Here’s a 2024 fall foliage map for all of New England
And remember: Colors and timing can vary from town to town and tree to tree.
Along with apple picking, corn mazes, and all things pumpkin spice, one of the great New England traditions is to take in the region’s stunning fall foliage.
The leaves have already started to change in some northern parts of New England, so if you’re hoping to become a foliage fanatic, the time is nigh.
Tip No. 1 on your road to becoming a foliage connoisseur: Wherever your leaf peeping takes you, chat up the locals, said Jim Salge, a former meteorologist at Mount Washington turned foliage expert.
“I think the main thing is a good sense of adventure and a willingness to talk to people,” Salge said. “Find out where the locals are going, not only for the leaves, but for the whole leaf-peeping experience.”
While experts like Salge attempt to pinpoint peak foliage as best they can, colors and timing can vary from town to town and tree to tree. A tree that gets insufficient sunlight won’t produce the same brilliant red colors as one sitting in direct sunlight. Different types of trees can change color at different rates, a phenomenon known as decoupling, according to Salge. A tree’s proximity to the coast can also cause it to change colors a bit later than its more inland brethren.
For all the latest leaf-peeping updates, NewEngland.com has a 2024 fall foliage forecast, in which Salge predicts the onset of colors to arrive earlier than expected this year. The website also has a map that shows the likely colors of the leaves in each part of New England throughout the next week. It reveals that the region’s northern areas have already begun to turn, with parts of Vermont and New Hampshire currently at their peak for the season. Due to a lack of rainfall in recent weeks, New England will see the leaves turn earlier and the colorful foliage be more short-lived.
Yankee Magazine’s website also features an interactive map based on historical averages that shows what foliage in the New England region has typically looked like on specific days throughout the season. Users can move a slider to get a general idea of which areas to visit and when. For example, the map shows a peak in northern New Hampshire and central Vermont around Oct. 21. It also shows that much of the rest of New England peaks towards the end of October, by which time foliage in northern Maine and New Hampshire will be past its prime.
If you want to see how New England’s foliage season compares to the rest of the nation, the team at Smokymountains.com put together a map that shows when to expect peak foliage anywhere in the U.S., including New England.
