Fall Foliage Scenic Drives in New England - Introduction
Fall foliage in New England really begins in August. The
shortening daylight hours trigger the deciduous trees to begin
the process of shedding their leaves. It happens all around
North America, and all around the world.
But in New England it's special.
Why is fall foliage in New England so different and special?
It's a factor of many things but mostly an abundance of
different types of deciduous trees, warm autumn days, and cool -
but not freezing - nights. When these and a few other conditions
are all mixed in the right proportions, then you get the world
famous stunning shades of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns on
the hills and mountain sides of New England.
Between mid-September to late-October, visitors flock to New
England to see the fall foliage. These six scenic drives offer
some of the best autumn views available from anywhere on the
planet.
This is an introduction to a series of six articles that provide
details and routes on each of these scenic drives.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - MOHAWK TRAIL MASSACHUSETTS
The most popular fall foliage scenic drives in Massachusetts are
along the famous Mohawk Trail. This trail rolls out through the
northwestern part of the state on route 2, and winds through the
hills and mountains of the Berkshires, touching picturesque
towns like Williamstown, Deerfield, Shelbourne, Colrain,
Charlemont, and Shelburne Falls.
Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, offers
spectacular views of the surrounding area and Mohawk Trail.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire has many scenic drives in the White Mountain
National Forest but at the top of the list has to be the 34-mile
Kancamagus Scenic Highway that runs along route 112 from Conway
to White Mountains Visitor Center in Lincoln. This drive is
considered by many to be the top fall foliage New England scenic
drive. It has beautiful forests ablaze with autumn colors and
plenty of photo opportunities with walks along gorges and
streams, and with views of the highest mountains in the
Presidential Range.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - CENTRAL VERMONT AREA
In Vermont nature planted all the high peaks in the south -
although the North Kingdom has great color as well. But arguably
Vermont's best loved fall foliage drive is in the Central
Vermont area, around Killington, and the towns and highways of
Woodstock, Rutland and Ludlow. This is deep in The Green
Mountain National Forest area, and not surprisingly offers
spectacular fall foliage color and scenery.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - LAKES AND LEAVES MAINE
Parts of Maine are the first to display peak fall foliage color
in New England. With Maine's many driving loops to choose from,
it's difficult to single out one. But the Lakes and Leaves drive
that touches the shores of Moosehead Lake on Route 15 before
heading south on route 201 is ever popular. You'll see
unparalleled fall foliage views of the tree-lined banks of the
Kennebec River, and the surrounding mountains on this Maine
Scenic Highway.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - RHODE ISLAND COAST
Fall vacationers in Rhode Island have open roads and coastal
drives to satisfy their leaf peeping. The 61-mile Rhode Island
Coast Scenic Drive follows the coastline east from Westerly
before turning north along Narragansett Bay, and eventually over
Newport Bridge on route 138. The drive finishes over the
breathtaking Ocean Drive in historic Newport. A pleasant seaside
twist to a fall foliage drive.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - CONNECTICUT ROUTE 169
Not to be outdone during fall foliage the state of Connecticut
has in its own little corner of popular autumn leaf spotting
sites, with some of the most stunning scenic drives being on
Route 169 in the glacial plains which are part of Quinebaug
River bottomlands.