Fall in the White Mountains

When September ends and October begins it reminds me of fall in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The chill in the air, the vibrant colors of the leaves shining with bright golds and reds, warm apple cider. Yup, there is nothing like Fall in the White Mountains.

The best way to experience the true beauty of fall in the White Mountains is to drive along the Kancamagus Highway. It’s a 33 miles scenic drive with nothing but nature all around. No gas stations or restaurants. Just epic views of the fall colors and the White Mountains.

Along the Kancamagus Highway you’re greeted with breathtaking views of the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge. I loved exploring these rivers and waterfalls. Its amazing to hear the intense rush of the water as you’re driving by and how loud it gets as you get closer to it. To see the reds and shimmering gold colored leaves just swaying in the wind as you walk along the rivers and waterfalls almost has a zen like feel to it. You’re calmed by noise of the water and relaxed by the vibrant colors that surround you.

There are opportunities to take other roads off the Kancamagus Highway to see the Presidential Range in the White Mountains or to explore either Crawford Notch or Franconia Notch State Parks. Drives to and up the Mt. Washington auto road offer amazing viewpoints of the White Mountains. Even taking the famous Conway Scenic Railroad lets you see all the luster of fall as you hang your head out the window of the train and take in the fresh breeze and lovely view of the White Mountains.

Leaf peepers flock to the Kancamagus Highway and to the White Mountains by the bus loads, literally. On the weekends you will we see tour bus after tour bus dropping foliage admirers off. The colors start to change in middle of September but the true magic usually happens around the second week of October. As quickly as the colors change is as quickly as they leaves fall off.

Below are photos of what fall looks like in the White Mountains.

Sunrise over Lincoln Woods
Sunrise over Lincoln Woods

Lincoln Woods

beaver pond white mountains
Beaver Pond

fall foliage

Kancamagus Highway White Mountains
View from Kancamagus Highway

Kancamagus Highway foliage

Rocky Gorge
Rocky Gorge

white mountains new hampshire

flume gorge

swift river
Swift River

ultimate new hampshire fall foliage

white mountains leaf peeping

diana's bath

Ripley Falls
Ripley Falls

crawford notch state park

bemis trail waterfall

arethusa falls

best new england scenic drive

franconia notch

kancamagus highway things to do

kancamagus highway

kancamagus highway scenic drive

lower falls white mountains

white mountains foliage

White Mountain National Forest
White Mountain National Forest

things to do in the white mountains

Forth Iron Bridge
Forth Iron Bridge

Forth Iron Bridge

New England foliage

lost river white mountains

Silver Cascade Falls
Silver Cascade Falls

Sugar Hill White Mountains

Presidential Range white mountains
Presidential Range

Conway Scenic Railroad

Cathedral Ledge

Echo Lake
Echo Lake

Canon Mountain

Franconia Notch

Appalachian Trail

Echo Lake Franconia Notch

Granite Mountain

fall in new england

Franconia Notch State park

Fall in the White Mountains

Wiley House

Mt. Washington Auto Road

foliage white mountains

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