Foliage

About New England’s Foliage

Every autumn throughout New England, diminishing length of daylight and falling temperatures induce trees to shed billions of tons of leaves. Preceding this preparation for winter the trees present a spectacular color show. Leaves that have been green all summer turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.

These color changes are caused by transformations in leaf pigments, primarily the green pigment chlorophyll. During summer, the leaves of trees are producing sugar from carbon dioxide and water by the workings of light and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll causes the leaves to appear green.

The shorter days and cool nights of autumn set off changes in the tree. One is the growth of a corky membrane at the base of the leaf stem, which interrupts the flow of nutrients into the leaf. This stops the production of chlorophyll in the leaf, and the green color of the leaf fades, allowing the reds, oranges and yellows to burst forth. The best autumn colors are produced when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights.

Color may begin to appear in isolated spots in far northern New England the first week in September. Typically, the color change begins at the higher elevations and in the northern part of the region mid-September and moves southward through mid-to-late October, ending in southern New England coastal areas at the end of October.

Visitors who travel to see our spectacular foliage are known as, “Leaf-Peepers.” While on your excursion do stop at country stores, orchards, local restaurants and shops. We have suggested some routes for you to drive. We also suggest that you try some backroads. Get a local map, and don’t worry about getting lost. You’ll always bump into a main road sooner or, hopefully, later.

Foliage Maps and Reports

Use the New England Foliage Map to determine where and when you are likely to see the best foliage. Once foliage season begins the Foliage Reports will be regularly updated.

New Hampshire Foliage Map

New Hampshire Foliage Report

New Hampshire State Map

Scenic Drives

Dartmouth

Connecticut River Route
Start in West Lebanon and take Route 10 north into Hanover, the home of Dartmouth College and its beautiful and historic campus. Continue north on Route 10 to the town of Oxford where you can turn right onto Route 25A. You’ll now be heading east toward the White Mountains. In Wentworth turn right onto Routes 25/118. After 3 miles take the right turn to continue on Route 118. You will travel though the small towns of Cheever and Dorchester and then arriving at Canaan where you get on to Route 4 West that will take you back to Lebanon and West Lebanon. Hanover

Lakes

Around Winnipesaukee
A drive around New Hampshire’s largest lake will provide you beautiful across the water and bring you through delightful towns and villages. Begin in Laconia and take Route 3 to Weirs Beach, and enjoy the arcade atmosphere. Continue north on Route 3 to the beautiful lakeside village of Meredith. Leave this village on Route 25 heading for Center Harbor and then Moultonborough at the northern most point of the lake. Now turn right on to Route 117 and after a few miles go right on to Route 109. Take this al the way to Wolfeboro, a town with great views, shopping and food. Now pick up Route 28 South to Alton Bay, the south tip of Lake Winnipesaukee. There pick up Route 11 Travel back north close to the lakeside and look for signs to take you back to Laconia.
Laconia - Meredith - Wolfeboro

Merrimack Valley

Route 129, through Loudon
Leave Concord on Route 106 North Loudon. In town pick up Route 129 north through Loudon Center, and Lower Gilmanton. Ypu then pick up Route 107 though Pittsfield and then to Route 9 West that will take you back to Concord. Concord - Loudon

Manchester – Derry
Leave Manchester taking Route 27 East to Candia.After Eastr Candia turn right on to Route 107. Drive through Raymond and follow Route 107 and then get on to Route 102 Going south toward Chester and then Derry. Route 28 will take you back to Manchester.
Manchester - Derry

Monadnock

Mount Monadnock Circle
Leave Keene on Route 101 East. You’ll pass through Dublin, home of Yankee Magazine, and then to Peterborough. In Peterborough switch to Route 202 South and travel through Jaffrey to the small town of West Rindge. Turn right on to Route 199 and travel through the pretty town of Fitzwilliam to Winchester where you turn onto Route 10 North back to Keene.
Keene - Peterborough - Fitzwilliam

White Mountains

Spectacular mountains and too many drives for us to just pick one or two. So find the towns you will traveling to and pick one, or more, of these routes to drive. Don’t you wish you had time for all of them!

• Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, between Conway and Lincoln
• Bear Notch Road, between Bartlett and the Kancamagus Highway
• NH Route 26, between Colebrook, Dixville and Errol
• NH Route 16, between Conway and Errol
• NH Route 2, between Lancaster and Shelburne
• Franconia Notch Parkway, which runs between Franconia and Lincoln
• NH Route 302, between Bethlehem and Glen
• NH Route 10, between Orford and Woodsville
• NH Route 112, between Bath and North Woodstock
• NH Route 118, between North Woodstock and Rumney
• NH Route 16, between Errol and Milan
• U.S. Route 3 between Colebrook and the Canadian border
• NH Route 49 in the Waterville Valley
• NH Route 110, between Dummer and Northumberland
• NH Route 117, between Franconia and Lisbon

Lincoln - Franconia - Glen - Conway