The Peak Time of Year
Each September and October people from all over the world come to New Hampshire to see the fall foliage. Only two places in the world, New Hampshire and we're told parts of Japan, have the unique combination of climate and topography that results in this brilliant foliage, but nowhere does the landscape, from mountains to the lakes and sea, provide a better vantage point to see the colors.
No one can predict in advance when the color will peak; that's why we offer the foliage report updates and change them weekly throughout the season. Other than that, here are some guidelines:
First, about mid-September, mountaintops and the swamp maples in the lowlands turn a flaming red, though a few will have sent off a first volley of color in late August. Some years, days will pass with little change, then overnight all the trees seem to explode with color so beautiful you wonder if it can be real. Other years, the color builds steadily to crescendo, changing each day. Weather plays an important part in the process, but with so many variables, no one can truly predict how brilliant the foliage will be in any given year. However, we can predict that from the end of September through the first week in October, you can usually expect peak color in the far northern part of the state, while it can be anticipated in the southern part of the state from the first week in October to mid-month.
Each September and October people from all over the world come to New Hampshire to see the fall foliage. Only two places in the world, New Hampshire and we're told parts of Japan, have the unique combination of climate and topography that results in this brilliant foliage, but nowhere does the landscape, from mountains to the lakes and sea, provide a better vantage point to see the colors.
No one can predict in advance when the color will peak; that's why we offer the foliage report updates and change them weekly throughout the season. Other than that, here are some guidelines:
First, about mid-September, mountaintops and the swamp maples in the lowlands turn a flaming red, though a few will have sent off a first volley of color in late August. Some years, days will pass with little change, then overnight all the trees seem to explode with color so beautiful you wonder if it can be real. Other years, the color builds steadily to crescendo, changing each day. Weather plays an important part in the process, but with so many variables, no one can truly predict how brilliant the foliage will be in any given year. However, we can predict that from the end of September through the first week in October, you can usually expect peak color in the far northern part of the state, while it can be anticipated in the southern part of the state from the first week in October to mid-month.