Ah Autumn, my favorite time of year!

Whenever that initial cool breeze hints at the ushering in of the season, a sense of thrill washes over me. There’s something so encouraging about this change after the warm summer has successfully worn me through.

               While I had experienced some Autumn goodness in the past, this was the first year that I made it my objective to chase the Fall Foliage as it made its way to peak color. I never really understood why so many people were appropriately coined “Leaf Peepers”. For those of you unfamiliar with this phrase, leaf peepers are simply individuals that travel to specific destinations, especially destinations in New England, to witness fall foliage. From rich yellow ochres, to striking crimsons, moody plums to vibrant oranges, New England puts on an entire fashion show of vegetation.  

               As part of New England, New Hampshire has always been a cornerstone for a proper leaf-peeping experience. And although there are many familiar with the renowned White Mountains, Southern New Hampshire covets hidden gems of autumnal paradise.

This year, I decided to seek out the best Autumn views in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire accompanied by my partner Chelsea and Ranger the pup. The Monadnock region is located in the Southwest corner of the state. Home to Monadnock Mountain, the region also brings an array of parks, forests, lakes and viewpoints to the table. Over the course of four days, we sought out as many of these outdoor scenes as we could.

We made our way into New Hampshire via campervan. This first day, October 3rd, we took it easy and mostly scouted different locations, assessing the progress of the foliage. We discovered several charming towns such as Hancock and after driving around a bit, we decided to check out Spofford lake in Chesterfield before the sun went down. The scenic, humble lake had a public beach by the name of Wares Grove Beach. The beach area is a lovely spot to relax or picnic for an afternoon. We decided to set up here for the evening and get rest before our first full day of exploring the region!

In the morning, a low fog covered the lake. A moody sunrise quickly shifted to a blue afternoon and we were off, lake-hopping through until evening. We visited some ponds and lakes around the Stoddard area.

When we finally arrived at Franklin Pierce Lake at Manahan Park, we settled in and had a snack while sitting at a lakeside picnic table. This spot was one of our favorites on this road trip. The lake was utterly still. The streaky clouds were flawlessly mirrored on the level surface of the lake. We admired the picturesque homes across the way and walked along the beach as the sun set. This area is the perfect spot to enjoy with your dog, friends or family. I can only image how lovely it must be in the summer with the soft, sandy beach and the swimming platforms just waiting for some diving and sun-tanning enjoyment. We stayed close to this lake for the night, knowing that we were going to want to see it again come sunrise.

Hiking has easily become the favorite pass time of our pup, Ranger. It’s nice to know that your furry friend has the same passion for the outdoors as yourself and that you can enjoy some physical challenge as a team.

  Our first official hike in the Monadnock region goes to Pitcher Mountain Trail. On the sunny afternoon of October 5th, we embarked on this short, easy trail that leads up to a fire tower look-out. This trail is just over half a mile so it can be enjoyed by all and is the perfect thing if you’re short on time or just want to upgrade your pup’s daily walk.

At the summit, there are 360-degree views

of the colorful valleys and you can even climb the fire tower for a better vantage point!

Next, we decided to check out the Madame Sherri State Forest. This forest has plenty of stunning trails to walk and the infamous Madame Sherri ruins. Remnants of a castle, these ruins are all that is left of the 1920’s party destination hosted by Madame Antionette Sherri herself! This location has an interesting and complex history marred by neglect and fire after the passing of Madame Sherri up until 1976 when it was formerly placed into protection so that we can visit and wonder at the fantastical ruins of another time.

The stair ruins looked so OTHERWORLDLY

we had to revisit in the morning. Our hope was that we would get moody fog in the morning surrounding the enchanting ruins and we couldn’t be happier that our patience paid off! The scene looked like it was pulled directly out of a fairy tale and placed before our very eyes. It was the perfect ending to our adventure throughout the Monadnock region.

So, we came, we saw (or rather we peeped) and absolutely loved our autumnal experience in New Hampshire. The more fall foliage I saw, the more I came to appreciate the phenomenon so dear to the New England area. Of course, the changing of seasons exists all over the world.

But to me, no place does Autumn quite the same as New Hampshire.

As much as I loved photographing the colors, it’s something else entirely to witness them in person. I am already looking forward to returning for further exploration next season.