Fall Foliage Sneak Preview: Where to Catch the Colors First

As September arrives in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, something subtle but spectacular starts to happen—the trees begin their annual transformation. While peak foliage often hits in early to mid-October, the show starts earlier in the higher elevations and cooler valleys. If you know where to look, you can catch the first blush of fall weeks ahead of the crowds.

Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough offers some of the most breathtaking early foliage views. Drive or hike up to the mountaintop estate for panoramic views of the Ossipee Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee. Early reds and oranges often show up here before anywhere else.

Scenic drives around Squam Lake and Route 113 can also surprise you with their early color, especially in the cooler, shaded areas along the water and ridgelines. Pack a picnic, roll down the windows, and let the winding roads guide you through a painter’s palette in progress.

For a more active adventure, hike the trails at Belknap Mountain in Gilford or Mt. Major in Alton. Even the lower elevations give you a front-row seat to New Hampshire’s natural fireworks—plus fewer bugs and cooler hiking temps make this time of year a hiker’s dream.

Don’t wait for the “official” foliage reports to start exploring—early September is the insider’s secret to catching the Lakes Region in quiet, colorful transition.