The first thing you should know about New Hampshire in fall is how insanely colorful its trees get. It’s long been a getaway for NYC and Boston city slickers in search of mountainous landscapes and fresh air, especially during summer. However, come autumn, the region comes alive with peaceful vistas and some of the most glowing fall foliage in the world. During our multiple visits to New Hampshire in autumn, we found that there wasn’t a right or wrong way to enjoy a trip here. This is, after all, the “Live Free or Die” state! While there are classic excursions like apple picking and hiking which are enjoyable as ever, there are also long scenic drives to enjoy. What’s more, with a revival in the state’s food and beverage seen in recent years, there’s lots to do (and eat!) for foodies here.
Clearly, there’s never been a better time to visit New Hampshire (NH) in autumn than now. Here’s a detailed guide to this choose-your-own-adventure-land, which is one of the best places to see fall foliage in New England.
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Weather
Autumn in New Hampshire is perfectly cool and crisp where you can layer up and enjoy autumn activities like pumpkin carving, leaf peeping, and apple picking. Usually, the peak season is between the first week and the 3rd week of October before the leaves change color completely. When we planned our first visit in the first week of October, the northern side of the state had great color, with the central areas changing colors during the last days of our trip. Try and plan your trip during the week as the weekend can see lots of crowds and heavy traffic.
That being said, you need to check the weather frequently when setting out on the road in the state during autumn. September temperatures range from 56-78 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit in October, with a moderate chill in the air. November is when it gets really cold, with the temperatures being around 32 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. So make sure to do your research before embarking on a leaf-peeping journey as the climate can change in a flash. Also, don’t forget to pack your layering essentials. Since we visited New Hampshire in all the autumn months, this guide will tell you the best things to do and expect throughout the season.
Meanwhile, here’s a guide to New Hampshire best fall foliage spots.
Wineries and Cideries
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For adults, New Hampshire in autumn has something warm and cold and special. Confused? We’re talking about visiting wineries and cideries, and fall is the perfect time to visit local vineyards and cider rooms. Between meads, delicious ciders, and fruit wines, and with the autumn foliage as the backdrop, it’s hard not to be in love with just about everything in New Hampshire. With more than 30 breweries across the state, we had no dearth of options for beautiful wineries, patios, and tasting rooms to explore.
To make our visit special, we chose the Seven Birches Winery in Lincoln. It’s famed for manufacturing the hard cider known as Rhythm Cider, which is crafted naturally at this White Mountains winery. It sits inside the imposing, brand-new RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain and handcrafts locally sourced fruits and classic European grape varietals into wines. The best bit? It’s open throughout the year for tours, wine-by-the-glass, and wine tasting.
So, naturally, it made sense to head to Rhythm Tap & Grille, a new upscale American restaurant for its Rhythm Cider. It also offered an entire selection of their award-winning cider on tap. We paired it with their creative cuisine after we took a tour of their vineyard and cidery, making it the highlight of our autumn NH trip.
Farms
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It’s no surprise that New Hampshire is full of farms, and they’re anything but traditional farms of yore. Its farms are at the very heart of autumn season here, with the scents of cider, crisp apples, and pumpkins filling the air. What’s more, farms here offer more than just pumpkin and apple picking at the patches and the fields, but even other interesting New Hampshire fall activities like corn mazes and hayrides!
Farms all over the state put months of planning, creativity, and plowing into their corn mazes every year, and that too with unique themes and varying levels of difficulty and size. For instance, the theme for the corn maze at Moulton Farm in Meredith this year is patriotic, complete with an eagle and a flag, and is open through 31st October. Meanwhile, the theme for East Conway’s Sherman Farm is driving, complete with a car outline, corny riddles, a scavenger hunt, and a farm scene investigation!
“The kids, and us, had a whale of a time in the corn maze. We never thought running around a labyrinth of hedges looking for things in a scavenger hunt would be so much fun!”
WOW Travel
A great way to see the workings of a farm up close is to take an old-fashioned hayride! Our autumnal tractor hayride through McKenzie’s Farm in Milton with Farmer Jock took us around the beautiful farm. We not only got to pick apples from the orchard but also dig into baked goodies offered during the fall.
Historic Sites
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If you’re a culture vulture like us, then you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s more to New Hampshire than the autumn foliage; it’s full of historical sites shrouded by the gorgeous autumn foliage!
Since we were staying at the gorgeous Ale House Inn in Portsmouth, the historic center of the town, Market Square, was a mere five-minute walk away. Not only is it the birthplace and location of the state’s colonial legislature, but also it’s home to a crock of historic structures, brick-paved streets, and nearly 100 of Portsmouth’s historical sites. We loved the interactive Strawbery Banke Museum, which had an entire historic home neighborhood that we could explore.
Since we were close to the White Mountains, we even visited the famed Polar Caves Park, which was formed nearly 50,000 years ago. After a slow-moving glacier glided through the park, it left behind a series of passageways and caves. We loved walking through the pine forest and learning about the region’s history. Even closer than this was the site known today as America’s Stonehenge in Salem, NH, which is shrouded in mystery to this day. It featured many manmade caves, stone walls, and rock formations, which were supposedly built more than 4,000 years ago!
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Water Adventures
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Rivers, streams, beaches, lakes — New Hampshire has them all. What’s more, they all offer some exciting adventures even during autumn, which is what made us add water adventures to our to-do list, both over and by-the-water ones. If you’re a fan of boating, head to Hanover, home to one of the most famous outing clubs in the country on the Connecticut River. There’s also the Ledyard Canoe Club, where you can rent kayaks and canoes from the oldest boating club in the nation.
As avid anglers and fly-fishers, we had a grand time at Profile Lake, right down the street from the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. Designated solely for fly-fishing, this spot was the perfect way to spend a day outdoors, standing with our fly-fishing sling packs. Right down the road also sits the lovely Echo Lake Beach at the base of Cannon Mountain, which was the perfect after-fishing spot for sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the views. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, or paddleboats to explore this alpine lake. Furthermore, NH has many, and we mean many beaches. These include the Hampton Beach State Park and the year-round Jenness State Beach in Rye, which even sees surfers.
The coastline isn’t left out either; this is where we indulged in a memorable whale-watching tour on the Atlantic Ocean. We were lucky enough to not only spot the North Atlantic humpback but also other kinds of whales. These tours leave from both Hampton and Rye Harbors, lasting around 4 hours.
Did you know that the state’s rivers are also perfect for family-friendly whitewater rafting? Yes!
Land Adventures
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When the fall foliage is so gorgeous, it makes sense to explore it in any way you can, right? Well, that’s what we did in New Hampshire. There were a plethora of land-based adventure activities on offer and we did them all, starting with hiking the many trails across the region. Our favorite was Mount Monadnock in the Appalachian Mountains of southern NH, which offered a bevy of gorgeous hiking trails bursting with autumnal foliage. We had absolute fun riding the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway at Franconia Notch State Park, which offered sweeping views of the surroundings from Cannon Mountain. Don’t miss the scenic 2-mi scenic Flume Gorge trail, a breathtaking natural wonder full of historic bridges, glacial pools, giant ferns, cascading waterfalls, and moss-covered walls.
NH also has more than 100 waterfalls that you can explore. Some of our favorites are Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch State Park, Glen Ellis Falls in the White Mountain National Forest, and Purgatory Falls in the Merrimack Valley. For those who crave adventure in the air, Morningside Flight Park has everything from paragliding and zip-lining to outdoor laser tag. Finally, if you’re an experienced hiker looking for a challenge, we’d highly recommend the challenging 4.4-mi Lakes of the Clouds Trail near Jackson. The hike takes you 5,000 ft above sea level to a series of mesmerizing lakes between Mount Monroe and Washington. However, the last mile is extremely steep, even bordering on treacherous, so be warned. Do you want an unforgettable staying experience? Reserve a bunk at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
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State Parks
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There’s no better place to chase autumnal foliage in New Hampshire than its many, many state parks. If you’re going from north to south, then you should stop by Dixville Notch State Park, which is one of the first places where the color turns. It’s home to the extremely popular Table Rock trail, a 1.5-mi hike with an elevation gain of 751 ft.
Since we wanted to do minimal hiking, we chose to visit the equally stunning Franconia Notch State Park. It’s home to the most famous hiking trail in all of New Hampshire, the Artist Bluff Trail. There are two different ways to do the hike: one is the complete loop with Bald Mountain, and the other is just hiking to the bluff. Since we wanted to photograph the bluff and soak in stunning views of Echo Lake, we chose the latter.
Crawford Notch State Park is a much smaller park with no cell service. We were chasing fall foliage along the Mt. Willard Trail here, which was a pretty gradual uphill hike with streams and waterfalls along the way. However, we did get to see spectacular views of the Conway Scenic Railroad from above.
Apple Picking
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Nothing says autumn like biting into a crisp apple, especially when you have picked one yourself! It’s no surprise that New Hampshire has numerous excellent apple orchards, including one of the oldest apple orchards in the country. One such perfect spot where we got to harvest our own share of autumn apples was the Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook. It sat not far from the capital concord, which had more than 70 varieties of apple trees and featured live music on weekends!
However, one of the most thrilling apple events in the state is Apple Harvest Day, which is also the largest one-day festival in the state. Held in the quaint town of Dover in the first week of October, it sees more than 60,000 visitors and is the premier New Hampshire fall festival. We got to celebrate all things “apple” with a gamut of activities, including craft vendors, live music, apple-themed food, and amazing fun for the whole family. What’s more, we got to sample everything from apple cider to pies, check out seasonal goodies, artisan crafts, and local produce, and enjoy the vibrant fall hues.
Foliage Train Rides
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While watching the fall foliage through the car window is exciting, there’s something extra special when you get to watch it by train. All of NH is famous for its gorgeous autumn train rides that wind their way through some of the most impressive landscapes with breathtaking views. It was all the more fun for us because we were traveling with kids, and they had the time of their lives!
You could ride up the steep slopes of the northeast’s tallest peak on the famous cog railway, with the surroundings cloaked in a fiery blaze of color. Then, there’s the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad that rounds around the largest lake in NH, Lake Winnipesaukee. The contrast of the yellow, orange, and red foliage against the royal blue waters of the lake is jaw-dropping. Course, there are more traditional scenic train rides like the Hobo Railroad out of Lincoln and the Conway Scenic Railroad. Since we were looking for something different, we rode North Woodstock’s classy Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train. As we spent 2 hours traveling through the heart of New England, we indulged in a five-course meal. Talk about indulgence!
Scenic Drives
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All roads lead to adventure in NH, with gorgeous fall foliage all along the way. Autumnal road trips don’t get any better than the winding NH highways, with yellow, orange, and red leaves peeping out from everywhere.
One of the best drives we enjoyed chasing fall hues was along the Kancamagus Highway via the self-guided Kancamagus Highway Breathtaking Fall Foliage Driving Tour. While the 34.5-mi stretch of highway takes just 45 minutes to navigate sans traffic, it could take as much as 2-3 hours during New Hampshire’s peak fall foliage season just one way. Also, do note that the road has minimal to no cell service, so download your maps beforehand. It would also be worth investing in one of the Best Buy car cameras for road trips. Equally importantly, there are no gas stations along this stretch, so fill up in either Lincoln or Conway. There are many beautiful campsites along the highway, but ensure that you reserve them in advance.
Two other scenic autumn drives we loved were Lake Winnipesaukee Loop, which loops around Lakes Squam and Winnipesaukee, and the quieter Evans Notch. While the latter begins and ends in Maine, the NH border route is winding, steep, and spectacular.
Since there might be many stops along the way that require entrance fees, the best thing to do would be to invest in passes. For instance, our “America the Beautiful Pass” covered all entry fees throughout the White Mountains National Forest area, where we were driving.
Fairs and festivals
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When you say New Hampshire, we hear fairs and festivals. Seriously, there’s no way to enjoy an NH autumn than to attend some of its festivals, which date back more than a century and a half ago. Today, these deep-rooted traditions take the form of dozens of annual events and festivals all over the state. Moreover, they are entirely dedicated to quintessential NH autumn activities like pumpkin carving, beer-tasting apple picking, and the star of this season: the leaves themselves.
When it comes to fairs, there’s the Sandwich Fair, which features everything from parades and oxen pulling to pumpkin carving and even skillet tosses. Additionally, there is New England’s oldest family fair, the 1876-established Deerfield Fair. What’s more, it’s also one of the state’s largest fairs, with everything from a pageant live entertainment and sheep shearing to pig scramble, demolition derby, and livestock exhibits.
However, we had the most fun at the many pumpkin festivals all over. For instance, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, held in the last week of October, had live music and nearly 20,000 pumpkins stacked into a majestic tower! Meanwhile, the Milford Pumpkin Festival, held every Columbus Day weekend, had a craft fair, wine and beer tasting, food, live music, and the Great Pumpkin weigh-in.
Where to Stay in New Hampshire:
- Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, Whitefield: One of New Hampshire’s most romantic hotels, the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is a 21st-century Victorian-era retreat. The resort has multiple onsite restaurants, a fabulous Tower Spa, a wonderful infinity outdoor pool and tub, and less than 150 rooms and suites, all with huge windows, luxurious bathrooms, and stunning mountain views.
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- Great Island Inn, New Castle: Sitting in New Hampshire’s smallest and easternmost town, this charming aparthotel has just six guest studios, all with fully equipped kitchens for a comfortable stay. Sitting right on the water, the hotel is just steps from the tranquil and entirely tourist-free Great Island Common Park beach. This is less of a hotel and more of a boutique stay in someone’s fabulous coastal New England home.
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Places To Eat
- Polly’s Pancake Parlor: This place up in Sugar Hill has been serving some of the best breakfasts in the state for more than 80 years! The rustic 1830s setting, complete with a shop and mountain views, is famous for its daytime aids and pancakes in particular. Besides pancakes with delicious maple syrup that they make, they also have spices, condiments, hot sauces, marmalade, jams, coffee and other beverages, maple candy, and a whole lot of other maple products!
- Thompson House Eatery: if you looking for that one magical reservation that you don’t want to miss on your New Hampshire autumn trip, then we would highly recommend the Thompson House Eatery in the scenic town of Jackson. Accessible via a covered bridge, the town is home to this wonderful family-owned and operated eatery which serves upscale American cuisine using seasonal and local ingredients that are grown at their own farm. If you’re eating here, don’t miss the beignets with Maldon sea salt and sugar, homemade campanile with summer kale pesto, zucchini with chanterelle mushrooms, and the smoked heirloom tomato soup.
