Fall Foliage Colors: New Hampshire
Autumn Tours of New England Countryside, Rural Scenery and Beauty
Sep 6, 2008
New Hampshire's Foliage Season
“Leaf Peeping Season” starts in northern New Hampshire in mid- to late September and begins to reach its peak as October arrives. Color hangs on in the northern woods for several weeks as the magical change shifts slowly southward through the Lakes Region at the state’s midsection and finally into the southern areas of the Sunapee, Monadnock and Seacoast regions by mid- to late October. Peak should be within the next two weeks.
The six-to-eight-week window gives plenty of latitude, so check the weather forecast and hit the road. Even light rains don’t harm the view, they only intensify the color and bring out that heavenly autumn aroma.
Eastern and Western Options
A map of New Hampshire shows two primary highways running north through the Lakes District and into the White Mountain National Forest and the wilderness of the Great North Woods. I-93 runs through Nashua, Manchester, Concord and Littleton, cutting the state in half. Route 16, (Spaulding Turnpike from Portsmouth to Rochester), runs along the eastern edge of the state providing access to Milton, Wakefield, Tamworth, Conway and a number of other attractive small towns along the way.
From Durham to Winnepesaukee
A web of roads off of these highways quickly leads to the colorful fields, farms and small villages that dot the state. For example, from Rochester take Route 11 through New Durham to Alton and then Route 28 through Wolfeboro, stopping at the Wright Museum of World War II on the way and for a picnic at Wentworth State Park. Another possibility is to take a foliage tour on the MV Mount Washington around New Hampshire’s big lake, Winnipesaukee.
The North Country and Route 3
For a different approach to foliage, get out of the car and take a train ride. The Hobo Railroad has several options that are very reasonable, including a dinner train. Trains also run along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, brilliant in the autumn. The Conway Scenic Railroad, in North Conway, runs two different Valley Trains ($13.00/1 hour, $21/2 hours) several times a day, as well as spectacular runs through Crawford Notch for about $49.
Another choice from I-93 is Route 25 west, with a stop at Polar Caves. At Orford (notice its stately Bullfinch Row) go north on Route 10 back to I-93. Or take Route 49 at exit 28 and follow the Mad River to Waterville Valley, then Tripoli (pronounced “Triple Eye”), passing under I-93 to Route 3 north. North of Woodstock, Clark’s Trading Post is a good kid-pleasing stop.
Currier and Ives, the Monadnock Region
Don’t overlook the southwest corner of the state. The Monadnock Region, from Milford to the Vermont border, is filled with forests and farms. In the fall it is not unusual to find farm stands and pick-your-own apple orchards. The region’s centerpiece is Mount Monadnock, which may be the most climbed mountain in the world. You don’t have to climb the whole mountain to enjoy a hike in the woods. Access trails from Route 124 in Jaffrey Center.
Another attractive drive follows Route 202 at Peterborough and Route 9 west at Hillsborough to Route 31 north. The boyhood home of the state’s only US President, Franklin Pierce, is at the corner. Follow Route 31 through Windsor, Washington (known for its classic town center) and Goshen to Newport, then Route 11 to Sunapee and south on Route 103B to Mount Sunapee State Park and on through Newbury on Route 103 through Bradford to Route 114 back to Henniker.
Special Gas Saving Deals
Many New Hampshire B&Bs and restaurants will help pay for your gas, so this is a good year to join the “Leaf Peepers” in NH.
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