In between summer swimming and winter skiing, tourists descend on New Hampshire for a dose of fall foliage — from the crisp air of the White Mountains to the salt spray of the eastern seaboard. It’s a season usually associated with hikers and car-bound “leaf peepers,” but the chilled temperatures and colorful vistas of New Hampshire in autumn are a runner’s fantasy. This is our guide to the best fall foliage runs in New Hampshire.
No matter where you travel in New Hampshire, we’ve got a run for you! These runs are enjoyable anytime of the year, but this list is specially curated to include scenic routes for optimal foliage viewing. So lace up, hit the pavement or the trails, and prepare to be wowed by a peek at New Hampshire in it’s fall-finest.
New Hampshire is a small state, but long, so temperature, elevation, and peak foliage can vary dramatically from the seaside towns to the hilly villages, to the mountainsides. Though it depends on weather conditions, New Hampshire foliage generally peaks from late September to mid-October, and expires sooner the further north you travel. See our interactive map below.
Interactive New England Peak Foliage Map
Feeling Competitive? Find a local 5K or try one of these fall races:
Smuttynose Rockfest, Hampton hamptonrockfest.com
Applefest Half Marathon, Hollis applefesthalfmarathon.com
New Hampshire Marathon, Bristol nhmarathon.com
Bretton Woods Fell Race, Bretton Woods acidoticracing.com/bretton-woods-fell-race
