New England’s forests explode into a riot of colour (or color, if you prefer) as the days grow shorter. For leaf peepers there’s no better time to take to the road and enjoy the rich reds, abundant oranges and yellows of the canopy.

Here are five road trip routes to enjoy the best of this stunning season.

Squam Lake, New Hampshire

Film fans will recognise Squam Lake from the Henry Fond and Katherine Hepburn On Golden Pond where the ageing protagonists spend one last summer. It’s in the fall when the lake really comes alive though, reflecting the fantastic hues of the surrounding foliage in its calm waters. US Route 3 will take you to Holderness at the western tip of the lake, and then you can follow the wending 113 east via Sandwich to Tamworth. Make a pit stop for a tipple at Tamworth Distilling or take in a show at the 1931 Barnstormers Theater at this charming town at the base of the White Mountains.

Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Just 25 miles north you’ll find Glen and beyond that the entry to the Mount Washington Auto Road, one of the highest in the entire United States. It’s a relatively short seven miles to the top of the road, but you’ll climb to more than 4,600 feet along the way, ascending through the vibrant colours to beyond the tree line in a serious of switchbacks.

Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

Between the ski towns of Conway and Lincoln lies US 112, the Kancamagus Highway. Known by the locals as “The Kanc” it’s a steep climb to a peak of 2,500 feet through lush forest in a kaleidoscope of colours.

Green Mountains, Vermont

Moving to Vermont the college town of Middlebury is your starting point for a wonderful winding drive across the Green Mountains, which, at this time of year will be more orange and red than green. As US 125 zig-zags its way through the forest Rochester it’s worth taking a small detour to picturesque Texas Falls.

Litchfield Hills, Connecticut

Head south on US 44 from Salisbury and on to the 112 and as you pass through the dense forest and assorted smart little villages you’d never guess that the area is something of a Hollywood hideaway: Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman and Kevin Bacon have homes nearby. If the leisurely pace of leaf peeping has you yearning for speed then stop by Lime Rock Park to watch some racing or take to the track yourself, before joining US 7 south to the town of Cornwall and a final photo stop on its covered bridge that dates to 1841.