18 Leaf-Peeping Photos That Made People Pull Over: a Lunch-Break Walk Near Boston and a Solo Vermont Trip

Curiosities
10/22/2026
18 Leaf-Peeping Photos That Made People Pull Over: a Lunch-Break Walk Near Boston and a Solo Vermont Trip

Every October I drive six hours to my grandmother’s, and I time it so the last hour runs through the hills at peak color. She never asks how the drive was, only how the trees were, so I have learned to pull over and take a picture. These 18 leaf-peeping photos made other people pull over too.

A Lunch-Break Walk 20 Minutes North of Boston Looked Like This.

This was my walk on my lunch break in MA today, 20 min north of Boston.

From Above, the White Mountains Looked Like the Whole Forest Was on Fire.

New Hampshire · White Mountains · from a drone

Seen from above, the White Mountains of New Hampshire looked like someone had set the whole forest on fire, with one gray road winding through the reds and golds. The view was a year old by the time it was posted, and peak season was still a few weeks away, but its author was already counting down to the colors coming back.

“This view from last year never gets old. The White Mountains were on fire with color, and while peak fall is still a few weeks away, I’m ready for the beauty to return.”

A Japanese Maple in a Backyard Turned This Shade of Red, and Its Owner Says They Know Nothing About Trees.

“I really love the color this Japanese maple in my yard turns in the fall.”

I’m not sure, I don’t know much about trees, just an appreciator.

A Traveler Who Had Lost Their Spark Drove to Vermont Alone, and the Locals Turned the Trip Around.

“A love letter to Vermont and its people”

Dear Vermont,

Lately I had lost my spark so I did a 4 day solo trip to Vermont. Everyone knows how beautiful fall is there, yet I was unprepared to have my jaw hanging for so long. The vibrancy, the show, the warmth of the foliage was nothing I’ve seen before.

The part that really made my trip was meeting the locals. I sat at the bar all shy and alone waiting for my food to come when people broke the ice by talking about the bread and then suggested hikes for me and roads for the best foliage.

I also met some lovely people at the cider mill and made some thru hikers friends. The inn keeper and the waitress from the cafe down the street were nice enough to chat with me.

I feel changed as a person, as I do every time I travel. But something about the people of Vermont makes me want to be a kinder, more patient and social person. Thank you for enduring us tourists, please never change.

Every Fall, One Person Hunts for a “Skittles Tree” With Every Color at Once.

“Post your ‘Skittles Tree’! Every year I look for one with many colors at the same time. This year it was in South Minneapolis.”

One year the best I could find was already on the ground.

From the author:

The last hour of the drive to my grandmother’s has one maple at a bend that turns before everything around it. I have photographed it every October for years. One year I was late and it had already dropped every leaf, so I sent her a picture of the bare branches anyway. She said it looked like it had had a long week.

A First-Time Visitor to Vermont Had Never Seen Pictures Like These and Was “Completely Stunned”.

“Vermont is beautiful!”

I visited last week to peep at the fall foliage, and I was truly mind-blown by its beauty! I never knew what to expect and had never seen pictures like these, so I was completely STUNNED by the beauty. Sharing some pictures we captured! 🍁

On the Way to Dolly Sods, West Virginia, Someone Pulled Over for This View.

“Dolly Sods, West Virginia USA”

I was probably a little late for peak, but the fall colors were still beautiful in WV. I only did 4 miles there today, fantastic weather, quite a lot of people too

I don’t know the area well enough, and my camera didn’t sync GPS for the shot. It was just a view I pulled over for on my way to Dolly.

A Highway Drive Through the Foliage Turned Into a Very Dramatic Narration.

On the highway · peak foliage · October 2022

Driving down a highway between hills of gold and rust, its author tried to say the word “foliage” and stretched it out every single time. It’s so beautiful, the way the leaves... and that thought ended in three little skulls. Fall does that to people.

“The FOLIAGE! Let’s drive by the FOL-LI... It’s so Beautiful the way the Leaves”

On Route 302 in Vermont, Whole Mountainsides Turned at Once This Year.

“Foliage Show on Route 302”

Take a ride on the colorful side.

I knew these colors were better than last year but we’ve only lived here two years.

Get out and enjoy it!

It’s definitely not pockets of color like last year. This year entire mountainsides are just on fire.

From the author:

My grandmother doesn’t accept “pretty” as a report on the trees. She wants to know which color was winning and whether the hills looked done or were still thinking about it. So I have learned to describe a mountainside the way she describes a tomato, by comparing it to something she already knows. Whole hillsides on fire would have satisfied her.

In Albuquerque, Cottonwoods Turn a Bridge Gold for About Two Weeks a Year.

“Over the River and Through the Gold...”

Every year in Albuquerque, NM, our cottonwoods turn a beautiful gold. This bridge is flanked by cottonwoods and every year for about two weeks, we get this magical color.

I luuuuuv the bridge during fall. I avoid Montaño more often than not these days, but during the fall....

A First Trip to the Adirondacks at Peak Foliage Came With a Summit Almost All to Themselves.

“So grateful I got to experience the Adirondack peak foliage.”

First time visiting the Adi’s, got to see peak foliage and hike Indian Head & Rainbow falls. Absolutely in love with Adi’s and plan to return to do more trails/peaks.

The best part is, the pictures don’t do it justice, I have never seen anything like it.

I did the hike early morning on a Tuesday, so I had the summit basically to myself (maybe 2 other groups). It was really nice, I took some pictures, had lunch, enjoyed the view, and when more people showed up I was able to move on.

Someone Walks Past This Tree Almost Every Day, Waiting for It to Turn Orange.

“My favorite tree is starting to show off.”

I walk by this tree almost every day and have been waiting for it to turn this gorgeous orange hue. It’s finally starting! I feel like it gets more beautiful each year.

I wasn’t sure if it was even going to turn much this year since it was an unusually long, hot and dry summer, but it’s starting and I’m excited to see it at full peak soon! There sure is nothing quite as amazing as Autumn.

In Farmington, Maine, Everything Turned at Once, So a Local Sent Up a Drone.

“Farmington Foliage Flight”

I live just outside of downtown Farmington and have been absolutely blown away by the foliage around here! Everything seems to be changing at once instead of staggering out, and boy are the colors brilliant! Finally got a tiny peek of sun this afternoon and put the drone up for a few minutes. I am just in awe of it all!

Road Trippers Stumbled Upon This House on a New Hampshire Lake in 2021 and Still Call It a Dream.

“Fall in New Hampshire”

What a dream it would be to be surrounded by these views every year. We stumbled upon this home back in 2021 on our fall New England road trip. It was beautiful up there!

From the author:

When I finally pull into her driveway, my grandmother asks how the trees are before she asks whether I’m hungry. Then she walks me out back to the oak I planted as a kid, and we stand under it for a while. She is fairly sure her tree beats anything I passed on the highway. I have never once told her she’s wrong.

After More Than a Year Away, Someone Came Home to Michigan Just for the Fall Colors.

“It’s been over a year but I’m home!”

It’s been over a year since I’ve been home to Michigan! When we stepped out of the car two days ago back in Michigan I got so excited about the smells. We went out to Tahquamenon Falls to see some fall colors and the drive there and back from The Soo was gorgeous!

=The rainy misty atmosphere has been what my soul needed!

This Is Not a Famous Scenic Byway. It Is Just a Random Road in Vermont.

Vermont · a back road in the fog · October 2026

This is not a famous scenic byway. It is a narrow, wet road somewhere in Vermont, with red maples leaning in on both sides and fog sitting on the hills behind them. Its author filmed it as if it were nothing special, because in Vermont in October, it apparently isn’t.

“Just a random road in Vermont btw”

Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shot on a Phone With No Edits.

“Friday’s sunrise on the blue ridge parkway”

Photos taken on my [phone] — no edits done

I live near Durham and it’s been wayyyy too long since I’ve been out here.

After 30 Years in Vermont, a Local Says This Is the Best Foliage They Can Remember.

“I’ll bet more pictures were taken in Vermont today than on any other day in history.”

I’ve lived here for 30 years and have traveled the world for 62. This is the best foliage I can remember.

It’s such a local thing. The colors on my hill top are fab. But to have a bluebird day at near peak is wonderful. To not have a windstorm knock everything down the night before is helpful.

To have this on a weekend when people are streaming to Vermont with their cell phones and social media addiction, all helps to make for a photogenic weekend. Several weddings at the local lake and every person has a phone/camera.

The pictures are never as good as what I see. Maybe I am a little color blind.

Someone who has lived in Vermont for 30 years and traveled for 62 called this the best foliage they can remember, and most of these photos make that easy to believe. Next October I’ll pull over a few more times on the way to my grandmother’s. She’ll still ask how the trees were.

Where is the one place you always go to see the fall colors? Tell us in the comments.

Preview photo credit missbloombastic / Reddit

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