Great Bay Refugefall foliage
No reports yet this season for Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Right now in Great Bay Refuge · September
- Fall archery hunt for deer and turkey · Sep–Nov
13days to the next fall foliage seasonOct 11–20, Marsh color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Next 7 days
- Rain likely · up to 88% chanceThis Afternoon, Tonight
National Weather Service forecast, issued Mon 9:38 AM (Eastern). Frost: a low of 36°F or less; wind: 20 mph or more; rain: 60% chance or more.
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge through the year
- Youth turkey hunt weekend (generally late April)Apr
- Fall archery hunt for deer and turkeyNowSep–Nov
- Wintering bald eagles (New Hampshire's largest concentration)Dec–Feb
Best spots around Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Karner Blue Butterfly Trail0.87-mile refuge trail
- Peverely Pond Trail0.45-mile refuge trail
- William Furber Ferry Way Trail1.46-mile refuge trail
Around New Hampshire this week
- White Mountain National Forest64 mi · Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 7Todayrain likelyTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Waterville Valley69 mi · Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 7Todayrain likelyTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Pinkham Notch84 mi · Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 7Todayrain likelyTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
Trees this fall (Sep 15–21). Across New England, red maple is ahead of a typical year; the rest are close to typical. Which trees turn when →
How we know
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay NWR, Visit Us (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay NWR, Trails (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay NWR, Hunting (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)
Questions people ask
When is peak fall foliage in Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge in 2026?
Marsh color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Oct 11–20. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
How is the fall color in Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: the fall foliage season is over for this year. The next one starts in about 13 days (Oct 11–20, Marsh color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
Is this a tree-foliage stop?
Not mainly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service features Great Bay for the fall change in its marsh, which it gives as mid-October, a reminder to look down as well as up.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How do I get in?
Come in from the traffic circle off NH-16 (Woodbury Ave. exit) or from Arboretum Drive. GPS sometimes routes drivers to a gate on Nimble Hill Road that never opens, and there's no access from the west side of the bay.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay NWR, Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What kind of place is it?
More than 1,000 acres on the east shore of Great Bay, one of its longest undeveloped stretches: mud flats, salt and freshwater marshes, ponds, woods and fields.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Karner Blue Butterfly Trail: 0.87-mile refuge trail; Peverely Pond Trail: 0.45-mile refuge trail; William Furber Ferry Way Trail: 1.46-mile refuge trail.
Are there closures or permits to know about in Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
Youth turkey hunt weekend (generally late April) (Apr); Fall archery hunt for deer and turkey (Sep–Nov).
What is Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Wintering bald eagles (New Hampshire's largest concentration) (Dec–Feb), Youth turkey hunt weekend (generally late April) (Apr) and Fall archery hunt for deer and turkey (Sep–Nov).