PEAK PERFECTION

GREAT NORTH WOODS, NH EARLY PEAK (LATE SEP. TO EARLY OCT.)

Set in the far northern reaches of New Hampshire, this is a region of twisting two-lane roads, with the promise of moose around every bend. The towns are small and inviting, from Lancaster, then north to Colebrook, and beyond to Pittsburg. Here, hikers set off along the 170 miles of the Cohos Trail, and ATV enthusiasts explore over 1,000 miles of backcountry trails. n scenic route: Drive slowly with open windows north from Colebrook to Pittsburg on Route 145, a National Scenic Byway, and soak in views of water, mountains, forest, and possibly moose. n photo op: At Beaver Brook Falls in Colebrook, water tumbles 80 feet over rocks, while ever-greens and hardwoods lush with color frame every shot. n refueling stop: The Rainbow Grille & Tavern at Tall Timber Lodge in Pittsburg shows that sporting camps that thrive after 70-plus years know how to please hungry anglers and foliage day-trippers.

Coos County, NH Peacham, VT

Though filled with clapboard villages and rugged mountain beauty, the tricounty northeastern corner of Vermont is no mere drive-though postcard. It rewards those visitors who stop and bide a while—whether it’s to spend a day mountain biking on East Burke’s famed Kingdom Trails, or an evening camping at Brighton State Park’s Spectacle Pond, a sheltered gem that fully lives up to its name in autumn. n scenic route: Cruise by bike or car from Brighton to Westmore via Route 105 and Hinton Hill Road, where Lake Willoughby, Vermont’s deepest lake, appears as a blue ribbon from the high open fields. n photo op: Snap a selfie with the stately double row of maples on Darling Hill Road in Lyndonville. n refueling stop: Pay a visit to Greensboro’s world-famous beer mecca, Hill Farmstead Brewery, then grab a pizza at the Parker Pie Co. in West Glover. Camden, ME

The call of the coast is impossible to resist in autumn—especially along the stretch of Route 1 that hugs Penobscot Bay, linking the destination towns of Rockland, Rockport, and Camden with Belfast and Searsport to the north, now emptied of summer throngs. Kick back at a seafood shack and claim some of the best lobster of the year, and watch the season’s last day-sails and windjammer cruises swanning around against a backdrop of fiery leaves. n scenic route: Climb Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park and—with Penobscot Bay spread out below—you will have achieved the literal pinnacle of Midcoast leaf peeping. n photo op: Hike out onto Rockland’s nearlymile-long breakwater for an uninterrupted view of the harbor and coastline, including the crown of Owls Head Light. n refueling stop: The Red Barn Baking Co. in Camden excels at oven-fresh breads, pastries, cookies, and, of course, whoopie pies—perfect for enjoying on a bench by the harbor.

Set amid the undulating swath of woods and farmland along the Connecticut River, this isn’t the place for languid walks and sleepy B&Bs. Thanks to the five famed local colleges—Mount Holyoke, Smith, Hampshire, Amherst, and UMass Amherst—the region’s stunning foliage and panorama-laden hikes come with a side of indie music, film screenings, book readings, and, to keep it all humming, artisanal coffee.

Take a drive on New Hampshire’s top foliage highway on Weekends with Yankee season five.

Providence, RI

n scenic route: Hit the Norwottuck Rail Trail, which offers bikers and walkers a nine-mile canopy of color from Northampton to Amherst. n photo op: Drive or climb Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield, where the observation tower affords sweeping views of the Happy Valley and beyond. n refueling stop: Gourmet picnic nibbles— washed-rind cheeses, pâtés, crispy baguettes—can be had at Provisions in Northampton.

PROVIDENCE, RI LATE PEAK (MID- TO LATE OCT.)

A haven for leaf peepers looking to ditch their car, Providence offers walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods dotted with dining and shopping stops. Fall foliage reaches its crescendo in College Hill, where colonial homes and grand mansions line Benefit Street near the cast-iron filigree gates of Brown University. Downtown, colors run amok as street art and large-scale murals by artists from around the world vie for attention with the changing leaves. n scenic route: You can’t beat the East Side’s Blackstone

Despite the stiff competition that Vermont and New Hampshire villages put up every year for bragging rights to the best foliage town in New England—and, by extension, the world—a recent Yankee ranking placed the pinnacle of leaf peeping in the northwestern Connecticut town of Kent. Of course, that starts with great foliage: The profusion of crimson and gold that leaps off the Litchfield Hills to reflect in the winding course of the Housatonic River is at times nothing short of breathtaking. But the heart of the New England leaf-peeping experience lies in the details: the farm stands and covered bridges, the waterfalls and antiques stores that provide the eye candy, framed by the colors of our most glorious season. All of these things Kent has in abundance, in a perfect blend of uncommon natural beauty and culture that might shame cities 10 times its size (just shy of 3,000 people at last count).

Boulevard, a 1.6-mile path bordered by two roads and crowded with mature trees that put on a show. n photo op: Join the granite statue of city founder Roger Williams in surveying the entire city from the height of Prospect Terrace Park. n refueling stop: For upscale fall flavor, head to New Rivers, a tony College Hill bistro that spotlights produce and meat from area farms.

LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY, CT LATE PEAK (MID- TO LATE OCT.)

Here, New England’s mightiest river gets a shot of saltwater from Long Island Sound, creating an estuarine environment that sees a flurry of wildlife activity in the fall. Book a river cruise and enjoy nature’s show, from ocean-bound baby shad leaping in silver streaks to a bald eagle soaring overhead, or take a kayaking ecotour into the Great Island Salt Marsh, where you can immerse yourself in an autumn splendor that feels as if it could go on forever. n scenic route: From Old Saybrook, take Route 154 north to Route 148 east straight to the Connecticut River: The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, in service since 1769, is there to catch you. n photo op: Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam offers a lofty view of the Connecticut River and the fall colors that shimmer in its waters. n refueling stop: Refueling Stop: Call ahead, and Simon’s Marketplace in Chester will have your custom gourmet picnic (try house-roasted beef on a fresh-baked baguette) ready to tote on a boat or car ride.