Autumn leaves in Europe

The problem with Europe is that over the years forests were managed, some quite intensively, and lost much of their variety.. I suspect you'll have to travel to some of the more remote parts of Europe where the forests have remained pretty much untouched.

ah, I agree. Too bad. I thought of the Black Forest, but that is all homogenous. I don't know about the Vosges or somewhere in the Massif Centrale.

Can anybody tell me about the Odenwald trees, or maybe Thuringia?

Romania has lots of forest land. The bright hues you are referencing in the US mostly come from maple trees (brought over from Asia) which have the beautiful red, brown, ochre, and other hues. Also, aspen trees in places like Colorado have lovely yellow and golden hues at their peak. I would look into availability of certain tree varieties in countries you're interested in. Even in my native Poland the forests were very scenic, but my recollection is from childhood (so it may not be entirely accurate, and I certainly don't remember any vibrant colors of the kind I've seen in New England). I'm fairly sure that Romania would be a good alternative since, aside from just a few large cities (Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, etc), it's largely rural, forested, and hilly/mountainous.

The below website is a tour website I found just by Googling, but you can get some ideas from it about what to expect. It looks really beautiful to me:
http://true-romania.tours/best-fall-colors-romania/

As Agnes says, it's the maple trees, in particular sugar maples. There are a few places in Paris where maple trees have been planted often as gifts from the Canadians and there are some new plantings of Japanese maples that turn an unforgettable scarlet in the fall. But as for New England or Wisconsin color, you're out of luck

The spectacular red fall colors Nigel saw in New England and eastern Canada are from native hardwood trees such as sugar maple, not "maples brought over from Asia". Maybe that is the case around Washington DC, but in New England and Canada they are native forests. Pin oak and sweet gum are other native American trees that produce brilliant reds and purples.

The native European oaks seem to be types that turn yellow rather than red, along with beech and birch trees. And so many of the continental forests are conifers rather than deciduous trees. One conifer, the larch, does turn a lovely gold in autumn; I have seen photos of these golden larches around Oeschinensee. But no red.

How about the gold color Larches in the Italian Alps? We see beautiful Larch trees in the Boreal forests in Canada.

Lola's is right, my apologies. I did not properly distinguish the native sugar maples (such as Vermont's "state tree") vs. Japanese maples and other maple trees I am used to seeing where I live, which do produce beautiful colors not entirely unlike New England. It seems to me that folks where I live (Washington DC area) either discount or don't see aspen trees as as similarly representative of fall foliage as the maple type varieties. This is probably because aspen trees are more common in the western states like Colorado and New Mexico above certain elevations, so perhaps folks here are just not as familiar with them (I grew up in the western states and traveled around there extensively, so I am well acquainted with aspen trees). To me, bright gold/yellow aspens are gorgeous. I equate them with "fall foliage" just as I would with bright red maple trees in Vermont and Maine. I would think that European birch trees produce similarly hued colors as aspens (someone, please correct me if I'm wrong).

I saw decent color around Neuschwanstein in mid-October. Maybe not quite as nice as New England but not bad.

Well, opening up your scope, in case you decide to "include" the South of Europe in your coming escapade...

We've got several natural parks here in Catalonia -which is just over 32,000 km2, about the size of Belgium- and, given its special orography, with 500+ km of coastline but also the Pyrenees to the north, with peaks over +3,000 m high and some deltas from large rivers (ie Ebro, the biggest in the Iberian Peninsula, with over 1,000km and a flow of 600 m3/s), it offers quite different landscapes in a relatively short distance from each other and a large variety of flora and fauna.

Some examples:

• Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park to the northeast of Catalonia, by the Pyrenees
• La Fageda d'en Jordà, in the geographical "middle" of Catalonia
• The Natural Park of the Delta of the Ebre River, in the south, with rice fields and oyster and mussel farms and one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Europe.
• ... or event the flora in the Natural Park of the Montserrat mountain... spectacular not only because of the unique rock formations but also because of its Mediterranean forest, which is lovely in Autumn.

Just some teasers... in case you'd like to explore more.

Enjoy!

Years and years ago, I saw some decent color in Triberg. However, I expect that this year many areas, including New England, will not have such a great season due to the heat and dry conditions. Here in Vermont many of the leaves are browning and dropping. Good luck in finding that perfect location.

Never have seen anything remotely close in Europe, but I have seen some good airfare prices for travel to/from Europe this October so feel free to buy a ticket and fly to New England and you can rake up all the colored leaves you want at my Dad's place over in The Berkshires because I really am not looking forward to it...

I'll even buy you a pumpkin spice latte from Dunkin' Donuts when you are done with the yard work, or you can have one of the Roadsmary's Baby pumpkin ales presently sitting in my fridge so you get the full New England Fall experience. I'm even willing to let that pumpkin ale sit on the counter to warm up a bit, but when on American soil, expect your ale to be cold and just be glad no one will dump a heaping scoop of ice in the mug.

Just go to Japan. Lovely color throughout that entire country, and they go positively crazy for it - you can even find the current "color reports" all over the country online. Leaf-peeping is a major domestic tourist activity. I was there for leaf season a few years back and it was very nice. Steaming hot, sweet saki served after an afternoon out leaf-peeping in the brisk fall air...very nice.

It's true. I was lucky enough to live on the east coast for several years (and outside of Boston for a few), and there is nothing like a New England fall!!

Although Agnes is right, those aspens are also sooo beautiful. My Facebook feed was just showing me some lovely ones and advertising some cabins in Colorado. That sounds heavenly.

On some of the Scotland accounts I follow on Instagram, I have certainly seen some gorgeous autumnal scenes in years past. Looking forward to those again, and would love to be there at that time. some remote glen on a loch . . . sigh . . .

As cbrochu30 comments above , the weather during a preceding spring and summer will have a major impact on the level and vividity of autumn color in New England . I recall a past autumn in Vermont , in and around Woodstock , after a dry summer when the falling leaves were a uniform brown . As well , after one fairly wet summer , Main Street in Old Deerfield , Massachusetts was a riot of yellow , red , and notably Orange . Some photos here https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Deerfield+Massachusetts&FORM=HDRSC2

Thanks all. I'm afraid that Japan is a bit far when if travel to the US is safe I could get to New England in about 3000 miles.

Romania also a bit far, I'm afraid. I may well follow up some of the others. Keep 'em coming.

Nigel,

have you every thought about vineyards. The fall here in La Rioja after the harvest is quite a colorful sight. Of course it is different than a forest, but the low vines allow you to see farther. So from a place like Laguardia or San Vicente de la Sonsierra, which are on the top of hills, the vineyards spread out like various colored squares.

Romania also a bit far, I'm afraid.

I'm not sure I understand. It's a 3-hour non-stop flight from London to Bucharest via Wizz Air or Ryan Air. Obviously you'd need to get out of Bucharest, but Transylvania is not far away. And the prices will be great once you're there.

I have totally given up on trying to "time" the leaf season in New England. Due to some unrealistic expectations based on stock Google images, I made several trips hoping to see perfection - to Vermont and to Maine. I experienced either massive rain, brown leaves, fallen leaves, subdued colors, and always sky high prices (due to everyone coming at the same time for leaf peeping season). The weather has been so wacky in the past few years that all bets are off.

It's a 3-hour non-stop flight from London to Bucharest

Yeah, but then I have to fly.

I prefer to drive or take a train than subject myself to the idiocy of flying - when I have a choice.....

I'm thinking of heading towards Spain some time.

The von Trapps settled in Stowe, Vermont after they fled the Nazis, supposedly because it reminded them of Salzburg. Perhaps that area of Austria has beautiful foliage in the fall (I've never been there)? Or maybe it was just the topography that made the von Trapps feel "at home" and the foliage was a bonus....

I fear cbrochu30 is right about this year's display. It's been crazy warm and dry this summer (85 yesterday, yuck!!), especially up here in northern Vermont. The big sugar maple outside my bedroom window is normally a lovely mix of green and gold-turning-to-orange at this time of year; right now, it's looking faded and singed.

Have you thought about Scandinavia? There's a reason so many Scandinavians, Swedes especially, came to the upper Midwest (MN, WI, MI). They thought the area was much like where they came from - which it is, lots of hardwood forests. I should think Sweden would be lovely in the Autumn.

David, what month is leaf-peeping best in Japan? We are planning for early November next year; I hope that is not too late.

the idiocy of flying

Flying is the safest, most efficient, and perfectly rational mode of transport for very long distances. The fastest high-speed trains in the world don't reach anywhere near 800+ km per hour. Meanwhile, cars are considerably less safe than planes. I realize that security at airports is a pain but, in the grand scheme of things, it's a minor inconvenience compared to the benefits of this mode.

David, what month is leaf-peeping best in Japan? We are planning for early November next year; I hope that is not too late.

Lola - Early November should be quite good. Depends on the weather and other variables, like anywhere else, but probably not too late. The typical pattern, as one could probably guess, is the color starts in the north (Hokkaido) and moves progressively further south with the passing days. Around Kyoto, which is a bit south, early November could be ideal - it's listed as one of their "Top 10" locations for color. On a previous trip we were there (Tofukuji, Kiyomizudera, Eikando and more - all right around Kyoto) and these were great.

Here's the source: japan-guide.com online Autumn Colors Reports. As luck would have it, the first report of the season is due to start today, in a few hours(!) on September 19 in Japan - the reports are updated constantly (one could even say obsessively, like so many things in Japan). The degree to which the color is tracked and the enthusiasm evident is impressive.

Here's what they say:

"Colorful leaves (koyo) are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. The viewing of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries and today draws large numbers of travelers to famous koyo spots both in the mountains and in the cities."

"Each year, starting in mid September, the "koyo front" slowly moves southwards from the northern island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan towards the end of November. Some trees around Tokyo and Kyoto remain colorful into early December."

Track their reports this year for the time/locations you'll be there next year, and hope it remains consistent. Do be aware that leaf watching is a huge driver of domestic tourism, so there will be crowds and things book up earlier than you might expect for Fall season. But the crowds in those areas are all quite manageable and it's a delightful experience - it's all very, very Japanese and a completely authentic experience. You will be charmed. Don't miss the special hot, sweet sake served at leaf watching locations (think lightly-alcoholic, hot apple cider, not bitter/weird/strong moonshine).

Kyoto is a beautiful city with so much to see - and a great location for leaf-watching. Timing could be perfect for you.

Wish I was going!

As a native of 'leafy' Hampshire, I remember some childhood years with colorful autumn displays (although my primary focus at that time was looking for conkers, not leaves!)

I'd recommend the New Forest as worth the trip. Over 200 square miles of protected space with beeches up to 400 years old, oaks up to 800 years old and yews which are even older, showing some large-scale colorful displays:
https://www.thenewforest.co.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/ideas/autumn
http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/news/new-forest-autumn-colour-rivals-canadian-fall/

Good pubs too!

I'm looking at a photo (courtesy of Google Chromecast) of Acadia
National Park in leaf season, and remembering how the leaves were
around Ottawa and in New England and realising that I have never seen
similar displays here in Europe.

Have you ever traveled to Acadia? Acadia National Park and Mt Desert Island in Maine are simply the BEST in autumn because of the foliage especially the red leaves from the maples. Some day if you haven't been to midcoast and Downeast Maine in the autumn, you might want to consider. :-)

Just come to Nova Scotia - fly direct to Halifax from London, less than 6 hrs. Head to Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail (all over NS, really) - and - your GBP will go so far here - currently sitting at approx 1.70 to our dollar.

Some day if you haven't been to midcoast and Downeast Maine in the autumn, you might want to consider. :-)

Does that mean I have to get my Bert and I record out again and practice the accent so I can be understood?

Nova Scotia sounds good too.... nice and north, too.

Odenwald - Nigel, in my days of rushing around I saw a bit of the Odenwald above the Neckar, east of Heidelberg. From what I remember, the foliage is mixed to a slightly greater extent than in the Black Forest but still heavily in favour of coniferous trees. You might find pockets of colour here and there, with scattered apple orchards (mainly on the Hessen side). Heidelberg itself has a good portion of deciduous trees on it's hills, always worth a visit for me if close by.

Does that mean I have to get my Bert and I record out again and
practice the accent so I can be understood?

I don't know who "Bert and I" are so I can't say. You'll have no issue being understood by Mainers. :-)

Come on - we aren't that far north! ;) England is further north than NS.

We are halfway between the equator and the North Pole - on the same latitude as Provence and Piedmont!

For Bert and I have a search on YouTube. Such classics as Bert and I, Which Way to Millinocket, and several others.

Good fun.

I'll test out some of these ideas in the next several days.

Around the East Midlands here in England the trees are well along in their colouring.

We are in the middle of New Hampshire this week and the leaves are just stunning. The “chowda” isn’t bad either.

Nigel, we anxiously await your 'autumn leaves' trip report. And thanks for reminding me that in North America we do have some outstanding sites I should take more advantage of. I live in CA and when my mom was still living she used to send me a box of leaves each autumn to remind me that Iowa could be beautiful.