Fall Foliage Report: Monday, September 13, 2010

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

On the hunt for foliage in New Hampshire? Grab your camera and check out the fantastic views of foliage across the Granite State.

Great North Woods Region (Grand North): Autumn is just beginning to move into the Great North Woods region. Roadside and smaller trees are starting to show more colors. Maples are slowly turning, with some red and orange showing. Mountain views are still mostly green, with closer views showing some color change. The cooler nights will bring more fall foliage into this area soon. Jericho Lake State Park, off Route 110 in Berlin, has trails for ATVing and dirt biking. A drive north on Routes 3 or 16 will be a good choice once the colors strike.

White Mountains Region: The White Mountains region is slowly moving into fall. Shades of bronze, red and orange are becoming more noticeable, especially on the higher elevations. Spots of orange can be seen on occasional trees, and the sumac bushes are turning brilliant red. The autumn season has begun, and will only become more colorful as the days move forward. For a scenic drive, consider Route 302, which winds through Crawford Notch State Park.

Lakes Region: Some autumn colors are showing up in the Lakes region. There are hints of yellows and reds across the Ossipee Mountain Range, but overall the area is mostly green. Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough has 45 miles of hiking trails that are free of charge to the public. The entrance to the trails is on Ossipee Park Road, located off Route 171.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region: It's still very green in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region of the state. Slight changes are showing along Route 120 toward Claremont, and the swamp maples along watery areas should start showing some color soon. There are several pet-friendly state parks in this region, including Gardner Memorial Wayside Area in Wilmot, and Sculptured Rocks Natural Area in Groton.

Monadnock Region: Our leaf peepers in the Monadnock region are reporting some light color change along the edges of wetlands and ponds. With all the waterways in this area, there should be some real oranges and reds coming to life very soon. Route 9, with all of its roadside rivers and bogs, is typically a beautiful scenic drive once the colors change. Miller State Park, off Route 101E in Peterborough, has a working fire tower and great views from the summit.

Merrimack Valley Region: Green remains the predominant color in the Merrimack Valley Region. As the nights become cooler, look for some oranges and reds along rivers and ponds. It's still warm enough to enjoy canoeing or kayaking along these waterways. Bear Brook State Park on Route 28 in Allenstown is situated on 10,000 acres, and has miles of hiking trails. Mountain biking and horseback riding are popular pastimes here, too.

Seacoast Region: The Seacoast region is still very green, and probably will be for some time, as this region is typically the last to see fall. Some trees along Route 4 from Durham are beginning to turn slightly orange, and you may find some occasional sugar maples that have started to change, but the area overall is still in summer mode. Route 1A is a scenic drive that winds along the ocean. There are marshes and bogs along this road, perfect places for bird watching. Odiorne Point State Park on Route 1A in Rye is also a heavy wildlife viewing area.

Information provided by Visitnh.gov and the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development.


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Dartmouth/ Sunapee | Great North Woods | Lakes | Merrimack | Monadnock | Seacoast | White Mountains