2024 New Hampshire Foliage Planner

New Hampshire offers a long fall foliage season, with vibrant colors spanning from late September in the north to early November on the southern coast, with optimal viewing around early October.

2024 Guide to New Hampshire Foliage

New Hampshire Overview

New Hampshire is a small state with a long fall foliage season and many opportunities to see fall leaves. There are boreal forests, high mountain peaks, deep clear lakes, and a small seacoast. Peak fall foliage can be found in the state for four or five weeks during the season, but by the time peak reaches Portsmouth in the south, the forests of Pittsburg in the north are usually bare, sometimes with a coating of snow. New Hampshire is one of few places where “snowliage” is common, when snow-capped mountains are visible behind peak colors in the valleys. 

2024 New Hampshire Foliage Forecast

The outlook for New Hampshire’s 2024 fall foliage is very good! There have been some dry areas in the central and southern parts of the state, but no significant drought, and the mountains and North Country have had some heavy rains, but with lots of time to dry out in between. With overall healthy forests and an outlook for a seasonable fall pattern, the timeline should be close to normal this year. Color should be long-lasting, and bright. And if sunshine is abundant in the coming weeks leading, there’s a good chance for a lot of red foliage this year! 

The lingering risks are leaf fungus developing in the northern wet areas, which looks increasingly less likely, and a lack of cool air ahead of peak. But all signs are positive! 

See More: New England Fall Foliage | 2024 Forecast

Where to Find Early New Hampshire Foliage

By late September the first of New Hampshire’s peak autumn colors arrive. North of the White Mountains, the Great North Woods sees the coldest air in the state, and the most early fall color. Towns like Colebrook and Errol have fantastic foliage by the end of the month, as does the connecting town of Dixville Notch. If you aren’t looking to travel the far, the Zealand Valley, near Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods is the earliest place in the White Mountains to see peak colors. 

Where to Find Late New Hampshire Foliage

In the lower right corner of the state, New Hampshire has a small but vibrant coastline steeped in history, and the towns of Portsmouth and Rye and the communities surrounding the Great Bay are great places to visit in late fall. The many bays and marshes are lined with oaks, and many trees are lined with stately late-turning maples, both of which hold on to their color as late as early November. Some popular places to stretch the legs and see this late color include Odiorne State Park in Rye, Adams Point in Durham, and the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newington.

Best 2024 New Hampshire Foliage Weekend

October 5-6, 2024. If you can travel ahead of the crowds, you’ll be treated to high color from the Monadnock Region up through the Dartmouth-Sunapee area, and then peak color in the Western Whites and the Great North Woods. Peak will slide across the state and south thereafter. 

Suggested 2024 New Hampshire Foliage Drive

Route 26 from Errol to Colebrook has seen an explosion of interest thanks to social media showcasing hikes in Dixville Notch. This passage through the mountains is like nowhere else in the state with jagged peaks tight to the highway. Table Rock is the real gem of this trip, as long as you don’t have an intense fear of heights! 

See More: 14 Favorite Fall Drives in New England

More New England Foliage

Best Corn Mazes in New England

If you look forward to making your way through a corn maze each fall, here’s a list of the best corn mazes in New England from Maine to Rhode Island.

Best Apple Orchards in New England

Apple-picking is just one of those fall activities that never seems to grow old. Yankee senior food editor, Amy Traverso, provides a list of the best apple orchards in New England.

Fall Foliage Train Tours

Looking for a fun, new way to experience the autumn color in New England? Fall foliage train tours are a great alternative to driving.

PRINT