Golden Hour - New England, USA
Golden hour forecast for New England. Track peak foliage in golden light at covered bridges, church steeples.
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
This forecast identifies when peak fall foliage will align with golden hour light—the holy grail of New England autumn photography. We track sun angle, foliage peak timing, and clear sky conditions to predict when warm light will set the autumn landscape ablaze.
New England's fall foliage is legendary, but adding golden hour light transforms good foliage into extraordinary imagery. The region's iconic elements—white church steeples, covered bridges, maple-lined rural roads—become transcendent when bathed in warm dawn or dusk light during peak color.
What makes New England golden hour exceptional:
- Peak foliage window - Two-week window typically early-to-mid October when color peaks with still-leafy trees
- Church steeples - White New England churches surrounded by red and gold foliage in warm light are bucket-list shots
- Covered bridges - Historic wooden bridges framed by flaming foliage at sunrise or sunset
- Rural roads - Maple canopy roads create natural tunnels of red and gold enhanced by low-angle light
Best photography occurs during the brief peak foliage window, which moves from north to south. Northern Vermont and New Hampshire peak late September to early October, while southern New England peaks mid-to-late October. Classic locations include Stowe, the Kancamagus Highway, and the Berkshires.
Location status
0 of 10 locations currently active
Bar Harbor
InactiveGateway to Acadia National Park with Thunder Hole wave drama and Bass Harbor Head lighthouse
Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
3 opportunities in next 10 days
North Conway
InactiveWhite Mountains hub with Kancamagus Highway fall foliage and valley fog photography
North Conway, New Hampshire, United States
Right now: Visibility too low (757.0, ≥ 1000.0m)
2 opportunities in next 10 days
Stowe
InactiveVermont village with white church steeple framed by Mount Mansfield and peak foliage
Stowe, Vermont, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
Cape Cod
InactiveAtlantic peninsula with Race Point lighthouse, Highland Light, and coastal storm photography
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
2 opportunities in next 10 days
Kennebunkport
InactiveSouthern Maine coast with rocky shores, harbors, and maritime village character
Kennebunkport, Maine, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
3 opportunities in next 10 days
Franconia
InactiveWhite Mountains notch with covered bridges, waterfalls, and mountain mist conditions
Franconia, New Hampshire, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
Bretton Woods
InactiveMount Washington Hotel with Presidential Range alpenglow and autumn mountain landscapes
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
Burlington
InactiveLake Champlain sunsets with Adirondack mountain backdrop and fall color reflections
Burlington, Vermont, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
Killington
InactiveGreen Mountains region with ski resort views and peak fall foliage at elevation
Killington, Vermont, United States
Right now: Visibility too low (948.0, ≥ 1000.0m)
1 opportunity in next 10 days
Bennington
InactiveSouthern Vermont covered bridges, historic villages, and Taconic Range mountain photography
Bennington, Vermont, United States
Right now: Golden Hour: Outside time window
1 opportunity in next 10 days
What's blocking opportunities
72-hour view of conditions preventing matches across 10 locations
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