White Mountains Fall Trip

[rk]

Hi,

I am planning for a White Mountains, NH Fall trip between October 9,10,11.

Could you please suggest me the best places to visit.

If this is a Vermont only forum, can you please suggest me any NH forum.

Thanks,
rK.

[pwt54]

While we are a VT website, we have been known to sneak over to (gasp) NH once in a while. The colors along route 112 (the Kancamaugus Highway) may be fading in the higher elevations, the colors should be still good lower down. I would use route 112 as a northern border and work south from there. The area around Lake Winnipesauke should be nice.

[rk]

Thanks pwt

So if I want to visit Mount washington, Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch I should probably change my dates to Ocotber 2,3,4 instead of 9,10,11

Please advise.

[pwt54]

If you can, that would be better. There should still be good color in Franconia Notch and the lower part of Crawford Notch on the 11th. Don't be surprised if there is a lot of white on MT. Washington on either date.

[rk]

Thanks a lot pwt.

Last year taking your advise I had a wonderful time in Vermont visiting stowe and killington .

I hope this year it will be NH with your advise.

[pwt54]

If you go Oct 2-4 I have a tip for you. If you do the Franconia Notch, Kancamaugus Highway (route112) and route 302 through Crawford Notch "triangle" you will want to bypass Conway. That place will be a mad house with the Fryeburg Fair going on. You can do this by taking the Bear Notch Road from route 112 to route 302 in Bartlett. There is good signage for it and it's a nice paved scenic road and the colors should be nice. We locals take this bypass all of the time. If you do route 302 south through Crawford Notch first, take the road on the right next to the country store in Bartlett.

[rk]

Thanks a lot pwt. I really appreciate your suggestions

Here is my plan. I am not sure if all the things I plan to do will fit in such a short time.

Could you please review it and give me your suggestions.

I have booked a motel in Glen, NH which is near North Conway

Day1 : Leave from New Jersey and reach Glen via Lincoln taking Kanc. as you suggested I will take the Bear notch road on way to Glen. but I think when I will reach there it will already be past dusk. Will the notch road be open.

Day 2 : Start from Glen, take Bear Notch road to Kanc , Kanc to Lincoln, Franconia Notch - Cannon Tram if time permits. Return to Glen via 302 through Crawafford Notch.

Day 3 : Mount Washington or Wildcat Gondola and return to NJ via route 302 through Crawfford (Just in case I don't get enough time on 2nd day for Crafford Notch).

[pwt54]

Your plan looks good. Yes the Bear Notch will be open. The road is curvy so drive it slow at night. It sounds like you are planning to take the Cog Railroad to the top of Mt. Washington. It may be the only way to the top if there is snow up there. It's not cheap, but it's worth the trip. If you plan to drive to the top, you have to take route 16 north from Glen through Pinkham Notch to Glen House.

[Andy]

rk: While PWT is clearly the most experienced and noted authority here on both routes and fall color in general, I'll throw in one caveat. Mother Nature works to the beat of her own drum. The dates you book are subject to her whim. While there will always be some color somewhere, you may not hit the so-called "peak." I lived in VT for many years as a younger person and we just took fall color for granted -- because we were there. When you have to plan time off and take a trip, it becomes more dicey. Several years back, based on conventional wisdom, I visited Northern Vermont during the first week of October. We had to REALLY work to find any color anywhere! The next year, I pushed it back a week, thinking if I was late in the North, I could head South. That year there was a lot of early leaf drop. I DID find color both years (click on my "WWW" button underneath the signature line, if you are interested in seeing my Vermont gallery). The point is, you have to take your best shot at dates and then make the best of what you will see. You WILL see some beautiful scenery.

We would love a report back on your findings.

[rk]

Thanks Andy for your hints.

I checked your Gallery . It is awesome. Especially the light effects in the photos.

I agree with you about chasing the peak. It's elusive but it's a great fun chasing it.

I will keep in mind your advice and try to be flexible with the dates and hit the best time.

Regards,
Rahul.

[pwt54]

Last year I drove the Kancamaugus on Oct 1st and the colors were fantastic. About a week later the reds and oranges were mostly gone in the high elevations but colors were still nice in the valleys.

[Andy]

Thanks for your kind remarks, Rahul. Do let us know how your trip works out and if you find any special new places.

[rk]

Any updates on how colors are progressing in White Mountains Region.

I am planning to be there around October 2,3,4

Waiting for abby's report as she plans to drive Kanc on Sept 26th.

[Andy]

Most of the "regulars" here seem to be predicting that colors are progressing "normally" to a little early.

Here in Michigan, after that cool, rainy summer, we have not had a drop of rain for the Month of September, and it has been sunny and between 70-80 highs during the days and 40-60 nights. If that is heading east, it seems like a "prescription" for fall colors.

[rk]

Thanks Andy

One more Q

Which area of vermont closely relates to White Mountains region in terms of fall foliage timing. I mean best colors at a given time.

Is it 1. Northeast kingdom or 2. the stowe to killington or the 3. green mountains south of Killington.