Maples, birches and oaks turn New England's hills red, orange and gold for a few weeks each autumn. With villages, covered bridges and still lakes, it's one of the world's great fall color trips.
Timing
Color usually moves from north to south and from mountains to coast:
- Northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine: late September to early October.
- Southern Vermont and New Hampshire, western Massachusetts: early to mid-October.
- Southern New England and the coast: mid- to late October.
Exact timing shifts every year with weather; follow state foliage reports and be flexible.
Classic drives
- The Kancamagus Highway through New Hampshire's White Mountains.
- Vermont's Route 100 through small towns and ski country.
- Maine's Rangeley Lakes region and the road to Acadia.
- The Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts.
See our scenic byways list for designated routes.
Subjects
- Covered bridges framed by maples — browse Vermont and New Hampshire.
- White churches and village greens.
- Lakes and ponds with mirror reflections at dawn.
- Overlooks above valleys filled with morning fog.
Technique
- A polarizer removes leaf glare and deepens color.
- Overcast days are better than bright sun in the forest.
- Shoot backlit leaves for glow.
- Don't oversaturate in processing — real color is strong enough.
Crowds
Peak weekends are busy. Shoot sunrise, travel on weekdays and take side roads.
About 1 min read · Updated 2026-10-20