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Columbus Day is the traditional weekend for checking out the Autumnal Blaze, but I know that leaves are already turning in the Rockies. What is it like in your local forests?
We have posted some links for <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/links/Autumn.htm"> Leaf Peeping reports</a> in the RTA destinations pages.
Mark
All is well here in portland oregon. The leaves are just starting to change. The red is just starting to dance across some of the tree's. I know because i've been nervously keeping an eye on them. My wife and i are heading out on the road for 2 months at the end of september and we really want to make it to new england for the colors. I,ve been worried that by the time we get there they will be gone but now im thinking we'll probablly make it.
If anyone is interested portland and most of Western Oregon has amazing fall colors.
Thanks for the report about Portland's annual leaf show. I hope you have a splendid time in New England.
Do you ever get bread at <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/grandcen.htm">the Grand Central Baking Company</a> on SE Hawthorne? It is owned by some cousins of ours and one of the first places we always stop when we are fortunate enough to return to Portland.
The leaves have been slowly changing for a couple of weeks now here in Massachusetts. There are some areas that are displaying vibrant colors, mostly near rivers and streams. At one spot I frequent, it's already begun snowing leaves!
Glad I rent...so I don't have to rake!
It looks like peak will be here before we know it...then the insufferable winter season.
Until then, I'll be cruising around with the roof open!
Can you provide more detail on your favorite places to watch the leaves turn?
The extra rain this year will probably cause an extra early Fall turn.
Enjoy that top-down driving!
We will be in new england around the second week in october . Will we miss the peak colors?
Hmmmmmm. Maybe yes. The larger leaf fall in New England is usually around Halloween, but this year it has already started. I really suggest taking a look at the two sites referenced above for up the moment news.
Some of my favorite places are right around my central Mass. home. The Quabbin Reservoir is especially nice this time of year; Dana common with its ghost-town quality (one of the towns decommissioned for the reservoir, all that remains is foundations of buildings and a road) is a nice walk in the woods. Mohawk Trail (aka MA-2) provides some spectacular views. Out of state, I give VT-100 high props, and US-7 all around is nice.
The Berkshires are high on the list as well.
The second week of October should make for some nice viewing, dependent on where you will be going. Maine and Northern VT/NH will probably be passed, but MA/CT/RI should be good.
It's weird how such a gradual process seems to appear overnight.
We have been to some of the places, although not recently enough. Do you still think that the leaf display will still be going strong the 2nd week of October -- given how fast some trees seem to be turning? Some speculation would tend to support the notion that the unusually wet summer will bring a hastened fall leave season.
How far along are the trees in your neighborhood today?
Thanks for the specific intel. Very cool.
Hey we are heading out from portland on sunday and just wanted to get an update on how the colors are looking in the east.(new england) Portland is really starting to change. Red is comming out everywhere. mix that with the lush green rain forest and its pretty amazing. I also just wanted to thank everyone who contributes to this page . It has been very helpful to us as we've planned our crazy road trip. Soon we will be on the road.
It's still hit-and-miss. On my morning drive, I see some trees that are almost past right next to those that haven't changed yet. On route 31 (Spencer-Paxton), there's a nice show starting up. (This is central MA, YMMV).
Overall, you should have a good chance of seeing the local color.
If it doesn't rain this weekend, I may go out for an extended cruise.
If you are able to hit the road, we would love to hear the latest from your favorite leaf viewing spots!
Mark
We got quite a frost last night, 25 degrees F when I got up this morning (also resulted in a badly scratched windshield from the scraper I've used for years, apparently this new car's windshield is a little...gentle).
Frosts usually speed things up a bit. Mostly around here are large maples that stand alone with bright orange leaves. Those in a larger copse have been going along more slowly.
Christine from upstate New York, (near Niagra Falls) sent a timely peeper report that suggests that the peak period has yet to arrive in the Northeast!
"Our fall color is just starting. We went to Eastern NY last weekend and I was surprised that the colors were not as strong as I had hoped to see. We really had a very wet summer and so many things bloomed profusly that it is taking longer for some things to die. We did have a frost yesterday morning and this AM it was 32 degrees in Niagara Falls, NY.
I am hoping that the ragweed and that other bush with the white flowers on top will die soon. We here in the Northeast have "Indian Summer" and I think that will
happen next week sometime. It is suppose to get back up into the 60 and 70'sthen. Warm days and warm nights after the 1st frost that is "Inidan Summer" My youngest daughter lives on the Niagara Escarpment in Canada. She is actually almost evenly between the 2 lakes (Erie to the west and
Ontario to the east). She said they were calling for "SNOW" last night. She was very busy covering up her
garden....lots of stuff still on the vine and not ripe yet.....when this happens you either pick everything or cover up what is tender...."
I had heard the very wet summer was hastening the fall color display, but at least in upstate NY -- it has slowed it. That frost was over a large area. Sorry to hear about your windshield -- quite a bummer.
M.
I wasn't able to take an extended trip this weekend, as Saturday it was pouring rain, and Sunday I went to Boston with some friends.
But, from that trip, I can tell you that everything seems to have stopped, from I-84, along I-90, and right up into Boston.
It looks like I won't have to work Friday, so I'm planning to make a loop from Worcester, up into NH, over to VT, and then back home. I'm going to try to get up as far as St. Johnsbury.
As it stands, there hasn't been too much change around here lately, either, even with the frost and cold weather.
Today I went from Worcester up I-290, I-495, I-93 to Concord, NH, I-89 to White River Junction, VT, I-91, and I-90 home.
I-290 near Shrewsbury, MA is showing some color along the highway.
The colors in NH are quite beautiful. I stopped for lunch in New London, NH. Sunapee Lake is looking good. The area is full of bright oranges and reds, really giving a nice hue to the mountain scenery.
Proceeding down into the Connecticut River Valley, about 50-60% of the trees have changed, making this weekend an ideal time to go out and have a view. Along I-91 / US-5 is much the same story until Putney, VT, where the colors appeared to be about the same as at home, around 30% changed.
This is definitely a good weekend to get out and about in VT and NH!
I just spent the weekend in Vermont (just outside Rutland)and drove over to southern maine to see some friends on my way home. Vermont and New Hampshire are still very beautiful and colorful. The leaves are starting to fall but the trees are still very full. The killington, Pico area is especially beautiful in Vermont and you can take one of the Gondolas up the mountain for the full foliage effect.
we have been on the road for almost 2 months from portland oregon. i wrote on this thread worried that we would miss the fall colors of new england but we hit it just right. all the way across the country and into canada the colors were awesome.(vermont especially) we are now in New Orleans and working our way back to portland and seeing the fall colors still in the south. good trip'n to everyone
Subsequent postings (after you hit the road) indicated that the season was longer than expected. Glad it worked so well for you!
Mark