Lake Willoughby North Beach
Northeast Kingdom, Vermont · 1,169 ft
Typical peak
Sep 30 – Oct 8
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces SSE (159°)
From the north beach the lake runs four miles south into the gap between Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor, whose cliffs drop straight into the water. Hardwoods on both walls turn while the spruce above them stays dark, so the ridges read as bands.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Park at the public beach where VT Route 5A meets VT Route 16 at the north end of the lake in Westmore and walk about 100 feet to the shore.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- yellow birch
- paper birch
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 4Typical color progression for Lake Willoughby North Beach. No change from Aug 27 to Sep 13. First color from Sep 13 to Sep 22. Approaching peak from Sep 22 to Sep 30. Peak from Sep 30 to Oct 8. Past peak from Oct 8 to Oct 18. Bare from Oct 18 to Nov 1.
Lake Willoughby North Beach is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 7
10 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
53°F / 31°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Lake Willoughby North Beach on October 4, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:20 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 95° | 6:49 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:28 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:37 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:45 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 265° | 6:24 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:53 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 35m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Both ends of the day: side-lit
Side light. Best for texture and depth across a ridge, and the safest bet for contrast.
Classic composition faces SSE (159°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.