NJ Fall Foliage
New Jersey Fall Foliage Reports, maps and resources to help plan fall foliage hikes and scenic drives.
Check out the New Jersey and the Northeast Foliage Resources below, our recommendations for the Best Fall Foliage Hikes in New Jersey, plus our Fall Foliage Report Archive. Also check out the book Best Easy Day Hikes New Jersey for a nice selection of easy day hikes.
*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 usually change color starting from Maine and working their way south. The foliage could be past peak in North Jersey and still barely changed in South Jersey… use the info here to get in as much color as you can, it doesn’t last long!
Share your report! Post a report/photo of your own:
- Visit our NJ Fall Foliage 2015 forum
- Post on the NJ Hiking Facebook page
- Tweet @njhiking or email updates to us
For foliage reports for the rest of United States, check out our U.S Fall Foliage Reports page.
11/8/15
Thompson Park / Monmouth County – Nice color still on the trees but significant leaf drop as well. While there is still lingering color in central and south Jersey, NJ has passed peak and the color won’t last much longer than this week.
11/6/15
This weekend and into next week…
Peak color can still be found throughout central and southern New Jersey, but expect a decent amount of leaf drop as areas are moving past peak.
11/3/15
Cheesequake S.P. / Middlesex County – still plenty of color, but moving past peak with lots of leaf drop.
Unseasonably warm 70 degree weather this week is a bonus opportunity to grab color throughout central and southern NJ. North NJ has pretty much moved past peak.
10/31/15
Baldpate Mountain and Mercer County in general – Peak color; with some trees having dropped their leaves.
Look for peak conditions throughout central Jersey this week.
10/30/15
This weekend and into next week…
Look for high to peak color across central, south, and northeast (along Hudson River) – suggestions: Sourlands, Washington Crossing, Cheesequake, Palisades, Parvin.
The northern third of the state is still experiencing peak color, but the northwest corner (High Point, Stokes, DWG and the nearby areas into PA/NY) is moving past peak.
Just outside of NJ… Peak color still found Harriman/Bear Mtn/Sterling SF, and the Hudson Valley NY area. High color found in southeastern PA (area southwest of Philly and east of the NJ border).
10/26/15
Norvin Green S.F. – Wyanokie High Point and Carris Hill: Peak color
10/24/15
Ringwood S.P. – Skylands Manor – Ilgenstein Rock/Erskine Lookout: Peak color, with leaf drop happening
10/23/15
Great fall color for the next couple of weeks – go out and grab it!
This weekend and into next week…
Peak color found in the northwest corner of the state (High Point, Stokes, DWG) and the nearby areas into PA/NY, with some areas in the very NW experiencing leaf drop and past peak color. The rest of the northern third of the state is moderate to high while central/south New Jersey is showing moderate color, 50-60%.
Just outside of NJ… Peak color should be found Harriman/Bear Mtn/Sterling SF, the Hudson Valley NY area, and in north-central PA (Poconos/along the northwest border of NJ).
10/19/15
Northwestern corner of the state is at peak, with some areas moving past peak with leaf drop. High color spreading across northern NJ, with moderate for the rest of the state.
–Stairway to Heaven – Pochuck Valley to Pinwheel Vista: High color
–Stokes S.F. – Tillman Ravine: Peak color, decent amounts of leaf drop in some areas
–Del. Water Gap – Van Campens Glen: High to peak color
From central Jersey north into Sussex and Warren counties:
-Rt 287 New Brunswick – Rt 80: moderate 30-40%, still some green
-Rt 80W from 287 – Moderate 40-50%, rusts with green still
-Rt 15 to Rt 206 through Sussex County: Moderate to high
-Rt 23 to Rt 94 through Sussex County: Moderate to high
10/16/15
This weekend and into next week… High color found in the northwest corner of the state (High Point, Stokes) and the nearby areas into PA/NY. The rest of New Jersey is moderate color, 30-40%, with pops of high color near water.
Just outside of NJ… high to peak color should be found in Sterling SF and Harriman/Bear Mtn, Hudson Valley NY area, and in north-central PA (Poconos/along the northwest border of NJ).
Further out… Peak color in Catskills/Adirondacks in NY, central PA.
10/12/15
From central Jersey north into New York:
-GSP from ~Exit 130 to NY Border – Low, 30%
-New York Thruway to Rt 17 thru Tuxedo – Moderate, 30%-50%
-Harriman State Park – Lemon Squeezer from Elk Pen – Moderate, with some high color around Island Pond and low, wet areas.
10/10/15
From central Jersey south into Cumberland County:
-Turnpike Exit 9 – Exit 3: Low, 20-30%
-Rt. 55 – Deptford thru Millville: Low, 20-30%
-Maurice River Bluffs – Low, but pops of moderate to high color at water’s edge
10/9/15
This weekend and into next week…
Weather changes this week have kicked all of NJ into at least low color, with the northwestern corner of the state showing moderate with some high color. Best options… High Point, Stokes, or anything either side of the Delaware River down to where Rt 80 heads into PA (like Mt. Tammany or Mt. Minsi).
Just outside of NJ… moderate to high color should be found in Hudson Valley NY area or in north-central PA (Poconos/along the northwest border of NJ). Sterling SF, and Harriman/Bear Mtn are also possibilities. Further out… High to peak color found in Catskills/Adirondacks in NY.
10/5/15
Sunrise Mountain – Stokes S.F. [Sussex County]
Still low color in the northwest corner of the state, and low to no change elsewhere. Decent amount of leaf drop at Stokes – the winds this weekend didn’t help. Foliage is running a little behind this year, after a warmer than normal September.
Rt. 287 corridor north from New Brunswick – barely any color.
Rt. 206 corridor thru Chester – low color, mostly yellows.
Rt. 206 corridor thru Andover – low color with pockets of moderate. Mostly yellows but some pops of reds.
10/2/15
This weekend and into next week…
Color is getting a slow start this season, but should be picking up with the cooler temps. Most of New Jersey is unchanged to low color. Best chance for color is likely some low color in northwest NJ (Such as High Point, Stokes SF, along the Kittatinny Mtns).
Further out, the Catskills/Adirondacks in NY has more color, and north-east and north-central PA (along the northwest border of NJ) has a range of 20-40% color.
9/12/15
Bear Mountain S.P. – New York – West Mountain, The Timp, Bald Mountain
Some early foliage here and there, some leaf drop.
9/5/15
Stonetown Circular Trail – Norvin Green/Long Pond Ironworks SP [Passaic County]
A little early foliage, likely from trees stressed by lack of rain.