Fall in New England was and is probably one of the biggest inspirations for my Nature and travel Photography. .Having had the opportunity to live in that beautiful region with its 4 full seasons and witnessed the progress of fall colours on the trees in my twenties, I have been drawn back to this wonderful gem of nature to explore and photograph as my photographic ability and my equipment has gotten better over the years. I feel there is always something more I could do to capture the magnificent fall colours in even more vivid detail..

For those who are not familiar, New England is a region composed of six states in the northeastern United States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

The physical geography of New England is diverse for such a small area. Southeastern New England is covered by a narrow coastal plain, while the western and northern regions are dominated by the rolling hills and worn-down peaks of the northern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The Atlantic fall line lies close to the coast, which enabled numerous cities to take advantage of water power along the many rivers, such as the Connecticut River, which bisects the region from north to south.

The entire region and even the surrounding regions in the USA and Canada have opportunities for “Leaf Peeping” as fall colour viewing is popularly called by New Englanders.

But it is widely accepted that the most popular scenic drives are the following

1. The Mohawk Trail, Massachusetts

2. The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

3. Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont

4. The Acadia Loop Road

And some other alternative drives are Route 58 from Lake Willoughby to Hazen’s Notch, Evans Notch (Route 113), The Camden Hills Loop, Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway (Route 20) Loops.

In this part 1 of the series of posts I will focus on The Mohawk Trail.

How to Get There

Boston, Massachusetts is the largest and most well connected city in the New England Region. Boston Logan Airport is well connected by Major International Airlines.

Alternately you could fly to New York or New Jersey and take the AMTRAK into.Boston South Station.

Getting Around

The best way to travel around in New England to view and photograph the fall colours is to drive.

Where to Stay

The Kancamagus Highway and the Mohawk Trail can be driven as day trips from Boston but for a truly immersive and thorough experience I suggest staying in one of the several bed and breakfast options along the highway and trail. I will include some links to stay in the region below.

New England Time

The Mohawk Trail

Directions From Boston:

Western route to the middle of The Mohawk Trail 

From Boston via Springfield, Massachusetts I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) to I-91 North, I-91 North to Exit 26 in Greenfield, Massachusetts and Route 2 (The Mohawk Trail) East or West. 

Western route to the western section of The Mohawk Trail

I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) to Exit 2, North on US 20/7 to Route 2, The Mohawk Trail 

Northern route to the eastern section of The Mohawk Trail 

From Boston. I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) to Exit 11A I-495 North, I-495 North to Exit 40, Route 2 (The Mohawk Trail) West. 

Standout Places along the Mohawk Trail

Shelburne Falls - Glacial Potholes and The Bridge of Flowers

Once a prime Salmon fishing spot for native Americans, the village gradually emerged more than a century ago as a manufacturing community. The village experienced a resurgence during the 80s and 90s, and unlike many similar communities, evolved and continues to be a vital downtown with a growing reputation as an arts community.

The village resisted the "urban renewal" trend of the 1950s and 1960s, which has left our generation with an historic, turn-of-the-century setting for a unique mix of locally owned businesses.

It's a village where you can buy either a head of iceberg lettuce or a hand-blown glass vase!

Shelburne Falls is home to the famous Bridge of Flowers, which attracts more than thirty five thousand visitors a year, as well as the Glacial Potholes, a curiously beautiful rock formation. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum celebrates the village's transportation heritage.

Most everything in the village is within walking distance, so if you're planning to spend some time in the village,and we hope you do, we encourage you to park in one of the free public parking lots off Bridge Street.

Williamstown and Williams College

Williamstown is a lovely historic town that's well worth a visit. There are quite a few tasteful 18th, 19th and early 20th century buildings, on and off campus.The best way to explore Williamstown is on foot. It is a true college town, having hosted Williams College since 1793.

Established in 1793 with funds bequeathed by Colonel Ephraim Williams, the college is private, residential, and liberal arts, with graduate programs in the history of art and in development economics. The undergraduate enrolment is approximately 2,000 students.

The Berkshires

A popular vacation destination, it's known for outdoor activities, fall foliage–viewing, a farm-to-table food scene and thriving arts institutions. Renowned annual festivals include the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s residency at Lenox’s Tanglewood Music Center.

Check out the link below for suggested Berkshires Driving Tours

Berkshire Driving Tours Resource.

Pelham and Amherst

Pelham is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,321 at the 2010 census. Its ZIP Code is shared with Amherst.

Although not actually on the Mohawk Trail this is a worthwhile deviation as the road to Pelham and Amherst are also brimming with fall photo ops.

The Town of Amherst, located in the lovely Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is a diverse, inclusive community offering numerous educational and cultural opportunities. Host to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst is a quaint college town.

More Photography Destination Ideas..