As you’re probably aware, it’s almost “leaf peepers” season. Soon, traffic will teem with out-of-state license plates, and tourists will beset small-town Main Streets in search of the best views of fall foliage as well as the best maple syrup and other quaint New England-y souvenirs. With the Catskill Mountains practically in our backyard it would be criminal not to take advantage of some local seasonal festivities in order to admire the autumnal spectacle. 

But if you’re looking to get away, why not visit somewhere off the beaten path to take in the fall foliage this year? You can avoid the crowds that invade places like Woodstock, NY this time of year and head to destinations that will offer a quieter experience. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 

The Quiet Corner, Connecticut

Northeastern Connecticut has a historic region known as the Quiet Corner. (It must be pretty quiet, indeed, because I grew up in the state and I’d never heard this particular nickname.) While no official definition exists, the term is loosely associated with the rural and semi-rural historic towns that make up the area, several of which retain echoes of their time as mill-town villages. With large swaths of scenic farmland, rivers and lakes, woodlands, and state forests, the Quiet Corner has become popular with savvy tourists for its traditional New England scenery and culture.

Towns like Pomfret, Woodstock, and Putnam offer scenic drives and quaint population centers, and many small towns host seasonal festivals from September through October that are great fun to visit. If you can’t make it for a festival weekend, be sure to visit one of the several orchards in the area, like Lapsley Orchards, which offers wagon rides, 24 varieties of apples to pick, and on weekends, freshly made apple cider doughnuts.

Quiet Corner is also home to a slew of bewitching outdoor options to explore, like having a riverfront picnic at Natchaug State Forest, or taking a stroll through the Airline State Park Trail. (Don’t let the name put you off – the term “airline” refers to the imaginary line between New York and Boston that would represent the shortest possible path through the air. Perhaps a better name would’ve been “As The Crow Flies State Park,” but no one asked us.)

Rangeley Lakes, Maine

While Acadia and the Maine coastline get most of the leaf-peeping attention, the Rangeley Lakes area near the border of New Hampshire offers its own stunning vistas of mountains and lakes surrounded by dense, colorful forests. Rangeley Lake State Park is a beautiful place to hike, picnic, and camp, and is known as a top-notch fly-fishing destination. Or another option is to drive the 52-mile Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway that winds its way through Mount Blue State Park and offers opportunities to explore over 40,000 acres of conserved public access lands. 

If you visit Rangeley Lakes, you absolutely must make it a point to visit Height of Land. This spot provides one of the most stunning overlooks in all of New England, especially during the peak of fall foliage. Located off the Byway, Height of Land overlooks Mooselookmeguntic and Richardson Lakes and a magnificent view of the White Mountains.

Once you work up an appetite from being outdoors, Rangeley Lakes is home to some adorable eateries. The Dining Room at historic Loon Lodge Inn gives all the rustic, cottage-core vibes you could ever want while serving locally-sourced food, or you could pop into Parkside & Main Restaurant, which is located right in the heart of the downtown area. 

Owl’s Head Lookout, New York

Located in the Central Adirondacks in Sargent Pond Wild Forest, Owl’s Head Lookout is a hidden gem. The hike to the top (which is well worth the effort!) is relatively beginner-friendly, although avid hikers warn that the last stretch up to the summit is a bit challenging. Once there, though, the 360-degree view is breath-taking, encompassing Long Lake, the High Peaks, Whitney Park, and Blue Mountain.

If you’re outdoorsy, this is really the leaf-peeping adventure to beat. You can stay in Long Lake, which has lodging and dining experiences geared toward avid Adirondack aficionados, and spend a weekend immersed in some of New England’s most gorgeous scenery. Another spot worth visiting is the Adirondack Experience, a museum just up the road on Blue Mountain Lake with fantastic exhibits and naturalist-led nature walks around the region every afternoon. (Just be aware that the museum closes for the season on October 14th.)

While you’re there, don’t miss Hoss’s Country Corner, an iconic local store that has everything from locally-made cheese, Adirondack crafts and maple syrup to sporting goods, all presented in a kitschy atmosphere that can’t be replicated. 

Mohawk Trail, Massachusetts

The Mohawk Trail is considered one of the most beautiful drives in Massachusetts. Tracing Route 2 from Athol, Massachusetts all the way to the border with New York in Williamstown, this mountainous, winding drive follows much of the original Native American trade route that connected Atlantic tribes with tribes in Upstate New York and beyond. It passes through Mohawk Trail State Forest, home to 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, gorges, and all the fall foliage a peeper could hope for. 

To get the best of the Mohawk Trail’s leaf-viewing possibilities, you can avoid the crowds by visiting towns in the less-traveled sections, especially around Savoy Mountain State Forest and the nearby villages of Charlemont and Rowe. Charlemont is notably the home of the Berkshire East Ski Resort, which offers a scenic chair lift (perfect for those foliage photos), canopy tours conducted on a zipline, and the Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster. 

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