Autumn Foliage, Lakes & Ponds – As I wait for the autumn foliage season to begin, I can’t help but wonder if the 2016 foliage season is going to be a short one here in the New Hampshire White Mountains. The weather gurus are indicating that this is going to be an off year. But a short foliage season is better than no foliage season at all.
For me, the classic autumn scene includes brilliant foliage, water, and a mountain. And though this combination of subject matter is throughout the White Mountains, getting all three in perfect conditions is a challenge. Here are a few lakes and ponds in the New Hampshire White Mountains that are worth visiting. Some of these lakes and ponds are roadside, while others are off the beaten path and require hiking.
A classic autumn scene is along Route 16 at Chocorua Lake (above) in Tamworth. Chocorua Lake offers a grand view of Mount Chocorua, and the mountain reflection in the lake is breathtaking. Chocorua Lake is a very popular spot for photographers, and you will not be alone on your visit.
At the Willey House Historical Site in Crawford Notch, is Willey Pond. If the dam is holding back water, Willey Pond will keep most photographers busy for hours. Early in the morning, when the water is like glass, there is an excellent reflection of the dam (above) and of the birches in the picnic area.
A visit to Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge any time of year is special but during peak autumn foliage the scenic beauty of this refuge is mesmerizing. The view from Cherry Pond (above) is one of the best representations of nature I have ever seen in New Hampshire.
Located off Sandwich Notch Road in Sandwich is one of my favorite ponds in the White Mountains, Kiah Pond (above). Kiah Pond is in the middle of nowhere. A word of caution, only high clearance vehicles should attempt driving Sandwich Notch Road.
And one for the hikers. In Franconia Notch, an excellent view of Echo Lake (above) and Cannon Mountain can be seen from the northern most bump of Eagle Cliff. No official trail leads to the above viewpoint, but if you do some research, you will find a way to reach this rocky outcropping.
You can license any of the above images for publications by clicking on the image you are interested in. And you can view more New Hampshire autumn foliage scenes here.
Happy image making..
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
My husband and I will be in the Lincoln NH area Sep 24 to Oct 1…….can we expect to see the beautiful colors of the fall foliage during this time?
Hi Eileen,
You should be able to see some autumn foliage. Not sure if it will be peak during the time you will be in Lincoln though. You may have to drive north of Lincoln to see some good foliage.
Enjoy your stay in the White Mountains
I read all your blog updates. I look forward to them as I am a native NH person now living in CT.
Quick question…has the White Mountain region had much rain or are many of the waterfalls you've written about begun to dry up a little.
Hi Brian,
I am glad you enjoy reading my blog articles. No, we have not had much rain here in the White Mountains. And yes, many of the waterfalls are very low. A few of the waterfalls I visited last week were just trickles. We could use a few days of rain.