CT Fall foliage guide 2021

A “dazzling foliar display” is expected to grace Connecticut as trees across the state change colors ahead of the fall season.

The state released its yearly fall foliage map, detailing when residents will best be able to see peak foliage in their region.

Peak foliage is expected to begin in the northern corners of the state in early October. From there, peak foliage is expected to travel down the state through the month of October until it reaches the southwest corner of Connecticut on Nov. 7.

For leaf peepers, the area that will hold colors the longest will be the Connecticut River Valley, which is expected to hold its vibrant colors until the first week of November.

Significant rainfall in the area is attributed to one of the reasons why the leaves are holding their colors more prominently this year.

“Last year was a bad drought year and this year we’ve had quite a bit of rainfall that plays a role in the foliage display,” said Will Healey, Media Relations Manager at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in a previous i nterview.

Here’s a guide to leaf peeping in Connecticut this fall:

Northwest/Northeast Corners

Peak foliage: Through Oct. 8 Places to view foliage: Connecticut River loop,

Connecticut barn trail, Route 202, Shenipsit State Forest

Inns to stay at: Inn at Woodstock Hill (Woodstock), Simsbury 1820 House (Simsbury)

Trails to hike: Bear Mountain Trail (Salisbury), Pine Knob via Appalachian Trail Loop (Sharon)

Apple orchards to pick at: Lapsley Orchards (Pomfret Center), Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm (Sharon)

Nearby pumpkin patches: Bunnel Farm (Litchfield), Lapsley Orchards (Pomfret Center), Freund’s Farm Market (East Canaan)

Lower Litchfield County, Mid-Connecticut, Greater Danbury

Peak foliage: Oct. 9-23

Places to view foliage: Connecticut River loop, Connecticut barn trail, Route 202, Shenipsit State Forest

Inns to stay at: Mayflower Inn (Washington), The Hopkins Inn (Warren),

Trails to hike: Macedonia Brook Loop (Kent), Ragged Mountain Blue and Red Blazed Loop (New Britain)

Apple orchards to pick at: March Farms (Bethlehem), Averill Farm (Washington Depot), Belltown Hill Orchards (South Glastonbury), BlueJay Orchards (Bethel)

Nearby pumpkin patches: Bunnel Farm (Litchfield), Lapsley Orchards (Pomfret Center), Freund’s Farm Market (East Canaan)

Shoreline, lower Connecticut River Valley, southern CT

Peak foliage: Oct. 24-30

Places to view foliage: Connecticut shoreline, Route 34, Umpawaug Road in Redding, Sleeping Giant State Park

Inns to stay at: Old Lyme Inn (Old Lyme), The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina (Niantic), Stonecroft Country Inn (Ledyard)

Trails to hike: Wadsworth Falls Trail (Middletown), Chauncey Peak Trail (Meriden), Sleeping Giant Tower Trail (Hamden)

Nearby pumpkin patches: Bishop’s Orchards (Guilford), Lyman Orchards (Middlefield)

Lower Fairfield County

Peak foliage: Oct. 31 - Nov. 14

Places to view foliage: Merritt Parkway, Tilley Pond Park, Devil’s Den Preserve, downtown Ridgefield

Inns to stay at: Roger Sherman Inn (New Canaan), Homestead Inn (Greenwich), Stanton House Inn (Greenwich)

Trails to hike: Saugatuck Trail (Weston), Lake Mohegan Loop (Fairfield) , Norwalk River Valley Trail

Nearby pumpkin patches: Silverman’s Farm (Easton), Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard (Shelton)

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo A woman walks along a sidewalk strewn with colorful foliage on William Street in Greenwich, on Nov. 11, 2020.

Hearst Connecticut Media filephoto The autumn foliage throughout the Greater New Milford area is always striking. Above, the colors of autumn contrast with the white of the horse along Sabbaday Lane in Washington in October 2020.

Lidia Ryan / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Hopkins Inn in Warren on Oct. 15, 2016.