When it comes to spotting colorful foliage in New Hampshire each fall, just about anywhere will do. The key is knowing the weather and timing it right to catch the leaves at their prime.
Green turns to reds, oranges, yellows in dozens of hues beginning in the northern part of the state in September as cooler weather and shorter days begin.
With the cooler temperatures and less sunlight, leaves stop producing chlorophyll, the chemical in leaves which helps convert carbon dioxide, sunlight and water into the sugar and starches trees need to grow. It also gives leaves their green color.
When the chlorophyll fades, you can see the other hues of the trees like orange carotenes, red anthocyanin or yellow xanthophyll.
To track what locations are hitting peak colors, you can check out Visit NH’s foliage tracker.
The only other requirement for seeing great foliage is, well, lots of deciduous trees, like birch, maple, poplar, cedar, hemlock and tamarack. Most state parks and the White Mountain National Forest will have you covered in that regard. You can head out just about anywhere.
To catch the first of foliage, you’ll have to head a few hours north. In areas far north, like Pittsburg and Dixville Notch, there’s already some foliage. In early to mid-September, you can spot great foliage driving the Woodland Heritage Trail.
From the Concord area, take Interstate 93 north for a little more than an hour. Get off on Exit 35 and follow Route 3 north all the way to Northumberland. Then head east, then south on Route 110 to Stark and Berlin. Once in Berlin, you can take Route 16 south to Gorham and head back west on Route 2. From there, you’ll be able to follow signs back to head south on I-93.
The loop encircles Mt. Cabot, Cape Horn State Forest and Jericho Mountain State Park.
This is definitely a long car trip and one that could merit an overnight stay.
New Hampshire’s most famous scenic foliage drive is along the Kancamangus Highway, Route 112.
Take Interstate 93 to Lincoln (Exit 32). If you’d like to stretch your legs, stop by the Forest Discovery Trail, which is 6.2 miles from the exit. The loop trail is just 1.4 miles and has a gradual ascent to a clearing with views of Scar Ridge and Mount Osceola. You can learn about forest succession along the way from interpretive signage.
Continuing back on the Kancamangus Highway will bring you through the southern part of the White Mountain National Forest to the Conway area. Peak foliage in the region is in early October.
Double-back the way you came, or head south on Route 16 and then take Route 28 through the southern part of the Lakes Region to get back to the capital area.
In the Lakes Region, you can see double the color with the leaves’ reflection in the water.
Don’t feel trapped by your car either. The Hobo Railroad in Lincoln and Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in Weirs Beach and trains from Meredith Station offer fall foliage trains. Visit foliagetrains.com for information.
The M/S Mount Washinton, which sails on Lake Winnipesaukee, also offers fall boating cruises. Information at cruisenh.com. There are also businesses that will rent boats for you to take out on your own.
As fall settles into New Hampshire and Halloween soon to come, peak foliage arrives in the Lake Sunapee Region.
Take Interstate 89 to Exit 12 in New London, then take Route 11 southwest toward Sunapee. Follow Route 103B south around Lake Sunapee to Newbury and head back I-89 on Route 103A.
On a clear day, from the top of Mount Sunapee, you can see the Franconia Range and perhaps Mount Washington.
Not far away, off I-89’s Exit 9 in Warner, you can follow Kearsarge Mountain Road most of the way to the summit of Mount Kearsarge through Rollins State Park.
The park is open until Oct. 19 and the gate hours are 9 a.m. with the last car up the auto road at 4 p.m. The day use fee is $4 for adults, $2 for children age 6 to 11, and free for small children and adults older than 65. Pets are allowed.