Nowhere beats the beauty and romance of New England (and upstate New York) for autumn leaf peeping. Every year, from late September to mid-November, travelers flock to the region eager to breathe in the resplendent yellows, golds, deep reds, and oranges. ‘Leaf peeping’ is a uniquely New England phrase. The term first surfaced in a 1966 article, “Thoughts of a Leaf Peeper,” appearing in a Vermont newspaper, The Bennington Banner, where the writer gushed about the magnificent beauty of the state’s foliage.
While stunning fall colors can be spotted among many trees and shrubs, the star of New England’s leaf-peeping show is the effervescent sugar maple (yes, the same tree behind Vermont’s famous pancake syrup). Reportedly, it is the balance of the anthocyanin (the blue, red, or purple pigments found in plants and flowers) and carotenoids (orange pigment) that creates the tree’s brilliant autumn hue. Most stunning are the sugar maple’s red leaves — the result of anthocyanin, which in the summer serves as a sunblock, but with less sunlight allows the vibrant pigment to show — and orange, containing the same pigment that gives pumpkins their glow.
Here are a few of our favorite places to marvel at the gorgeous New England (and New York) fall foliage.
Barnard, Vermont
Vermont is home to more maple trees than anywhere else, so it’s no surprise to find the most brilliant yellow, orange, and red hues here. And the tiny town of Barnard is perhaps its shiniest star. With an average population of just 1000, there’s not a lot to do in town except gaze at the trees bursting with delicious fall shades, crunch apples, and drive through the Green Mountain forest or hike the famous Appalachian trail. Which is fine by us.
Stay at: Twin Farms
The true reason to visit Barnard awaits at the glorious hideaway, Twin Farms. Nobel Prize-winning writer Sinclair Lewis bought this 18th-century farmhouse, surrounded by birch forests and flower meadows, in 1928 as a wedding gift for his bride, journalist Dorothy Thompson. Opened as a hotel in the early 1990s, Twin Farms — renowned for its one-of-a-kind cottages, fresh locally sourced cuisine, and museum-quality art (don’t be surprised to see a Jasper Johns or Cy Twombly by your bed) — has become a coveted destination. Especially in autumn. Wander the hotel’s private 300 acres, request a picnic for two deep in the forest, or take in the glory of fall from a canoe and paddle across the resort’s own nine-acre lake.
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
One of New England’s top ‘leaf-peeping’ areas comes in The Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Cruise the scenic, curvaceous, Mohawk Trail (a.k.a. Route 2). Or take in the colorful views on foot from atop Mount Greylock — the state’s highest crest. Peak colors typically arrive in mid to late October.
Stay at: Canyon Ranch, Lenox
To truly slow down and immerse in the ancient art of forest bathing (or here, fall foliage), stay at Canyon Ranch, a full-on, destination spa. Set on 140 acres, the spa (the younger sibling of its Tucson, Arizona, sister) offers Set on 140 wooded acres in the Berkshire mountains, it offers integrated programs in fitness, nutrition, and mental wellness, and features extensive massage, skincare, and hydrotherapy services.
Bedford, NY
Beautiful, tranquil, and bursting with charm with its rolling horse farms and country estates, this small Westchester town is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Founded by Puritans in 1680, Bedford is today one of the wealthiest towns in the U.S., and home to numerous Hollywood A-listers: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Martha Stewart, and Matt Damon, adding celebrity watching in between the leaves.
Stay at: Bedford Post Inn
Surrounded by woodlands (perfect for fall-foliage gazing), the historic 1860s Bedford Post Inn was rescued and transformed by Westchester residents Russell Hernandez and (actor) Richard Gere. All eight rooms, designed by Tiffany Vassilakis, are hopelessly romantic, with fireplaces and Frette linens. An added standout: the tranquil, sun-drenched Yoga Loft, a multifaceted studio featuring daily classes, workshops, private sessions, guest speakers, and private yoga parties.
Greenville, Maine
Home to Moosewood Lake, Maine’s largest glacial lake, Greenville was once a rugged logging outpost, inhabited by lumberjacks and bush pilots. Today, it is one of the state’s most adored, but still off-the-radar destinations for leaf peeping. Here, at a 1,000-foot elevation, cold Canadian air collides with warm summer air creating an explosion of color. And because the region is still undeveloped timberland, it’s possible to see the foliage for miles and miles prompting locals to coin it the “double foliage effect.”
Stay at: Blair Hill Inn
Overlooking Moosehead Lake, this 79-acre Relais & Châteaux estate — once a breeding farm — offers water, mountain, and woodlands views. Home to just 10 ultra-plush rooms and six luxurious cabins, Blair Hill Inn is best known for its gourmet restaurant featuring farm-to-table menus, gardens, private hiking trails, trout pond, and spa.
Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
A small Revolutionary War town (yes, George Washington slept here), Litchfield Hills — with its meticulously restored historic homes, eclectic shops, and restaurants —is quintessentially New England. But its true wow factor comes in the surrounding verdant forests and lakes. Hiking is a way of life here, especially during the fall when locals and travelers journey into the deep hardwood forests, past fragrant glades and murmuring river beds, to photo-capture the leaves.
Stay at: Winvian Farm
Set on 113 private acres, there’s no better place to take in the autumn leaves than from one of Winvian Farm’s whimsical luxury cottages. With themes like “Treehouse,” “Music,” and Helicopter,” the cottages were designed by different architects. None are even remotely the same. A favorite for leaf peeping is “Woodlands,” a cottage hidden deep in the forest made of rough-cut pines and peeled tree trunks. Inside, find a double-sided, wood-burning fireplace, an indoor waterfall cascading over stones, and a giant soaking tub overlooking the Crayola-colored woods and tranquil pond.
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Not surprisingly, this stunning area — home to Mount Washington — is all about immersing in the beauty of Mother Nature. And in autumn, her magnificent leaf show will take your breath away. Hike to waterfalls in Crawford Notch State Park, visit Flume Gorge, an 800-foot-long natural gorge. Or enjoy the blazing leaf view from the Mount Washington Cog railway, a vintage steam locomotive that takes travelers to the summit of the mountain.
Stay at: Omni Mount Washington Resort
A ski lodge by winter and golf haven by summer, the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort built-in 1902 by Italian craftsmen offers the perfect home base for leaf peeping. The 69-room Presidential wing blends New England tradition and sophistication with memorable mountain views from guests’ private terrace, patio, or most decadently, bath. We also love the rooftop Jewel terrace, featuring comfy outdoor seating and even more stunning mountain views.
Cover courtesy of Twin Farms. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
