Where to See Fall Foliage This Weekend | 2026

The Forecast: How Is Weather Impacting Color?

Peak colors have finally arrived, and the most striking feature this year has been the abundance of brilliant red. From the northern White Mountains to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and Maine’s Allagash region, the hillsides are glowing. But don’t let those bright colors fool you into thinking the season is rushing by. Much of the forest is still green, so plenty of color is still to come.

The best colors are currently being reported in New Hampshire’s Zealand area, Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, and northern Maine. Peak color should continue expanding southward as the rest of the forest joins the red maples already leading the way in swamps and wetlands. We’re hoping those reds remain just as dominant as the season moves farther south and toward the coast.

This week’s rain and cloudy skies should help push the leaves into their next stage of color, while returning sunshine and warmer temperatures toward the end of the week should make the foliage really pop. The only places where we may begin to see leaves falling from last weekend’s storm are at the highest elevations.

The mountain notches are showing the classic elevation gradient. In New Hampshire’s Pinkham Notch, Wildcat Mountain (and ski area) is about halfway to peak, while nearby Attitash Mountain Resort’s ski trails remain much greener. The western side of the Kancamagus Highway, through the central part of the White Mountain National Forest, is considerably further along than the eastern side. Meanwhile, in Vermont, Smugglers’ Notch is further along than Stowe.

This variety is good news for anyone planning a foliage trip. With peak color spreading right on schedule, the next couple of weeks should offer excellent leaf-peeping opportunities across New England.

The Spotlight: Where to Go This Weekend?

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, is our pick this weekend for a classic New England foliage experience. Centrally located in the White Mountains, the town offers beautiful views in nearly every direction and sits right along the progression of color moving southward from the northern mountains.

No visit to Sugar Hill is complete without a stop at Polly’s Pancake Parlor. The longtime breakfast destination has become part of the region’s foliage tradition, making it a particularly fitting stop during peak season. But we highlight Polly’s for more than its food: The restaurant has a remarkable commitment to citizen science, with foliage records spanning the past 50 years.

There are plenty of scenic roads and viewpoints around town, while nearby trails offer opportunities to get into the woods. For water views, however, note that Coffin Pond is currently drained. Pearl Lake offers a good alternative for reflections and autumn scenery.

Jim’s Tip of the Week

Don’t panic when you see the brightest photos from up north. The reds are exceptionally vivid this year, making some hillsides look closer to peak than they really are. With plenty of green still in the forest, color is still filling in and expanding southward, so there’s no need to rush.

September 25–27, 2026

The Map: Where to Find Fall Color This Weekend

The Forecast: How is Weather Impacting Color?

The last weekend of September is bringing the first real taste of peak color to pockets in the far north and higher elevations of New England. A drive across New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway last weekend found brilliant reds developing right on schedule, with especially vibrant color at higher elevations. The lower elevations, particularly on the eastern side of the Kanc, remain noticeably greener. Recent sunshine, combined with several cool mornings and even some frost, has accelerated the season, and the week ahead should keep pushing color along in northern New England. The same pattern is emerging in Vermont at Smugglers’ Notch, where higher slopes are beginning to show plenty of red while greener hues linger below.

As the calendar turns to autumn, chilly nights and cool mornings are now expected throughout the week. This will encourage color and should bring many of the northern mountains and high valleys closer to peak by the weekend. Terrain will still matter, however. While our map may show broad blocks of color, the actual landscape will initially be patchy. River valleys generally turn later, while higher hillsides and cool mountain valleys can be several days ahead.

Southern New England remains largely green with pops of color in swamps and ledges. Along the Maine and Massachusetts coasts, however, drought stress remains a concern, with some trees already showing signs of the recent prolonged heat. Some rainfall relief could arrive this week, particularly if the developing coastal storm reaches the region before the weekend.

For now, we’re still anticipating a long and beautiful season. The early reds have been exceptionally bright, and we’re hoping that trend continues!

The Spotlight: Where to Go This Weekend?

Vermont’s Groton State Forest is our pick for its mix of elevation and cool mountain valleys. It encompasses more than 26,000 acres and many lakes and ponds, with numerous hiking trails and opportunities for paddling. A hike up Owl’s Head is the most popular, while Kettle Pond and Osmore Pond are quieter areas to walk through the forest. The Kettle Pond Loop is an easy way to combine a hike with water views. For paddlers, the forest’s many ponds provide a wonderful way to experience the foliage from the water, with calm autumn mornings reflecting the surrounding hardwoods. Leaf peepers can also make the forest part of a larger Northeast Kingdom visit, stopping in nearby Groton, Peacham, and Cabot, or continuing toward St. Johnsbury or Montpelier.

Looking for general fall fun? Check out 8 Great Things to Do in New England This Fall Weekend for Yankee editor-endorsed events, activities, drives, hikes, eats, hidden gems, and more.

Jim’s Tip of the Week

Don’t chase the map, chase the terrain! Our map may show broad blocks of color, but foliage rarely arrives that uniformly, especially early on. A few hundred feet, a change in aspect, or a sheltered valley or basin can make a surprising difference. If things look too green where you are, keep exploring. The best color may be just up the road, around a corner, or a little higher in the hills.

September 18–20, 2026

The Map: Where to Find Fall Color This Weekend

The Forecast: How is Weather Impacting Color?

Now that the first pops of autumn color are emerging, we’re gaining a clearer picture of how this fall foliage season may play out. The earliest peak color is still over a week away, but changes are generally following the schedule we laid out in our initial outlook in August. To review: we still anticipate a season that is on time in northern New England, a bit late in southern New England, and overall bright in color.  

The biggest change from the initial outlook is an extension of the drought conditions, specifically into the coastal areas of New England. As anticipated, the weather has remained relatively warm, and while rainfall has fallen inland, the coastlines are in a very dry stretch. A notable number of trees are showing signs of stress in these areas, with birches on exposed, rocky ledges and well-drained soil sites reacting more quickly. These areas of concern follow the Maine coast down to Cape Cod, extending to more urban areas near Boston, where rainfall isn’t as readily absorbed. We may see a shorter season in these areas, whereas the rest of the region should be bright and long-lasting.

A cold night in the mountains last Saturday provided the first real push toward autumn, and another round of colder nights later this week should accelerate the process considerably. With that change, expect the first substantial increase in color over the coming days. Though still largely green, pops of color on the hillsides and widespread autumn colors in wetlands across New England are the draw for the coming weekend. 

The Spotlight: Where to Go This Weekend?

This weekend, visitors in search of color should focus on the environments that traditionally experience the earliest fall foliage: wetlands, areas of high elevation, and the most northerly zones. In the White Mountains, a drive up the Mt. Washington Auto Road would be splendid, as would a trip to Quincy Bog. 

Looking for general fall fun? Check out 8 Great Things to Do in New England This Fall Weekend for Yankee editor-endorsed events, activities, drives, hikes, eats, hidden gems, and more.

Jim’s Tip of the Week

Don’t put the boat away yet. This will be a great weekend to go paddling through some of the wetlands and see some of the swamp maples that have been ablaze since mid-August.  

Jim Salge

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.

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