New Jersey's fall foliage show is entering its final act, and where you stand in the state determines whether you're catching the finale or just the credits. As of Friday, 20 of New Jersey's 21 counties had already slipped past peak color, with just one county still holding at its peak and none left still building toward it, according to More Than Just Parks. Still, that doesn't mean the leaves are done — central and southern New Jersey are holding onto vibrant color just in time for Halloween weekend.
The pattern tracks with how fall color typically moves across the Garden State. New Jersey foliage generally progresses from the high-elevation northwest down toward the southeast, according to nj.com, which also reports that the New Jersey Forest Service posts an updated foliage map every Friday. That means the north got there first and is now fading, while the south is only just catching up to its moment in the spotlight.
Where the Color Still Holds
By October 29, central New Jersey was generally sitting at peak, while southern parts of the state ranged from near peak to peak, according to njHiking.com. The northernmost corner of the state, meanwhile, had already moved past peak but still retained some color, the same source notes. Cape May County was expected to be the last in the state to reach peak, arriving around October 29, per More Than Just Parks.
Not every corner of New Jersey follows the same script. The oak-dominated Pine Barrens spanning Burlington, Ocean and Atlantic counties were expected to turn later and with more muted color than the rest of the state, the nj.com report notes. Earlier in October, the site had tracked Sussex and Passaic counties nearing peak first, with Bergen, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris and Warren counties following at the mid-point while the rest of the state showed only early change. Anyone chasing color in the northwest can still find it at High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest and Swartswood State Park in Sussex County, per the same nj.com report.
Why the Leaves Are Lingering
The extended color season has a weather explanation. A run of warm days, cool nights and little wind — following stormy conditions earlier in October — has helped stretch out the display a bit longer than usual, according to njHiking.com. New Jersey's average peak fall-color window typically runs from October 19 through 29, the site notes, meaning this year's color is arriving right on schedule even as it varies sharply by region. Peak color tends to last only about four days in any single spot, though about a week on either side still offers a worthwhile viewing window, per More Than Just Parks. Pennsylvania was just past peak on October 30.
A Mid-October Forecast Looked Dry and Mild
A mid-October forecast called for mild, dry weekend weather. Saturday, October 17, was expected to be sunny but breezy, with highs in the 50s and winds easing later in the day, according to nj.com. A separate nj.com forecast for Saturday, October 17, called for cooler, drier conditions following a warmer and breezier Friday, October 16, with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and highs ranging from the upper 50s to mid-60s. Sunday, October 18, was forecast to be calmer still, with lighter winds, mostly clear skies and highs in the upper 50s, per nj.com.
Hikers hoping to time a weekend outing with the fading colors should find cooperative conditions. This weekend should be nice yet again, with dry conditions and good hiking temps, according to njHiking.com. New Jersey's stretch of rain-free weather was expected to continue through the weekend, with the next chance of widespread rain not arriving until toward the end of the following week, per the nj.com forecast.
Don't Forget the Clocks
One more housekeeping note for the weekend: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, when clocks fall back by one hour, according to mycentraljersey.com. Combined with the dry forecast and lingering color in central and southern counties, it adds up to a weekend made for getting outside before the trees finish their show for the year.
