Mount Willard

Crawford Notch, New Hampshire · 2,846 ft

Bare <20% Typical peak was 32 days ago

Typical peak

Sep 26 – Oct 4

low confidence in typical timing.

Best light

Best at sunrise

Classic view faces SSE (159°)

The summit ledges end at a drop straight into the U-shaped floor of Crawford Notch, with US Route 302 and the Saco River threading south between the walls. Both sides of the notch face the camera at once, so the shot holds up in flat light as well as at dawn.

Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated Nov 1, 2026.

Crowds

high

Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.

Coordinates

44.2040, -71.4131

Open in Maps

Getting there

Start behind the Crawford Depot on US Route 302 at the top of Crawford Notch and hike 1.6 miles up the Mount Willard Trail, gaining about 900 feet.

What turns here

yellow birch
sugar maple
paper birch

Color progression

Typical peak Sep 30

typical peak

Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 9.

This season so far

Reported peak

None yet

Seen peak color here? Add a report.

First frost

Oct 6

13 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.

Last 14 days

51°F / 30°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

Mount Willard on September 30, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Mount Willard on September 30, 2026
Event	Time
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	6:13 AM
Sunrise Rises E · 93°	6:42 AM
Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light	7:20 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light	12:35 PM
Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset	5:50 PM
Sunset Sets W · 267°	6:29 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	6:58 PM

Times in America/New York · day length 11h 47m · 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.