CONWAY — Ready for Mother Nature’s annual fall spectacular explosion of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows? Although Granite Staters have been enjoying a summerlike stretch so far this month, fall officially arrived with the autumn equinox Sunday at 8:43 a.m. And right on cue, it looks like fall colors will be popping early this year.
White Mountains Attractions, based in Woodstock near Lincoln, operates a foliage tracking website at visitwhitemountains.com . And on Wednesday, Charyl Reardon, president of White Mountains Attractions, noted the foliage change has already started on that side of the Kancamagus Highway.
“We have received reports that the leaves are changing rapidly the further north you go. Our neighbors closer to the Canadian border are seeing the foliage change to muted variations of red, yellow and orange, especially at higher elevations and near the water. Attractions such as the Mount Washington Cog Railway are seeing color pops of red mixed in with the green,” Reardon reported.
She added that National Scenic Byway Route 112 (the Kancamagus Highway, always one of the prime foliage routes every fall season), which crosses from Conway to Lincoln, has seen some birch trees starting to turn yellow, but so far the most color is closer to the top of the Kanc. Meanwhile, the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce’s website also has detailed information about the fall foliage season, and notes that the White Mountains have “landed in the top five” f.