breakfast, the Vanilla Bean Cafe down Rt. 169 offers great meals on the go. This is also the key foliage route in the area, the Norwich and Woodstock Turnpike, which has been designated a Connecticut Scenic Road. This route passes many historic homes, and homesteads, the most famous of which is Roseland Cottage, or the pink house, where many US Presidents have been guests.

A detour to the west will bring you to Natchaug State Forest, with miles of hiking and horseback trails, surrounded by a landscape in peak color this weekend. And a trip to the north on Rt 169 will take you into Massachusetts and, soon after, the world-famous Tree House Brewery in Charlton, Massachusetts. The fall foliage all through this route will be impacted both by the storm this weekend and the drought this summer. Expect mixed oranges and browns in with occasionally brighter colors, as well as plenty of green oaks and maples yet to turn.

Perhaps the best Saturday activity of them all, though, is in Woodstock’s abutting town of Putnam, where the Great Pumpkin Festival will feature crafts, music, fun, and an abundance of gourds!

Donuts for breakfast, fair food for dinner, and a hearty stout in-between? Sounds like a perfect leaf peeping weekend!

Other Spots to Leaf Peep:

• Woodstock, Vermont
• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Great Barrington, Massachusetts

October 7–10, 2022

Fryeburg, Maine

Foliage Talk:

Good news: the fall colors have arrived in northern New England, just in time for the upcoming long weekend! Northern Vermont, the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, and the mountains of western Maine all reached peak color during this past week. The colors are bright this year, with plenty of oranges and yellows across the peak regions. Meanwhile, reds are dominating in the places that got enough water this summer and enough sun this fall.

The color should hold on in these far northern areas through the weekend, but expect it all to fade quickly, given this year’s dry summer.

The rest of northern New England (including the White Mountains, Green Mountains, and much of Maine) are all rapidly approaching peak color. Coastal Maine is lagging this year, but pops of color are arriving around Acadia and Camden amidst the fading sea of green. Color is also arriving slowly to the New Hampshire lakes region as well as in the Connecticut, Merrimack, and Saco River valleys.

Further south, Massachusetts is a mixed bag. The Berkshires should have a good season and the cold weather is bringing more and more reds and oranges every day. While the Berkshires won’t be at peak this weekend, colorful leaves will be plentiful nonetheless. And while it’s still a bit early for eastern and central Massachusetts, as well as coastal southern New Hampshire and Maine, significant drought stress is causing some trees to turn already. There, we’re seeing some bright color, but mostly dark oranges and browns. Red maples and birches seem to be the most affected by the drought stress, as well as urban trees.

We are hopeful for brighter colors when the rest of the leaves catch up in southern New England over the coming weeks, but it’s proving to be a tough year for many of these areas, foliage-wise. The best advice for the weekend remains to go north and west!

What to Do in Fryeburg:

Last week we recommended Stowe, Vermont, in the hopes that you’d be able to explore that area in advance of the incoming crowds. But this week? We’re throwing that advice out the window and sending you to one of the busiest places in Maine. The Fryeburg Fair runs through Sunday, and offers everything that an agricultural fair should: animals, entertainment, rides, crafts, competitions and lots of delicious food. We recommend arriving early and spending midday at the fair, as traffic and crowds can back up considerably later in the afternoon and evening.

As far as foliage goes, Fryeburg sits central to a lot of fantastic foliage towns and drives. The lakes of Naples and Bridgton sit to the east, and North Conway, a mountain town with great shopping and restaurants, is just to the west. Route 302 connects all of these points, and is a nice drive on its own, with Moose Pond being one of the most popular places to catch a fall sunrise in the area. If steep, narrow and winding roads are what you crave, Evans Notch and Hurricane Mountain Road will more than suffice!

Not far off Route 302 is Sherman Farm, with a great corn maze and lots of tasty treats and fresh vegetables and meat in their farm store. The farm sits right on the Saco River, and you can rent a canoe from Saco Bound just upstream. Hiking also abounds in the area, and we highly recommend Jockey Cap, which the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust and the town of Fryeburg are working to permanently protect. To help with the effort, grab a pint of Jockey Cap IPA from Saco River Brewing right in town. Other great nearby hikes include: Black Cap and Redstone Quarry in the Conway area, and Pleasant Mountain towards Bridgton.

Lodging opportunities are plentiful in the Conway area, but you may have to call around as things usually book up early for the big weekend. For camping, we love the National Forest Service’s Basin Campground up Rt. 113, far away from the crowds. And if you aren’t full from the fair, don’t miss dinner at the 302 West Smokehouse.

Fall colors should be great across the whole area, so we hope you explore all that Fryeburg has to offer!

September 30–October 2, 2022

Stowe, Vermont

Foliage Talk:
While nowhere in New England is at peak foliage yet (and our picks for Where to Find Early Fall Foliage in New England still apply), leaf peeping options in northern New England have significantly expanded since last weekend, as cool nights have kickstarted the colors in the mountains and far north. There were some rain showers midweek, but we’re now looking ahead toward warm sunny days and crisp nights through the weekend, perfect conditions to continue the acceleration of the wave of color south across the region. There will be areas approaching peak or at peak at higher elevations, and plenty more places with plenty of mixed and mottled reds and oranges.

The White Mountain notches are currently experiencing a variety of conditions. Some notches are turning quickly, while some are barely beginning to turn. Some have brighter colors south, and some have brighter colors north. Some areas are trending towards red, while others more orange and yellow. A couple areas are just really dry, with trees looking stressed and leaves looking crunchy. Brightest colors are on either end of Franconia Notch with mostly green in between. The greenest areas are in Bear Notch, while the driest areas are at the eastern end of Grafton Notch.

A similar patchwork of early conditions have appeared in Northern Vermont and Maine, but as the days progress, conditions should become more uniform and brighten overall. Northern New England is, in general, still looking at a bright season that progresses on a normal timetable.

Further south, and especially closer to the coast, there is not an insignificant amount of early color emerging from stressed trees. Some of this is bright, but most of it is rusty oranges and yellows from the extreme dry weather of the summer. Red maples and birches especially are susceptible to drought, and are showing it strongly this year. Swamp maples are the bright spots of southern New England, where there was continuous water at least.

What to Do in Stowe

Stowe is a standard choice and easy choice for fall fun in Northern Vermont, and it’s perhaps a little early for peak colors in the town itself this weekend. But, it’s also central to so much stellar leaf peeping this weekend within an hour’s drive, and by visiting now you’ll be in before the big crowds descend on the three day weekend!

Start the day with breakfast at some aptly named establishments, like The Bagel, or The Skinny Pancake, before hitting the road to see the leaves! The can’t-miss drive is Rt. 108 through Smugglers Notch, a winding narrow road through boulder fields and near peak colors. The tunnel view at the beginning of the notch over the road is one of the most iconic places to photograph in the region. This road is sometimes closed down due to snow and ice by the three day weekend, so it’s just another reason to head there earlier in the season!

Hikers will find a range of hikes, from the easy walk to Moss Glen Falls, to moderate Mount Hunger to the challenging climb to Stowe Pinnacle. You can also drive right to the top of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, via the 4.5 mile Auto Toll Road.

For those looking to range a bit farther, the towns of the Northeast Kingdom, Lake Willoughby, Newport, and Jay are all great areas to go leaf peeping and find near peak conditions this weekend, and are about an hour drive from Stowe. Burlington is also nearby, but the color there will take more time to develop. Or the classic Route 100, which runs the length of Vermont from south to north is easy to hop on and explore, as an always popular leaf peeping route.

On the way back, be sure to stop by the Cold Hollow Cider Mill for autumn tasty treats and a fantastic fall atmosphere, or Ben and Jerry’s, just because! There are also so many great breweries in Northern Vermont, with The Alchemist and Stowe Cider nearby, or even Hill Farmstead for those ranging in that direction.

Lodging options abound near Stowe, with full resorts like Smugglers Notch and Topnotch Resort, to lodges like the nearby Trapp Family Lodge, to country inns like the Green Mountain Inn.

Other Spots to Leaf Peep:

• Franconia, NH
• Bethel, ME
• Millinocket, ME

September 23–25, 2022

Pittsburg, New Hampshire

Foliage Talk:
Before we start, rest assured that nowhere in New England is at peak fall color. High elevations, the far north, and red maple wetlands across the region will all be exhibiting some color, but the earliest “peak” color is still to come. If you do get out, now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with our picks for Where to Find Early Fall Foliage in New England.

The weather has been all over the place in the far north this week, with temperatures dipping near the freezing mark before rocketing up to way above average. Then, the area received heavy rains, including some areas of flooding. And this weekend we’ll be back down in the thirties again. This is the type of battleground that we envisioned when we looked at the long-term predictions in our first forecast in August. It’s a scenario that will pay off with great color across northern New England…just not yet.  

Until then, all there is to do is enjoy the fields of goldenrod and aster, misty lakes and rivers, and bright blue skies of autumn. And there are few better places in the whole world to enjoy this early fall weather than Pittsburg, New Hampshire.

What to Do in Pittsburg 

At the far northern tip of the Great North Woods along the Canadian border is Pittsburg, a small New Hampshire town surrounded by rolling hills, big lakes, swift rivers, and beautiful forests. It’s a paradise for fans of outdoor pursuits, as it offers some of the best fishing, kayaking, and ATV riding in the state.  The vast surrounding forests are snaked with forest roads, a vast multi-use trail system in Ride the Wilds, and many hiking trails, including the scenic Cohos Trail. 

Start the day at Green Acres Country Store for homemade cinnamon buns and breakfast sandwiches before heading to the shores of the Connecticut Lakes to listen to the loons as the fog burns off. Lopstick Cabins on the shores of the First Lake has boats for rent and guided fly fishing tours, or you can spend the day driving to some of the more secluded paddling spots like Scott Bog and East Inlet in search of elusive boreal birds or embark on a hike up to the Magalloway Fire Tower. You could even rent an ATV at Bear Rock Adventures and zip up to Diamond Ridge for the sunset!  

End your day at Murphy’s Steakhouse or the Rainbow Grille, both of which have lodging on-premise.  For camping, try Ramblewood Campground where you’ll hear the loons all night. Then, get up and do it all over again, with more fall color arriving every day.

Other Spots to Leaf Peep: 

• Eustis, Maine
• Allagash, Maine
• Newport, Vermont

More New England Fall Foliage:

10 Places to Visit in New England in Fall

These New England destinations offer a terrific way to kick off a weekend of autumn fun.

Favorite Fall Foliage Drives in New England

Use these driving directions to find the best laid-back foliage drives in our region.

Best Corn Mazes in New England

From Maine to Rhode Island, we round up the top corn mazes — both fun and devilishly difficult.

5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England

Love pumpkins? These are the dates to mark on your calendar for prime festival fun.

Best Apple Orchards in New England

Yankee senior food editor Amy Traverso shares her picks for where to find delicious apples this autumn.

Fall Foliage Train Tours

Spend more time looking out the window this autumn! These train trips are a creative alternative to foliage drives.

12 New England Fairs to Visit This Fall

With their giant pumpkins, livestock exhibits, and deep-fried whoopie pies, these New England fairs deserve a spot on your autumn adventures list.