Scenic New Hampshire - A portal to all things New Hampshire. - Bursting with Color and Activities in the Monadnock Region

New Hampshire town with colorful foliage and Mt. Monadnock in the background

Photo by Geoffrey Settles with Mount Monadnock in the background

Autumn colors have begun to explode in the Monadnock Region and there’s an abundance of uniquely fall things to do and see during the fall foliage season. Driving down side streets or anywhere in southwestern New Hampshire will be a treat. You don’t need a map or a recommended route because you will find colors everywhere. Early in the season, the most vivid colors are alongside swampy areas. Then the colors burst everywhere. Different varieties of deciduous trees change at different times, prolonging the season, but fall still seems to go by quickly. The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development has an online Fall FoliageTracker, which tracks the color by region.

Things to do in the Monadnock Region

During Columbus Day weekend, October 8-10, the Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour gives you a chance to not only see some vibrant colors along the roads but also to visit artists’ studios where you’ll see some beautiful and colorful creations. Check out the studios that will be open during the Columbus Day weekend and plan your route.

Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole is magnificent at this time of year. You can pick your own apples or stop in their farm store where you’ll find not only fresh apples but other local produce, products, apple pies, and gifts. From the orchard, there are beautiful views of the Connecticut River Valley and Vermont.

Photo by Alyson’s Orchard

The Monadnock Table and Alyson’s Orchard will be sponsoring the second annual Harvest Festival at Alyson’s Orchard. Art, food, drinks, animals, games and more await you on Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Fall Festivals and Events

Milford Pumpkin Festival, October 7, 8, and 9, Town of Milford
Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour, October 8-10, throughout the region
Octoberfest at Stonewall Farm in Keene on Saturday, October 8
Owsley’s Owls at West LA Beer Co. on Route 10 in Swanzey, Saturday, October 8
Scarecrows on the Common in Jaffrey on Saturday, October 8
Monadnock Art Members Exhibition at The Monadnock Center for History & Culture in Peterborough, Saturday, October 8
Apple Hill String Quartet (Monadnock Region Concert Series) at Congregation Ahavas Achim, Keene on Sunday, October 16
Gathering of the Gourds in downtown Keene on Saturday, October 22
Woodworkers’ and Watercolorists’ Show at Whitcomb Hall, Swanzey on Saturday, October 22

Hiking, Walking, and Biking

Mount Monadnock is beautiful any time of the year, but hikers find Monadnock State Park glorious in early fall. For those who don’t want to climb the mountain, there are numerous trails at lower elevations. Information about trails up the mountain and around the Mountain can be found on the Monadnock State Park website.

Fall Foliage with Mt. Monadnock in the background

Mount Monadnock from Route 124 = Photo by Sonja Bolton

In addition to Monadnock State Park, you can find trails at a number of places in the Monadnock Region. Visiting any of these places you’ll feel satisfied that you experienced fall in New Hampshire.

Pisgah State Park (Winchester)
Miller State Park (Peterborough)
Chesterfield Gorge (Chesterfield)
Greenfield State Park (Greenfield)
Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trails (Walpole and Alstead)
Cathedral of the Pines (Rindge)
Rail Trails throughout the Monadnock Region

Covered Bridges

A trip to the Monadnock Region wouldn’t be complete without seeing the covered bridges. Although the covered bridges are beautiful throughout the year, there’s something special about the fall glow. .