A cliffside trail at Artist’s Bluff in Franconia Notch overlooking the glimmering Echo Lake is an iconic spot to view colorful fall foliage.
Last weekend, it became a victim of its own popularity. So many people tried to visit that the 1,500 spaces in the parking lot were full, and cars were turned away.
Similarly, hikers who were slow to hit the road missed their chance to park at the popular Old Bridle Path trailhead to reach the summit of Mount Lafayette.
Franconia Notch State Park, along with most of the White Mountains, experienced a dramatic spike in visitors as peak foliage season coincided with unseasonably warm temperatures. Compared to the same time last year, Franconia Notch State Park saw a 30% increase in traffic between Sept. 18 and Oct. 6.
“The fall in general for the White Mountains region draws a lot of visitors,” said Charyl Reardon, president of the White Mountains Attractions Association. “The Franconia Notch State Parkway, along with the Kancamagus Highway, are both very popular scenic drives and destinations for fall visitors.”
Over 2.8 million people visited the White Mountains last year. So far this season, the region has already seen a 6.5% increase.
The weather has been perfect, yet atypical, luring leaf peepers to the White Mountains. However, due to the state’s lack of rain this season, Reardon said the colors on the trees haven’t “popped” as much as they have in the past.
“I don’t think it’s been as vibrant as in years past. It’s still colorful, but in the past the reds were really defined,” she said. She also said that some parts of the White Mountains are past peak foliage, but that other areas still have trees that are “rather green.”
While the weekends have always been busy, more visitors are heading north over the weekdays. Littleton, Lincoln-Woodstock and the Mount Washington Valley are experiencing increases between 4% and 7%.
Reardon said that the overflow parking lot near the Artist Bluff trail reached maximum capacity over the weekend and had to turn people away. She encouraged people to visit during the weekdays to have a better chance of securing parking.
