National Forest·Maine, New Hampshire·767,592 acres
White Mountain National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Tuesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
Weather Wind to 35 mph Tuesday. Color may come down before it turns.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at White Mountain National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at White Mountain National Forest around Oct 18, and the four days to aim for are Oct 17 to 20.
The forest runs from about 666 to 3,416 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 9 days: the high stands around Oct 14, the low ground around Oct 23. That's 13 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 2,000 to 3,000 ft, 3,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Peak color | 0 to 1,000 ft, 1,000 to 2,000 ft |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Just past peak | |
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Fading |
- 3,000–4,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1410%
- 2,000–3,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1828%
- 1,000–2,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 2045%
- 0–1,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2317%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 13 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 3,000 feet the stands peak around Oct 14; down at 1,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 23. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 3,000–4,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 14
- 2,000–3,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 18
- 1,000–2,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 20
- 0–1,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 23
- Where to drive
- Kancamagus Highway, about 9 miles · Route 112 (Lost River Road), about 21 miles · Route 100, about 71 miles
- What turns
- sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, yellow birch, American beech
What turns, and when
- sugar maple30%
- red maple20%
- paper birch20%
- yellow birch10%
- American beech10%
- quaking aspen10%
Also named across New Hampshire, outside what the canopy read measures here: White Birch.
New Hampshire's White Mountains produce the most dramatic fall color in the Northeast, with sugar maples blazing orange and scarlet against the granite peaks and dark green of spruce.
Questions people ask about White Mountain National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at White Mountain National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at White Mountain National Forest around Oct 18, and the four days to aim for are Oct 17 to 20.
- Where is the best fall color at White Mountain National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 0 to 1,000 feet, around Oct 23.
- How long does peak last at White Mountain National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 17 to 20, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 9 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 13 days.
- Is White Mountain National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 18, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at White Mountain National Forest?
Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Yellow Birch, White Birch, American Beech. New Hampshire's White Mountains produce the most dramatic fall color in the Northeast, with sugar maples blazing orange and scarlet against the granite peaks and dark green of spruce.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 27 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 10 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
Green Mountain is on the map above, with its own date.
- Peak Oct 10 best Oct 9 to 12
- Peak Oct 15 best Oct 14 to 17
- Peak Oct 4 best Oct 3 to 6
- Peak Oct 5 best Oct 4 to 7
- Peak Oct 7 best Oct 6 to 9
Fall color roads near White Mountain National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Kancamagus Highway
One of America's finest fall drives through the White Mountains, peaking early-to-mid October. The stretch between Lincoln and Conway is jaw-dropping.
- Route 112 (Lost River Road)
A less-trafficked alternative to the Kanc, running through Kinsman Notch with excellent birch and maple color.
- Route 100
Runs the full length of Vermont through the Green Mountains. The section between Stowe and Killington is the postcard version of New England fall.
- Mohawk Trail (Route 2)
The original scenic highway in America, crossing the Berkshires. The Hairpin Turn overlook at Florida, MA offers a 60-mile view of color.