As the summer's heat spell has now
left us, we wind down the last days of September. Another change of the seasons
is coming. The nights are now a little cooler, the mornings are brisk and there
is something very different in the air.
Autumn easily qualifies as many New Englanders favorite time of the year, largely in part to the beautiful colors of the trees. Visitors will also be flocking in to New England now like a giant annual migration, they are all hoping to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking, but fleeting phenomenon that we are blessed to live with.
Jeff ‘Foliage’ Folger has this bloggers vote for the best fall foliage web site on the internet. His site focuses exclusively in the Northeast. Welcome to New England Fall Foliage is packed full of foliage reports, forecast, road-trip routes and photography tips and shots for all foliage lovers. Take a look at some of the great information that he has to offer and get ready to hit the road.
If you’re favorite road trip is not included in Welcome to New England Fall Foliage or Good Diggin's listings, be grateful: You may just have the road all to yourself.
Autumn easily qualifies as many New Englanders favorite time of the year, largely in part to the beautiful colors of the trees. Visitors will also be flocking in to New England now like a giant annual migration, they are all hoping to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking, but fleeting phenomenon that we are blessed to live with.
Jeff ‘Foliage’ Folger has this bloggers vote for the best fall foliage web site on the internet. His site focuses exclusively in the Northeast. Welcome to New England Fall Foliage is packed full of foliage reports, forecast, road-trip routes and photography tips and shots for all foliage lovers. Take a look at some of the great information that he has to offer and get ready to hit the road.
If you’re favorite road trip is not included in Welcome to New England Fall Foliage or Good Diggin's listings, be grateful: You may just have the road all to yourself.
1. Kancamagus Highway, in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire
This drive has some of the best fall foliage in the United States, The 34-mile drive between Lincoln and North Conway, is generally regarded as the premier New England fall foliage destination. It offers an endless array of colors and should be considered a Bucket List destination to anyone who has never seen it. The Northern side ( Rt 302 ) should be the return or start side of this trip to complete the loop. See more at
2 Echo Lake in the Franconia State Park, Located in the White Mountains of N. H.
Echo Lake is surely one of New England's most beautiful lakes. Clear, clean and endlessly scenic, the 28-acre Echo Lake is majestically surrounded by the Franconia and Kinsman Ranges and lends an innate peacefulness that so many travelers are looking for in New England. This time of year is a wonderful time to visit with its amazing trees reflecting their brilliant colors on the water. see more at:
3 Height of Land
Rangeley ME.
Height of Land is one of the most stunning and unsurpassed outlooks in the state of Maine. It offers a beautiful panoramic westerly view of hundreds of square miles of lakes, majestic mountains and lush forests that dazzle viewers in the autumn with rich shades of red, orange, and yellow. Enjoy the beautiful views of the clear blue Mooselookmeguntic Lake, as well as the White Mountain’s of New Hampshire. The ride around the lakes in Rangeley Lakes should not be misses but the scenic overview on Rt 17 on the drive between Rangeley and Mooselookmeguntic Lake is the best. see more at
Height of Land is one of the most stunning and unsurpassed outlooks in the state of Maine. It offers a beautiful panoramic westerly view of hundreds of square miles of lakes, majestic mountains and lush forests that dazzle viewers in the autumn with rich shades of red, orange, and yellow. Enjoy the beautiful views of the clear blue Mooselookmeguntic Lake, as well as the White Mountain’s of New Hampshire. The ride around the lakes in Rangeley Lakes should not be misses but the scenic overview on Rt 17 on the drive between Rangeley and Mooselookmeguntic Lake is the best. see more at
4 Burke Mountain Toll Road in Burke VT
Tucked away in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is one of the most fantastic summit drives. Burke Mountain, at 3,267 feet, offer’s some of the best foliage (the yellows of birches dominate in these parts), and views of the entire northern portion of Vermont. You can see the Canadian hills in the north, Mount Washington to the east and Mount Mansfield to the south. The Burke Fall Foliage Festival is occurring as a rule at the peak viewing time which is in late September. see more at
5 Mount Equinox Toll Road in Manchester VT
Southwestern Vermont's most prominent peak is the 5.2-mile Sky Line Drive. It climb’s to a 3,835-foot elevation that commands views of the Battenkill Valley, Massachusetts Berkshires and Green Mountains. After you have been to the summit, the ride up Rt 7a to Manchester and that area is truly stunning. see more at:
6 Mount Greylock in Lanesboro MA
The mountain is the highest point in Massachusetts. There is an eight mile drive up to the summit that begins at the Mount Greylock Visitor Center. Views from the 3,491-foot summit stretch across spectacular 100-mile views of the Taconic, Catskill and Housatonic ranges as some of the finest sunsets can be seen from here. see more at:.
7 The Mohawk Trail in Western MA
The Mohawk Trail is the first scenic road in New England. It officially opened on October 22, 1914. With 63 miles of unsurpassed
splendor and 50,000 acres of state parks and forests. Follow the Mohawk Trail through the Berkshires and marvel at the brightly colored fall leaves. There are a couple of noteworthy side trips to take along your drive on the trail. Starting in North Adams,
The Natural Bridge State Park is located east of North Adams off Route 2 and 8. This natural bridge of white marble was created by the waters of Hudson Brook.
Then start your trip on Route 2 east to enter the Mohawk Trail. Drive up the Hoosac Mountain Range to the Hairpin Turn with its vistas of Mt. Greylock, the Green Mountains and the Hoosac Valley. The trail then rises sharply to the Western Summit (called Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). It continues its travel up the mountain to the scenic town of Florida and the Whitcomb Summit. It is the home of the Elk Memorial on the highest point of the Mohawk Trail at 2,200 feet.
A side trip here, One quarter mile past the summit, Whitcomb Hill Road leads to the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel.
Follow this road back down to the Deerfield River. Take a left on River Road until it crosses the railroad tracks. Look here for the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel engineered and completed in the 1873 by blasting through five miles of sheer granite. If you continue left on River Road it will bring you to the Bear Swamp Project and Visitor's Center which has picnic facilities. When you have finished you can retrace your drive back to the top of the mountain and take a nice ride down Rt 2 or follow River Road and take a right after you go under the iron bridge, keep the Deerfield River on your right until the junction of Route 2.
If you went back to the top,You will now start your descend as the road continues east until the drive ends in the town of Greenfield Ma. In the town of Charlemont, There is a state forest where you will find the state’s largest surviving patch of old growth forest consisting of maple, beech, birch and ash. If you take a small detour in Charlemont and drive up Route 8A north you will see the 160-foot-long picturesque Bissell Covered Bridge. You can also exit the trail for a side trip in the town Shelburne Falls and see the one-of-a-kind Bridge of Flowers. This is an old arched trolley bridge that has been transformed into a garden of flowers from spring to fall. Follow signs to Salmon Falls and view the Glacial Potholes located below Salmon Falls and carved out of rock during the Ice Age.
splendor and 50,000 acres of state parks and forests. Follow the Mohawk Trail through the Berkshires and marvel at the brightly colored fall leaves. There are a couple of noteworthy side trips to take along your drive on the trail. Starting in North Adams,
The Natural Bridge State Park is located east of North Adams off Route 2 and 8. This natural bridge of white marble was created by the waters of Hudson Brook.
Then start your trip on Route 2 east to enter the Mohawk Trail. Drive up the Hoosac Mountain Range to the Hairpin Turn with its vistas of Mt. Greylock, the Green Mountains and the Hoosac Valley. The trail then rises sharply to the Western Summit (called Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). It continues its travel up the mountain to the scenic town of Florida and the Whitcomb Summit. It is the home of the Elk Memorial on the highest point of the Mohawk Trail at 2,200 feet.
A side trip here, One quarter mile past the summit, Whitcomb Hill Road leads to the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel.
Follow this road back down to the Deerfield River. Take a left on River Road until it crosses the railroad tracks. Look here for the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel engineered and completed in the 1873 by blasting through five miles of sheer granite. If you continue left on River Road it will bring you to the Bear Swamp Project and Visitor's Center which has picnic facilities. When you have finished you can retrace your drive back to the top of the mountain and take a nice ride down Rt 2 or follow River Road and take a right after you go under the iron bridge, keep the Deerfield River on your right until the junction of Route 2.
If you went back to the top,You will now start your descend as the road continues east until the drive ends in the town of Greenfield Ma. In the town of Charlemont, There is a state forest where you will find the state’s largest surviving patch of old growth forest consisting of maple, beech, birch and ash. If you take a small detour in Charlemont and drive up Route 8A north you will see the 160-foot-long picturesque Bissell Covered Bridge. You can also exit the trail for a side trip in the town Shelburne Falls and see the one-of-a-kind Bridge of Flowers. This is an old arched trolley bridge that has been transformed into a garden of flowers from spring to fall. Follow signs to Salmon Falls and view the Glacial Potholes located below Salmon Falls and carved out of rock during the Ice Age.
8 The Quabbin Reservoir in Central Ma
Located off Rt 9 between Belchertown and Ware Ma. The Lady has a total of with 39 square miles and 181 miles of shoreline is a nature’s paradise. The fall colors can be spectacular and it’s just a wonderful place to commune with nature. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a bald eagle! There are many designated access hiking and picnic opportunities. see more at:
Each NE State's Fall Foliage Tracking Reports
Vermont Maine New Hampshire
Massachusetts Connecticut
Disclaimer: All Links in this web site are provided solely as a reference with no warranty expressed or implied.
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