8 places to see fall foliage in Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy stunning views. From the Berkshires to the coast, the state’s fall foliage dazzles and attracts tourists from all over. Here are some of Massachusetts’s best spots for leaf peeping, according to the state’s Office of Travel and Tourism.
A red barn at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park.
Blackstone Valley
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge is operated in conjunction with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and extends from Worcester to Providence, Rhode Island—meaning you have an entire state-to-state path of foliage to explore.
The Skyline Trail at Blue Hills.
Blue Hills Reservation
This 6,000-acre state park feels like a fall foliage retreat, but without requiring too far a drive outside the city. The reservation covers parts of Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham, and is known for its hiking trails.
Battle Road Trail in Minute Man National Historical Park.
Battle Road at Minute Man National Park
You can give yourself a history lesson while frolicking through the fall foliage along the Battle Road Trail. This five-mile path connects historic sites from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to Lexington, with the main theme of the trail being the Battle of April 19, 1775, which launched the American Revolution.
Lowell Cemetery.
The Lowell Cemetery
Though a cemetery may not be the first place that comes to mind for leaf peeping, Lowell Cemetery (77 Knapp Ave., Lowell) is a beautiful Victorian garden cemetery showered with reds and yellows during the fall. It’s also a great site for history buffs because it’s the final resting place for many prominent local figures and Civil War heroes.
Foliage at Mass Audubon.
Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
This picturesque Natick park is a haven for not only bird lovers, but foliage finders. You can get closer to its wildlife along Indian Brook and the Charles River by exploring one of the sanctuary’s many hiking trails.
Maudslay Park in Newburyport.
Maudslay State Park
This 480-acre horticultural and agricultural estate in Newburyport is filled with fruit trees, a formal vegetable and cutting garden, a 500-foot perennial border, an Italian garden, and a rose garden that is surrounded by colorful autumn trees.
Fall colors can be seen on a tree in the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Sheepfold meadow, Bellevue Pond, Wright’s Tower, Virginia Wood, Lawrence Woods, Spot Pond, and more than 100 miles of trails make this 2,200-acre state park a perfect place to admire fall foliage. The “Fells” spans across Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester.
Mount Greylock State Reservation.
Mount Greylock State Reservation
Though the reservation’s Veterans War Memorial tower on the summit is closed for renovations through 2017, the Lanesborough park is still a great place to appreciate the surrounding golden-kissed Berkshire landscape, with views spanning as far as 90 miles. The reservation is home to the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet.
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