NJ Fall Foliage Reports

Average New Jersey peak fall color is October 19 through 29. Check out our recommendations for Best Fall Foliage Hikes in New Jersey.

 

To help plan your New Jersey foliage hikes and scenic drives, check out the New Jersey and the Northeast Foliage Resources below, the 2010 Fall Foliage Report Archive, and our Fall Foliage in New Jersey - 2010 forum to see foliage photos from around NJ.

 

For foliage reports for the rest of United states, check out our Fall Foliage Reports page.

 

The 2011 NJ Fall Foliage season is underway! Also check out our 2011 NJ Fall Foliage forum for photos of current conditions and to post a report/photo of your own.

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11/13/11 - New Jersey is past peak but there are trees with color still, mostly from central to southern NJ.

 

11/6/11 - Green Lane Park, Montgomery County, PA. - 50% peak, 50% past/leaf drop. Most of the color was found in the woods on the trails, while areas in the open like along water or the roads were past peak or dropped entirely.

 

New Jersey Turnpike south and southeastern PA along the PA Turnpike still had nice color. The color faded and leaves dropped the further west we traveled along the PA pike.

 

10/30/11 - High color can still be found in central and southern NJ. North is mostly past peak, with some peak areas. Plus, the storm knocked a lot of leaves down early in all areas.

 

10/23/11

Bearfort Ridge: Surprise Lake, State Line Trail/Ernest Walker, AT North into NY - Peak color to just past peak; mostly nice yellows/golds but also some leaf drop/bare trees.

 

Stokes State Forest - It was a mixed bag. Where the Appalachian Trail runs along the ridge (Culvers Gap to Brink Road) between 90 - 100% leaf drop, then the lone, random, just-starting-to-turn tree. At lower elevations like Shay Road, Dimon Road, Stoll Trail, just past peak. Lots of leaf drop but also many leaves still hanging on but not for long. [Report via Gone Hikin']

 

Wildcat Ridge WMA, Four Birds Trail southern section. Leaves at or post peak, lots of leaves down already. [Report via TJ K.]

 

Audubon trails in Sparta near the Ogdensburg line - Foliage was beautiful, but clearly just at or slightly past peak. [report via Ted D.]

 

10/20/11

Poconos, PA - Peak, if not slightly past peak foliage. [report via Jennifer P.]

 

10/16/11

French Creek & Ridley Creek in PA. Not quite peak, but enough contrast to provide some beautiful color. Lots of yellows/golds. [report via Linda F.]

 

Buttermilk Falls and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation: moderate to high color [report via Ted D.]

 

Norvin Green - Hewitt Butler Trail South to Osio Rock Loop. Low to Moderate Color. [report via TJ K.]

 

10/15/11
Jenny Jump State Park - Moderate color with mostly yellow and rust orange, still somewhat muted. Still a lot of green, but also a decent amount of leaf drop. Improving color on routes 287N, RT 206N and 80W on the way to the Gap area.

 

10/10/11
Ramapo Valley County Reservation area. Decent color at around 50% changed.

 

Catskills, NY - Great color, peaking. [both reports via Gone Hikin']

 

10/9/11 -
Mt. Minsi, Delaware Water Gap, PA side. Low to moderate color, with a lot of green still. Rt. 80, and Rt. 206 through Chester low color, a lot of green but also trees with leaf drop. Colors generally muted and not vibrant.

 

Wawayanda State Park - low to moderate color. [via photo from GetOutsideNJ]

 

Sources for tracking fall color in New Jersey and the Northeast
The Weather Channel - New Jersey and the Northeast Coverage Map
Yankee Foliage - Very detailed map of the Northeast including NJ (move map to see)
The Foliage Network - Northeast Reports, updated weekly
U.S Forest Service - Eastern Region Reports
NorthEast Foliage Network - Web cams, links, weather, past seasons
NJ Division of Parks and Forestry - Map showing usual times for change across NJ
Colorful Fall Species Chart - Identify the yellows, reds and oranges of Autumn in NJ.
1-800-VISIT-NJ - Fall Foliage/Events
Pocono Mountains, PA - Foliage maps and reports for the Poconos
Pennsylvania - Weekly Fall Foliage Report
Fall in Pennsylvania - Driving tours and average peak times
New York State Fall Foliage - Foliage report and map for New York State
Connecticut Fall Foliage - Foliage report for Connecticut
Massachusetts Fall Foliage - Foliage timetable and foliage report for Massachusetts
New Hampshire Fall Foliage - Interactive foliage map for New Hampshire
Vermont Fall Foliage - Foliage map and reports for Vermont
Foliage Vermont - Animated foliage predictor and foliage maps show the usual progession of leaf color in Vermont.
Stowe, Vermont Foliage - Foliage report and suggested foliage drives
Maine Fall Foliage - Foliage report and map for Maine
New England Normal Peak Times - Map showing range for normal peak color
Suggested fall foliage blogs/miscellaneous
Exploring New England's fall foliage - Blog about New England Fall Foliage, including a good post on "Finding Peak Fall Foliage in New England", info on festivals, photography, more.
New England Autumn - blog report/photos
Foliage.org - Articles on fall foliage, mostly in the Northeast but other areas also.
Leaf Peepr App - Use the Foliage Map to find current foliage rated by hundreds of other leaf peepers; find and report on fall foliage. Free; for iPhone and Android.
For the rest of United states, check out our Fall Foliage Reports page.

 

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Best Fall Foliage Hikes in New Jersey

Here are just a few suggestions for fall foliage hikes around NJ - there are certainly many more, and anywhere bursting with color will be a lot of fun. For the best results, pick a hike with a view from a summit of surrounding peaks, or a lake/pond to reflect the foliage.

• Delaware Water Gap: Mt. Tammany, Sunfish Pond, Mt. Minsi (PA side)

• Four Birds Trail and the Hawk Watch in Farny State Park

• Pyramid Mountain - Any loop in the park, there are several overlooks

• Hawk Rock Viewpoint in Ramapo Valley County Reservation

• Monument Trail - High Point State Park

Email or tweet us @njhiking to let us know your favorite NJ foliage hikes and we'll post them here.

 

Hiking is wonderful in any season, but nothing compares to walking in crisp autumn air with leaves crunching underfoot, and an explosion of color all around.

 

Leaves will change color starting from Maine and working their way south. Leaves could be past peak in North Jersey and still barely changed in South Jersey... use the info here to get in as much color as you can, it doesn't last long!

 

While there are average times for color change, it really depends on several variables like temperture and rainfall. Trees at higher elevations turn color before ones at lower elevations.

 

2010 NJ Fall Foliage Report Archive

11/14/10 - Harriman State Park, NY. Still some fading color, decent amount of leaf drop. Some color along the Parkway heading north.

 

11/6/10 - Southern New Jersey still has peak color, with about 30% leaf drop. (Turnpike south from 8A down, into Cumberland County - Vineland/Millville)

 

11/5/10 - Apshawa Preserve, West Milford: pops of color but mostly fading, 70% leaf drop. Along the 287 corridor: mostly fading oranges and reds, 60-70% leaf drop.

 

10/31/10 - Cooper Mill/Black River in Chester Twp: brilliant peak color mixed with about 60% leaf drop.

 

10/24/10 - Most of New Jersey is now at peak or almost peak color.

 

10/23/10 - Delaware Water Gap, Mt. Tammany, Sunfish Pond: high to peak color mixed with some leaf drop and green leaves. Rt. 206 corridor through Chester has some nice high to peak color, but also bare trees in areas. Peak color is appearing throughout southern Jersey as well (reported from Cumberland County).

 

10/17/10 - Delaware Water Gap, Mt. Tammany: Mix of moderate to high color change viewing the mountains, but also still some just turning or still green; mainly yellows inside the trails but also some leaf drop due to the wind on Saturday.

 

10/16/10 - Moderate color in central Jersey at Cheesequake State Park, Matawan.

 

10/13/10 - Some low color change spotted in the Apshawa Preserve, West Milford. In southern Jersey, some color pops spotted in the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.

 

10/10/10 - Low to moderate color change at Ramapo Mountain State Forest, and along route 287 from New Brunswick north to the park.

 

In NY, Minnewaska has high color, and should be at peak next weekend.

 

10/08/10 - Cheesequake State Park, Matawan. Some pops of color amid mostly green.