New Jersey’s fall foliage forecast is in: Here’s when leaves will hit peak color
Fall color is expected to begin appearing in North Jersey in early October before progressing through central and southern parts of the state later in the month.
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The leaves are getting ready to put on a show in New Jersey. The state has released its annual fall foliage prediction map for 2026.
New Jersey’s annual display of red, orange and gold is just weeks away, with the color parade expected to begin in the northern part of the state early next month.
According to the map posted by New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites, leaf-peepers can start their fall foliage tours in Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties in early to mid-October. The state said peak foliage is expected first at higher elevations before spreading to other parts of the Garden State.
In the following weeks, the map predicts autumn colors will spread to central and eastern New Jersey, including Burlington, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
The color is expected to extend southward to Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties in mid- to late October.
“Low-lying, wet areas of High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest have already started to see a change, with some vibrant fall colors beginning to appear,” New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites said.
The state plans to post updated maps every Friday, along with on-the-ground fall foliage reports from across New Jersey.
