New Jersey Fall Foliage reports and maps to help plan fall foliage hikes and scenic drives.
Ready to enjoy fall in New Jersey? Check out the New Jersey and the Northeast Foliage Report below.
For our fall hike recommendations see Best Fall Foliage Hikes in New Jersey as well as the Best Viewpoint Hikes in New Jersey and the Top 10 Hikes in New Jersey.
Try our interactive Hike Finder map – now with a 🍁foliage map overlay🍁 during the season in order to choose hikes with the best chance of fall color, updated weekly in season.
Need even more hike ideas? Go for an Easy Hike, check out the Best Waterfall Hikes, or select a hike by region: North / Central / South.
Also check out the books Best Day Hikes in New Jersey and Hiking New Jersey (2023) for a nice selection of day hikes.
Peak Foliage in NJ for 2026
*Average New Jersey peak fall color is October 19 through 29*
While there are average times for color change, it really depends on several variables like temperature and rainfall.
Trees at higher elevations turn color before ones at lower elevations. Leaves change first along water so head to areas with lakes, ponds, or rivers.
Leaves usually change color starting from Maine and higher elevations of New England and then work their way south.
New Jersey fall foliage generally starts in the northwest corner at High Point and in the Highlands region in north central, progresses to the central part of the state, and finally to the south and the coastal regions.
This means that leaves could be past peak in North Jersey but still barely changed in South Jersey.
Use the info here to get in as much color as you can, it doesn’t last long!
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** 2026 Foliage Reports **
Latest Foliage + Hike Finder Map is below the foliage report. Check out our new list of the Best Viewpoint Hikes in New Jersey.
October 20, 2026…
This week starts prime fall foliage season for New Jersey. Of note, color overall is more brilliant this year than last – get out there and enjoy!
Northwest / north should enter peak this week and weekend. All of the major hiking destinations in this region will have varying degrees of color – with the most concentrated northwest. Save northeast (Palisades…) for a bit later.
Central and south NJ has moderate color now, with high/near peak color closer to the weekend. We estimate those areas will be peaking more toward Halloween.
This past weekend we did a quick road trip to get in two locations we felt would have great color. Lucked out with perfect conditions and got to see how the color is progressing across northern NJ and parts of NY just over the border.
10/19/26 – Sam’s Point Preserve – Ice Caves, Verkeerder Falls, High Point, Cragsmoor NY
Stunning peak color, with the huckleberry bushes glowing a fiery red and hillsides awash in color, and Verkeerder Kill Falls was flowing.
Conditions here should be excellent for the next week – but note that weekends require parking reservations which is likely full for this coming one; try to hit it on a weekday if you can. Worthwhile road trip from Jersey, about 2.5 hrs from central NJ.
On the drive back, color through Harriman/Bear Mountain is very nice but still at the moderate level.
10/18/26 – Terrace Pond Lollipop, Sussex County, NJ
Bright, near peak to peak color around the pond and on the trail. This region – Terrace Pond, Wawayanda, Bearfort Ridge, Monksville Res, Ringwood – should have great color this week and through next weekend.
🍁The current foliage overlay is now on our interactive Hike & Foliage Finder Map – use it to choose hikes with the best chance of fall color. Zoom out for popular east coast foliage road trip locations plus major parks throughout the U.S.
Map data 10/19/26.
October 16, 2026…
This is the weekend that fall color starts to ramp up in New Jersey. Expect the most color change across the northwestern region, with next weekend bringing even more color as it moves down and across the state.
Crisp fall temps on Sat. and Sun. should kick the color change into the next gear. No rain in the forecast either so get some hikes in, treat your eyeballs to fall color… and grab some cider donuts!
| Potentials for fall color right now, in and around New Jersey (we make no guarantees!) |
| NEW JERSEY |
| High Point S.P.: Monument Loop / via Steenykill / Appalachian + Monument Trail / Iris Loop |
| Stokes S.F. (Stony Brook Falls / Stony Lake Loop / Sunrise Mountain / Culver Fire Tower) |
| Wawayanda: Lake Loop / Furnace Loop / Cedar Swamp and Lake Lookout |
| Bearfort Ridge / Surprise Lake / Terrace Pond / Ringwood S.P. |
| Long Pond S.P.: Monks Trail Loop / Horse Pond Mountain to Lake Sonoma Loop / Monksville Reservoir Kayak |
| Norvin Green North: Lake Sonoma, Overlook Rock, Manaticut Point |
| Norvin Green South: Wyanokie High Point / Torne Mtn – Osio Rock |
| Ramapo Mountains: Grand Castle Loop / Van Slyke Castle / Ramapo Valley County Res. |
| Wildcat Ridge – Hawk Watch Loop |
| Swartswood State Park / Kittatinny Valley State Park / Cranberry Lake Kayak |
| Paulinskill Valley Trail: Upper and Lower and Great Valley Loop |
| Crater Lake and Hemlock Pond Loop / Crater Lake to Blue Mountain |
| Raccoon Ridge / Catfish Fire Tower / Van Campens Glen |
| Hacklebarney / Schooleys Mtn / Black River / Columbia Trail |
| FURTHER OUT |
| NY – Catskills region: PEAK |
| NY – Gunks region: NEAR PEAK to PEAK – Labyrinth and the Lemon Squeeze / Bonticou Crag / Gertrude’s Nose / Sam’s Point |
| NY – Harriman / Bear Mtn: NEAR PEAK / Lemon Squeezer / Pine Meadows Loop |
| PA – Northern and Central Poconos: PEAK; with some of North moving past – Promised Land State Park / Tobyhanna State Park |
| PA – Southern Poconos: NEAR PEAK – Lehigh Gorge Trail / Pinnacle and the Pulpit |
| PA – DWG region at NJ Border: NEAR PEAK – Cliff Park / Raymondskill Falls / George Childs Park |
| Even further out…NORTH |
| NY – Adirondacks region: PEAK lower elevations / PAST PEAK in higher elevations |
| ME – Southern coast and Acadia NP: PEAK, North, Central: PAST PEAK |
| VT – PEAK, with some areas just PAST, but past peak areas still have a lot of color on the trees. |
| NH – White Mountains: PEAK; Northernmost: PEAK with some higher moving past; The rest of the state ranges MODERATE TO NEAR PEAK |
| Even further out…SOUTH |
| VA – Western region has the most color; season is patchy and uneven overall |
| MD – Westernmost end: PEAK |
🍁HELP US OUT by taking a brief 4-question Fall Foliage Survey – Letting us know what features you use will help us improve njHiking.com’s fall foliage coverage – thank you!
October 12, 2026…
Moderate color has spread across the northwest part of the state, with the most color north of RT 80. This weekend we encountered some nice bright color mixed in with the green, unchanged leaves – along with perfect fall weather.
Latest Foliage + Hike Finder Map is below the foliage report. Check out our new list of the Best Viewpoint Hikes in New Jersey.
10/10/26 Kittatinny State Park – Lake Aeroflex Kayak
Moderate color around the edge of the lake, with low to moderate color in the surrounding forest. Hardly any wind today let the foliage reflect onto glassy water and we spotted a bald eagle and a bunch of cormorants.
10/10/26 Kittatinny State Park – Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad Trail
We did a short bike ride before hopping in our kayaks. This section is co-joined with part of KVSP’s Andover trail and offers multiple views of Lake Aeroflex on a flat, pleasant packed dirt trail.
October 9, 2026…
Moderate color is spreading across the northwest corner of the state, right on schedule. Nothing is at peak yet but next weekend those areas should be near peak and starting to see peak color there.
Forecast this weekend should be good Saturday and maybe not so much on Sunday afternoon – get out and enjoy!
And be sure to check out our list of the Best Viewpoint Hikes in New Jersey for lots of vantage points to peep some fall color. Foliage + Hike Finder Map is below the suggested hikes chart.
| Potentials for fall color right now, in and around New Jersey (we make no guarantees!) |
| NEW JERSEY & NEARBY NY/PA |
| High Point S.P.: Monument Loop / via Steenykill / Appalachian + Monument Trail / Iris Loop |
| Stokes S.F. (Stony Brook Falls / Stony Lake Loop / Sunrise Mountain / Culver Fire Tower) |
| Wawayanda: Lake Loop / Furnace Loop / Cedar Swamp and Lake Lookout |
| Bearfort Ridge / Surprise Lake / Terrace Pond |
| Swartswood State Park / Kittatinny Valley State Park / Cranberry Lake Kayak |
| Paulinskill Valley Trail: Upper and Lower and Great Valley Loop |
| FURTHER OUT |
| NY – Adirondacks region: PEAK / PEAK; Catskills region: NEAR PEAK to PEAK with MODERATE at lower elevations. NY – Gunks region ranges MODERATE to NEAR Peak: Labyrinth and the Lemon Squeeze, Bonticou Crag, Gertrude’s Nose, Sam’s Point (blueberry bushes are fiery reds). |
| PA – Northern and Central Poconos: PEAK. |
| Even further out…north |
| ME – PEAK: Mid-Maine. PAST PEAK: North |
| VT – PEAK. |
| NH – Northern: PEAK with some higher moving past. White Mountains: NEAR PEAK |
| Even further out…south |
| Overall low color with moderate at higher elevations. |
| MD: NEAR to PEAK: Westernmost end. |
October 2, 2026…
Low color across the northwest part of New Jersey as the season just starts to ramp up, so no particular areas to recommend for hikes this weekend. Weather should be good so be sure to get out and enjoy!
Further out, the New England region is seeing vibrant color after a muted 2025 – hopefully we will see that as well.
And we just published a list of the Best Viewpoint Hikes in New Jersey – it’s full of great vantage points to peep some fall color.
| NEW JERSEY & NEARBY NY/PA |
| LOW color found across northwest New Jersey. |
| FURTHER OUT |
| NY – Adirondacks region: NEAR PEAK / PEAK; Catskills region: MODERATE. |
| PA – Northern Poconos: NEAR PEAK. |
| Even further out…north |
| Overall, vibrant color with strong reds – but still a lot of green early in season. |
| ME – North and West: NEAR PEAK / PEAK. |
| VT – North: PEAK; Green Mountains region: NEAR PEAK. |
| NH – Northern region: NEAR PEAK / PEAK. |
| Even further out…south |
| Overall low color and a slow start to the season. |
September 28, 2026…
Low color is spreading across the northwest corner of New Jersey as the season starts getting underway. As usual, look to High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest showed some of the first signs of color.
The heavy rain and wind from the nor’easter this past weekend was certainly not welcome, but it’s unclear how much effect, if any, it will have on this season.
Prior reports are moved to the New Jersey Foliage Report Archive. This also contains njHiking.com reports from 2010 to date. See how the color usually progresses through various hiking areas in New Jersey.
About the NJ Hiking Fall Foliage Report
Since 2010, njHiking.com has been providing New Jersey with suggested foliage locations and hikes, updated weekly in season.
The report is created by reviewing multiple state and regional reports, incorporating map data from The Foliage Report and Explore Fall, combined with our own observations on hikes and drives each week.
The result lets Jersey and metro area residents quickly find the best color locally as well as plan east coast road trips.
General info about fall foliage in New Jersey
The best fall foliage displays start with healthy green trees. Then September needs warm sunny days and cold but not freezing nights.
If it remains too warm it can delay the change and dull the colors. A cloudy fall also can mute the colors.
Rainfall is also a big factor. Too much before the season is bad for color, while drought conditions can bring on an early change and leaf drop.
Overall it can be very hard to predict the quality of fall foliage every year because it’s a delicate balance between many variables.