Where to See Fall Foliage This Weekend

Few things in nature are more beautiful than New England in the fall. If you’re hoping to get out this year for some leaf peeping, we’re here to help, with our updated forecast predictions, a peak fall foliage map, and a slew of prime road trip routes. Wondering where to see peak fall foliage now? We’ve asked Jim Salge, our resident foliage expert, to collaborate with us on choosing a prime spot each weekend where you’re sure to find great color. We’ll be updating this page weekly starting in mid-September, so bookmark it and check back often!

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend: October 6th to 9th, 2023

Fall foliage colors are reaching their peak right now across the far northern tier of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where there is some great color to be seen. These northern zones transitioned into perfect foliage weather just in time: Warm, sunny days and crisp, cool nights finally kick-started the colors and brought out the very best that we could hope for after the setup that we’ve had.

Sunny weather, albeit warmer, will continue this week and should continue to expand the zone of colors throughout northern New England. Near-peak colors will be found this weekend across the mountain regions in all three states, especially the northern White Mountains, the spine of the Green Mountains, and the mountains of Western Maine. Bright colors will continue to develop in the mid-elevations, especially in our pick of the week, Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Some of these areas are very bright, though many are more muted because of this summer’s rainfall and humidity. The biggest factor is the variety of fungi affecting sugar maples this year, causing many stately trees to turn brown and fall early. Fortunately the interior forest is less affected. It’ll be a great weekend to explore, as variation in microclimates is putting bright areas near enough to dull ones to see a variety of conditions on any foliage road trip.

Southern New England foliage has been affected by the flooding rains and continued humidity through last week, and will consequently take more time to progress this year.

Where will the best fall foliage in New England be on this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? Peterborough, New Hampshire!

Nestled amidst the rolling hills of the Monadnock region, this picturesque town transforms into a living canvas when autumn arrives. While the White and Green Mountains will take the spotlight and draw larger crowds this weekend, Peterborough, a quintessential village, offers a quieter weekend. After entering this timeless town by crossing a river, you’ll discover boutique shops, cozy cafes, excellent restaurants, and art galleries, all within walking distance among centuries-old buildings.

Start your day at the Peterborough Diner or Nonie’s Restaurant and Bakery for breakfast and coffee before embarking on an exploration of the Monadnock Region. Destinations may include Pack Monadnock with its summit views accessible by car, Mount Monadnock for world-class hiking, or Dublin Lake for paddling. There are also scenic foliage driving routes through Harrisville and Hancock, both charming towns with exceptional lunch spots. This weekend also features the Monadnock Region’s Open Art Studio Tour, allowing you to visit working artists and discover the sources of their inspiration.

Upon returning to Peterborough for dinner, you have several excellent options such as Twelve Pine, Harlow’s Pub, or the Waterhouse. Alternatively, you can opt for takeout and enjoy your meal at Post and Beam Brewing, either indoors or outdoors. For lodging, we recommend Little River Bed & Breakfast, The Hancock Inn, or The Harrisville Inn.

Other great spots to see fall foliage this weekend:

Groton, Vermont

Littleton, New Hampshire

Millinocket, Maine

September 29th to October 1st, 2023

Where is the best fall foliage in New England this weekend? Burke, Vermont!

After a hot, humid start to the month, we could not have dreamt up a better weather scenario for late September than we are getting in northern New England right now. While the southern reaches of New England have been hit with clouds, rain, and humidity, quintessential fall weather has prevailed across the northern halves of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. This has allowed the leaves to accelerate their changing, maximizing any potential brightness.

That isn’t to say that there will be widespread peak colors this weekend, because things are still running a bit behind historic timetables. But color is certainly coming on fast! We also can’t discount the unfortunate amount of leaf fungi that have propagated on many of the stately sugar maples and some other trees this year due to the incessant rainfall and moisture. But we needed warm days and cool nights to salvage the season, and that is what we are seeing. And visitors will be generally pleasantly surprised with how much color will have emerged by the weekend, especially with scattered frosts this week!

The best fall colors are going to be seen in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and the spine of the Green Mountains. The Great North Woods of New Hampshire and the northern White Mountains will also show good fall color, as will the mountains and northern reaches of Maine. The best chances for peak colors will be cool valleys away from bigger water bodies, like the Zealand Valley in the White Mountains, or our pick of the week, East Burke, Vermont. But you will start to see colors rapidly coming on all across northern New England soon, after a few more mornings in the 30s and 40s and a region-wide dry stretch. We need it. And frankly, we deserve it!

What to do in Burke, Vermont:

Burke Hollow and East Burke have rocketed up the list of places to visit in Vermont in the past few years for one reason: The Kingdom Trails. Over 100 miles of meticulously maintained, multi-use, non-motorized trails with great views between the towns of Lyndon and East Haven, centered around East Burke. There’s trails for hiking, trail running and especially mountain biking, from long flat rides to steep downhill and technical singletrack. There’s shuttles and guides available from various services across town, and you can get great up-to-date information at their welcome center on Rt. 114 right next to the popular Burke Publick House.

East Burke itself is a small, quaint town, but has a little of everything. There is a great coffee shop for breakfast, Cafe Lotti, as well as a country store in the East Burke Market and great food at Tomassoni’s Bistro. And of course there’s Clementine’s Creamery for authentic Vermont Maple Creamees. There are also bike shops and sporting goods shops and all of the classic Vermont small town charm. Leaf peeping routes could take you up Rt. 5A through Willoughby Gap to Newport, or west through winding roads to the famed Hill Farmstead Brewery, on our recent list of best breweries for enjoying views of autumn leaves.

Lodging options in the Northeast Kingdom range from charming small inns and hotels to campgrounds. There are great options to choose from, from the lean-to experience at Burke Mountain Campground to the stunning luxury lodgings at the Inn at Burklyn.

Other great spots to see fall foliage this weekend:

Groton, Vermont

Twin Mountain, New Hampshire

Eustis, Maine

September 22nd and 23rd, 2023

These weekly updates always kick off around the official start of autumn (September 23 this year). Usually, things are racing towards peak in the traditionally early turning areas like the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, and the Crown of Maine. This year, though, there are only the most subtle hints and signs, so, we’re going to follow Mother Nature’s cue and wait a week.

This wasn’t terribly unexpected this year. A late peak was predicted in our first forecast in August and our September update.  So now it’s the waiting game. 

If you are looking to see places with early color this weekend, you’ll have to head to the specialty habitats. High alpine zones and red maple wetlands will hold some color, and we have other tips for early color here: Where to Find Early Fall Foliage in New England

What we really need now is some sunny, dry days and some crisp cool nights to really kick things off. Hopefully, we have a much wider area to report on and explore next weekend!

More New England Fall Foliage:

10 Places to Visit in New England in Fall

These New England destinations offer a terrific way to kick off a weekend of autumn fun.

Favorite Fall Foliage Drives in New England

Use these driving directions to find the best laid-back foliage drives in our region.

Best Corn Mazes in New England

From Maine to Rhode Island, we round up the top corn mazes — both fun and devilishly difficult.

5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England

Love pumpkins? These are the dates to mark on your calendar for prime festival fun.

Best Apple Orchards in New England

Yankee senior food editor Amy Traverso shares her picks for where to find delicious apples this autumn.

Fall Foliage Train Tours

Spend more time looking out the window this autumn! These train trips are a creative alternative to foliage drives.

12 New England Fairs to Visit This Fall

With their giant pumpkins, livestock exhibits, and deep-fried whoopie pies, these New England fairs deserve a spot on your autumn adventures list.