Though I was born and raised in New Hampshire, I never really did a lot of the more “touristy” New England activities. Since international or cross-country travel won’t be safe for some time, I figured there was no better time to explore the fall wonderland in my own backyard.
Note: If you are traveling, be sure to follow all travel restrictions and mask mandates. Besides staying home, wearing masks and social distancing are the best ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19. NH restrictions here.
In this article, I’ll discuss the short road trip I went on to experience the best of New Hampshire’s fall foliage! New Hampshire arguably has some of the nicest fall foliage in the world, and this road trip covers all of the highlights. This is a trip you could easily complete in a long weekend or spread out over October.
The best time to go on this road trip is any time between October 1st and the third week of October, depending on the temperature and weather in a given year. As of the time of publication (November 3rd), the Monadnock Region, the Merrimack Valley Region, and the Seacoast still have some beautiful foliage to see.
Check up-to-date foliage reports here.
Welch and Dickey Loop, Thornton, NH
This loop is one of my favorite day hikes in New Hampshire and is perfect for viewing fall foliage. The trail itself has tons of personality; jutting roots, stone steps, a blanket of crunchy leaves beneath your feet, and enormous rock faces to climb up.
Though the hike is not particularly long (4.3 mi), it is pretty steep in some places, so I recommend allocating at least 3 hours to do the hike comfortably with plenty of time to stop and photograph the scenery.
Unsurprisingly, this is a very popular fall hike and the parking lot can fill up quickly. However, I arrived nice and early and nearly had the hike to myself. Make sure you plan ahead.
Lincoln, NH
Lincoln is essentially the fall foliage capital of New Hampshire. Situated in the middle of White Mountain National Forest, the whole town is surrounded by orange mountains in the fall.
There are numerous day hikes in the area and lots of shops catering to leaf-peeping tourists. It is also a great place to get on the scenic Kancamagus Highway (the Kanc if you’re from New Hampshire).
North Conway, NH
North Conway is a booming hub in the fall with great fall hikes, a vintage railroad fall foliage tour, waterfalls, and more. This is a great place to find accommodation or just stop for a coffee if you don’t feel safe partaking in the usual attractions.
Cathedral Ledge, Bartlett, NH
Cathedral Ledge certainly has one of the best view-to-effort payoffs in New Hampshire. Before Covid-19, you could drive right up to Cathedral Ledge, see the views, and drive back down. Now, the access road is blocked off and you have to walk about a mile up the steep road to get to the ledge. There is alternatively a 2.8 mile hiking trail from Echo Lake State Park up to Cathedral Ledge.
At the top of Cathedral Ledge, there is a large fenced-in lookout. From here, you can look over all of North Conway and the large state forest to the East.
This view of farmland and mountains would be beautiful any time of year, but is just that much more breathtaking during autumn.
According to photos on Google Maps, there should still be a bit of colorful foliage to see as of the time this is being published.
Recommended Detour: Echo Lake
Franconia Notch State Park, NH
Franconia has many unbelievable day hikes that give great views of the famous glacial notch and fall foliage. Even though I only drove through the notch on this particular road trip, it was still a breathtaking view you’ll definitely want to pay attention to.
Recommended Franconia Fall Hike: Artist’s Bluff Loop
Table Rock, Dixville Notch, NH
Dixville Notch is perhaps best known for being the first place in the United States to vote. It is also a wonderfully secluded and beautiful place to hike around Dixville Notch State Park.
Table Rock trail is a quick but extremely steep hike that leads to two distinct cliffs. The top certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but it affords amazing views of the closed Balsams Resort and the notch.
When I completed this hike in the third week of October, most of the trees were already past peak foliage. Make sure you make it up to this northern paradise early on if you want to catch the trees at their most colorful.
I hope to expand this road trip itinerary next fall as I explore more of New Hampshire and New England’s fall foliage.
Where is your favorite place to go “leaf-peeping,” as we call it in New England? Let me know in the comments below!
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