What are good dates for Fall Foliage in Vermont? This could also say, New Hampshire or Maine…

As you read this, you will note that I started talking about Vermont. Then I’ll transition to some Northwestern New Hampshire zones as well. This is because when the 1st of October arrives the fall colors arrive in more than just one place.

You can also head up into Maine, but you have to head up north. How far North? Every year is different, but usually, you might be safe in Greenville Maine, and sometimes you have to head over to Mount Katahdin in Maine. But I digress Let’s talk fall colors in Vermont.

Vermont over New Hampshire, or Visa Versa

First, in some years, the fall colors may be better in one state over the other. Generally, I find myself swinging back and forth between Vermont and New Hampshire trying to find that “sweet spot” of peak fall foliage, and I’m usually successful… Usually may be too strong of a word…

As you might guess, I receive one or two emails on the subject coming in many flavors. “Is my itinerary dates good?” (maybe…), “When will it be peak fall foliage in New England?” (definitely!) and like this one, “What are the best fall foliage dates for these locations?” As you read my answer to Mike and Sue, you will have all the info that I gave them when I replied to their question.

So What is the Fall Foliage Formula?

You may not agree that locating the fall colors can be reduced to a formula, but I think it can. I created this formula and then wrote an article (about the fall foliage formula) where I came up with this Equation, I + D = L. If your mind just blanked out because you hate math, don’t worry, this is more of a logic problem than real math. 🙂 I’ve defined each of these as:

• I = Interest in activity
• D = Dates of vacation
• L = Location Desired

When I get emails like the one below I like to turn them into a teaching tool so everyone can benefit from them. (basically, I’m lazy and I don’t want to write the same answer every week).

Vermont Fall Foliage Dates & Locations

Question: We are from England and are planning a trip to see the Fall colours – a lifelong ambition.  Please, can you advise us – before we book flights etc.  Despite visiting many accommodation websites, I can not get a feel for the best dates to be sure of seeing glorious colours before they start to fade.  We like the look of Warren in Vt and Jackson in NH. When please should we visit these places?  We would much appreciate your advice.
Many thanks, Mike and Sue

My Answer: Hi Mike, I would say if you showed up around 5 October and did a few days over in the area of Warren Vermont, and then up into the Northeast Kingdom, you would find great color. If you then drove across all the back roads until you get to Jackson New Hampshire, I would bet you’d have a very colorful vacation.

Once you have a place to stay in Warren Vermont, you can begin to explore the east side of the Green Mountains. (Or even hike the Greens or the Long Trail). You’ll find Camel’s Hump Mountain just north of Warren and Northfield Vermont, to the northeast of Warren.

Places of interest around Warren Vermont: Northfield, Waitsfield, Camels Hump State Forest, and South on Route 100 in Hancock Vermont. If the colors are early, head south a short distance and you can take route 125 across the Green Mountains (a very winding road but “could” provide some great fall color about that time).

Northfield Vermont and 5 Covered Bridges

I photographed the Northfield 5 (5 covered bridges in Northfield Vermont) as early as 23 Sept, and as late as 10 October. Around the 2nd of October is my best pictures.

Depending on what you enjoy, you can look at Route 12A which runs parallel to Route 100, and along that stretch, it runs between two high ridge lines which should provide a lot of color and opportunities to explore. You’ll also find the town of Northfield Vermont and Norwich University. (the Gazetteer points out all Northfield covered bridges.)

One thing you can do is order a Gazetteer from Amazon.com which I find to be invaluable when I’m off the beaten path. This is a link to the map book in question.

If you are early or late arriving or the fall colors are…?

If the fall color comes early, and Warren Vermont is fading, you can travel south on Route 100 and shortly be back in the thick of fall foliage colors. Also If the color is late, and this is the way the past few years have been, then you could travel north on Route 100 with very little difficulty, and again be in the fall colors. (Or East or West)

And if the colors are just not showing up, head east toward New Hampshire. I’m not going to give directions because there is no direct “fast” route. There are many back roads that will take you towards, Orange, Corinth, Topsham, and Waits River, all of these are before you get to New Hampshire.

Checking out the fall colors at Polly’s

When it comes time to cross back to New Hampshire, I’m thinking that if you traveled over 302, and then follow that until you pick up route 117 in Franconia. As you must know, Polly’s Pancake Parlor is just up Route 117 (read my article on it).

The Beaver Pond

Another thing to watch for is if you get off Route 302 early at Route 112 when you get into the White Mountains it turns into the Lost River Road. It’s along this stretch where you will find the Beaver Pond. It’ll be on your right-hand side, and it is down in a bowl below several peaks in Kinsman Notch. There is a small parking lot for maybe eight or so cars, and you can get out and stretch your legs.

If you look at some of my pictures from last year or search my site for Kinsmen Notch and Beaver Pond, you will find pictures of what this pond can look like when it is colorful. The location will be on many maps or in the Gazetteers as I have pointed out.

Woodstock and Lincoln New Hampshire

You will come out in Woodstock New Hampshire (but you’ll stay on Route 112 all the way to Route 16 in NH). If you arrive in Woodstock during a meal, there are several places to grab a sandwich or meal. If you drive a bit further into Lincoln New Hampshire, you will find that this ski town is full of fast-food sandwich places and delightful restaurants that are very popular in the winter.

The Kancamagus

You definitely will want to cross the next expanse of Route 112 during the day (early afternoon is nice). This section is called the Kancamagus Scenic Highway. And you will find many references to this stretch in travel books and travel sites all over the Internet. 

There will be several pull-offs crossing these mountains, so don’t let traffic from behind push you to go too fast, or you might miss a scenic opportunity. You will be topping out somewhere around the 2,855-foot elevation and the views can be quite spectacular.

Conway or Tamworth New Hampshire

You will finish this article by leaving Route 112 and getting on Route 16. Now you have a decision because Conway and North Conway are a left turn, and Tamworth is to the south. It can be simply based on the dates. If you are here between 1-5 October, you will probably want to head north through Conway to Jackson or maybe points north of there. (depends on the year)

If this is 5-10 Oct you will find better fall colors, but in my experience, Conway doesn’t get full color till the 7th of October. Chocorua and Tamworth should have nice fall color by the 7th, but the peak fall color will be during the next week.

Remember Conway and Tamworth are just south of the White Mountains, so in general, the fall colors will be in and around the northern White Mountains from the 1st to the 6th of Oct. If you are earlier than this, then you need to be north of the White Mountains in areas like Colebrook, Dixville Notch, and Pittsburgh New Hampshire.

Conway and Jackson Amenities

The town of Conway has two covered bridges, the Swift River Covered Bridge and the Sacco River Covered Bridge both are nearly in sight of each other. You can follow the map books to find your way there. Also if you have time, and are so inclined, you can take a drive up the West Side Road which parallels Route 16 and goes from Center Conway (what they call their town in the south, and before you get to North Conway) and as you travel up West Side Road, it will take you right by these covered bridges. North Conway also has a scenic fall foliage train, but you should plan for this early if you want to take one of their foliage trains. They sell out quickly.

Just North of Conway on Route 16, you will find Jackson New Hampshire. Jackson is a cute little town with a very eclectic art shop next to the firehouse, Ravenwood, and I highly recommend stopping in there for at least 30 min to an hour, and make sure that you wander around their backyard (there’s no way to explain it, you just have to do it).

There are many little shops around Jackson along with the golf course, and depending on what road you come in on to Jackson, you will see the Jackson Covered Bridge. I believe one of the prettiest places to stay at is the Wentworth in Jackson, and they have a few more beautiful hotels if you check the booking sites.

The End of your Trip, or is it?

All of the places that I’ve mentioned are the ones that I try to visit every year, and I’m seldom disappointed by my visits. You may find that you have traveled to all these places, and you are ready for more. Get your Gazetteer out and see where to go next. I wouldn’t worry about the fall colors but look for interesting places.

There are no fall foliage guarantees that I can give you, but in general, that makes searching for fall colors an adventure! You never know what you will or won’t get. Mother Nature is fickle, at best, and some years I’m very successful. In other years, I come away with five pictures for the entire month of October.

The one thing to remember is to look for things that you want to do, explore, and see, and take the fall colors as they come your way. You can have a great vacation by visiting Vermont and New Hampshire, and if Mother Nature is in a good mood, she may grant you some extraordinary fall colors.

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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