When Will Peak Fall Foliage Hit Connecticut?

It’s an annual tradition, one that brings tourism to our region and has even inspired humorous episodes of television programs like “Family Guy” – every year, Connecticut is filled with beautiful natural sights as trees’ leaves turn color and change.

It can be hard to know exactly when the leaves will turn before they fall, but the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has changed that this year. DEEP created a Fall Foliage Report, utilizing its data as well as this year’s weather trends to determine when fall foliage should reach peak colors and beauty.

This tool will provide residents with the best information about when their communities can expect bursts of color; it’s also a valuable tool to help draw tourism to the state, supporting the local economy.
As of the end of September, the Fall Foliage Report indicates that most of Connecticut was not yet seeing strong foliage activity, but the northeast and northwest corners of the state, primarily Litchfield and Windham counties, were starting to see activity. DEEP expects there to be a band-like effect moving south through the state, similar to a weather system, that will lead to increases in color.

In the beginning of October, leaves should be turning to vivid colors in north-central Connecticut, with the band appearing like a wave, its lower limits including Waterbury and Hartford, with peak activity in the northern corners of the state.

Peak conditions should be visible everywhere north of Hartford and Waterbury by the middle of October, with the northern corners passing peak activity and seeing leaves falling. A relatively early leaf season should end everywhere but the southern coast by Halloween, with the state passing peak activity and heading toward winter conditions by Veterans’ Day.

DEEP’s website also includes several overlays including driving routes that will show the best sights, including loops that run from Storrs to Woodstock and back, Hartford into the northwest corner of the state, and loops starting in New Haven and Middletown. The map also displays several areas including the eastern border and north of I-84 that are known for having scenic, beautiful views.

Embracing fall foliage is part of DEEP’s latest efforts to promote tourism and travel in Connecticut, following reports last year by CT By The Numbers highlighting CTParks.com, a website created to draw more attention to the parks that are drawing twice as many visitors annually as they did prior to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

It also points to the importance of Connecticut’s forests for the state economy. According to the North East State Foresters Association, as of 2014, forest recreation in Connecticut drives hundreds of millions of dollars in economic value; fall foliage viewing was the biggest, representing just over $300 million of $1.2 billion overall.

Posted By Joe O’Leary