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Williamstown, Massachusetts fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Williamstown area peaks around October 15, with the best viewing from roughly October 14 to October 22.
- Typical peak
- October 15
- Best viewing
- Oct 14 – Oct 22
- Color starts
- Around Oct 3
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 28
- Elevation
- 600 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 15. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Williamstown on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Williamstown
Williamstown sits in a valley at the northwest corner of Massachusetts, with the Taconic Range to the west and Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet, to the southeast. From the summit of Greylock, reached by road or trail, the view takes in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Taconics, and on clear days the Catskills and Adirondacks. In North Adams, just east of town, Natural Bridge State Park has a natural white marble arch over Hudson Brook, which runs through a narrow gorge below.
Scenic drive
The Mohawk Trail (Route 2) begins in Williamstown and heads east through North Adams, then climbs the Hoosac Range through the famous Hairpin Turn, with a view back over the valley to Mount Greylock and the Green Mountains. It continues over Whitcomb Summit, the highest point on the road at about 2,170 feet, and then follows the Deerfield River valley east toward Shelburne Falls. Opened in 1914, it was one of the first roads in the country built for scenic touring.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher or farther north
Killington, VT (66 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 10 days earlier, and Montpelier, VT (112 miles away, farther north) typically peaks about 7 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Head farther south
Hartford, CT (71 miles away, farther south) typically peaks about 8 days later, and Bear Mountain, NY (105 miles away, farther south) typically peaks about 8 days later.
Scenic drive guide
Nearby destinations
- Bennington, VTTypical peak Oct 14, about the same time. 11 miles away.
- Shelburne Falls, MATypical peak Oct 17, about the same time. 25 miles away.
- Lenox, MATypical peak Oct 14, about the same time. 25 miles away.
- Albany, NYTypical peak Oct 17, 2 days later. 28 miles away.
- Manchester, VTTypical peak Oct 12, 3 days earlier. 32 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Williamstown?
In a typical year, fall color in the Williamstown area peaks around October 15, with the best viewing from roughly October 14 to October 22. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Williamstown?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 3, and most leaves are down by about October 28.
Is Williamstown early or late compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Williamstown typically peaks about 5 days earlier than the Massachusetts average of Oct 20. It ranks 2 of 9 Massachusetts destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Williamstown?
The main fall color in this area comes from sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, and American beech. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.