Massachusetts Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Oct 7 – Oct 15
Centered on Oct 11 at reference elevation.
moderate confidence in typical timing.
The Berkshires lead Boston and the Cape by about two weeks.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
In a typical season, Massachusetts peaks around Oct. 11, within the Oct. 7–15 window. High ground near 3,500 feet typically peaks around Oct. 2, while valleys near 520 feet peak around Oct. 12. The Berkshires typically lead Boston and the Cape by about two weeks.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- oak
- birch
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 11Typical color progression for Massachusetts. No change from Sep 3 to Sep 20. First color from Sep 20 to Sep 29. Approaching peak from Sep 29 to Oct 7. Peak from Oct 7 to Oct 15. Past peak from Oct 15 to Oct 25. Bare from Oct 25 to Nov 8.
Massachusetts is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
Massachusetts by county
9 days from Berkshire County to Nantucket County.
Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method
A county is still an average. Hampshire County spans 5 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | Bare | 32 ft | 1 days |
| Berkshire County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 1,611 ft | 3 days |
| Bristol County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 68 ft | 0 days |
| Dukes County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | Bare | 25 ft | 1 days |
| Essex County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | Bare | 86 ft | 0 days |
| Franklin County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 790 ft | 3 days |
| Hampden County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 904 ft | 4 days |
| Hampshire County | Oct 8 – Oct 16 | Bare | 712 ft | 5 days |
| Middlesex County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | Bare | 223 ft | 1 days |
| Nantucket County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | Bare | 9 ft | 0 days |
| Norfolk County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | Bare | 212 ft | 0 days |
| Plymouth County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 72 ft | 0 days |
| Suffolk County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | Bare | 30 ft | 0 days |
| Worcester County | Oct 8 – Oct 16 | Bare | 691 ft | 2 days |
Peak by elevation
10 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 3,500 ft | Oct 2 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 900 ft | Oct 11 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 520 ft | Oct 12 | Bare |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Plan the light
Massachusetts on October 11, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:31 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 6:59 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light | 7:37 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:38 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset | 5:39 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 261° | 6:17 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:45 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 17m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Where to shoot in Massachusetts
4 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Mount Greylock Summit Bare
Berkshires · 3,493 ft · peaks Oct 1
The Veterans War Memorial Tower stands on open summit lawn with the Taconics and the Hopper cirque dropping away on all sides. Color here runs about a week ahead of the valley floor, so a single trip can cover both stages.
- Hairpin Turn Overlook Bare
Mohawk Trail · 1,686 ft · peaks Oct 7
The wall at the turn looks southwest down the Hoosic Valley to Mount Greylock, with the North Adams mill roofs on the valley floor. Late afternoon light rakes the ridge and separates the maple from the dark conifer.
- Enfield Lookout Bare
Quabbin Reservoir · 800 ft · peaks Oct 11
The platform sits roughly 280 feet above the reservoir and faces northwest across open water toward the wooded hills of the drowned Swift River valley. Red maple on the near shoreline turns first and reads hard against the blue water.
- South Sugarloaf Summit Bare
Pioneer Valley · 646 ft · peaks Oct 12
The observation deck looks straight down the Connecticut River where it bends past Sunderland, with farm fields and oxbows filling the valley floor. Fog sits on the river for an hour after sunrise and leaves the far ridges layered behind it.
Recent reports from Massachusetts
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts typically peaks Oct 7 – Oct 15, centered on Oct 11. The Berkshires lead Boston and the Cape by about two weeks. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Massachusetts?
- Yes, by about 10 days. High ground around 3,500 ft peaks near Oct 2, while valleys near 520 ft wait until Oct 12. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Massachusetts?
- The guide includes 4 researched locations in Massachusetts, including Mount Greylock Summit, Hairpin Turn Overlook, Enfield Lookout. Mount Greylock Summit turns first, around Oct 1, and South Sugarloaf Summit is last, around Oct 12. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Massachusetts?
- Mainly sugar maple, red maple, oak, birch. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.