JACKSON – The state’s fall foliage is in its glory in the White Mountains right now and appears to be on track or perhaps a bit earlier than state predictions.
A map https://www.visitnh.gov/plan-your-trip/fall/peak-foliage-map shows that the area should be near peak this weekend with room to spare as the region enjoys fall festivals including the Fryeburg Fair near North Conway https://www.fryeburgfair.org/.
The Great North Woods is hitting peak this weekend and the Whites are expected to have full color Oct. 5, followed by the Lakes Region Oct. 8, the Dartmouth/Sunapee area Oct. 12, both the Monadnock and Merrimack Valley Oct. 22 and the Seacoast peaking Oct. 21.
Beneficial rain all day on Thursday and a low cloud ceiling added to the vibrant viewing though long distance viewing was hard or blocked entirely by clouds.
A loop drive from the Lakes Region in Center Harbor where there is well-established color and including a drive on Routes 25 to Ossipee and Route 16 to North Conway and then to Jackson where the Wildcat River was running strong from all the rain, and the foliage was markedly improved from just 40 miles to the south.
There were reds, oranges, yellows and even a dark almost purple red in some of the deciduous leaves like maples.
The drive then continued to Bartlett and on to the Bear Notch Road where elevation gain showed the difference in valley color versus higher altitude which was more vibrant.
Turning right on to the Kancamagus Highway at about 4:30 p.m., the low clouds and sometimes in the clouds driving allowed for some spectacular color along the roadside with hardly a person at any of the lookouts whose views were obscured.
The warm oranges and almost purple hardwoods against the mountains and dark evergreens as the sun and clouds broke out in places along toward the Waterville Valley area and Lincoln as the vehicle descended the winding Kanc to Interstate 93.
While it is expected to be busy this weekend with many tourists in the White Mountains, it may be particularly so on hikes to waterfalls, like Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch, where the water volume with the recent rains could bring out some dramatic views and corresponding color.
The weather calls for fair skies and rather warm temperatures for the weekend and into next week, which is always a better time for a drive or hike than the weekends at this time of year.
If you go for a hike, be prepared and consider getting a $25 Hike Safe card https://www.nhfishandgame.com/HikeSafe.aspx which helps offset costs associated with rescues.