3 places you can go to see peak fall foliage this weekend in New England

It's October in New England, meaning apple picking , Patriots games and of course, the vibrant autumn foliage colors that the region is known for.

However, according to Yankee Magazine's foliage expert Jim Salge, dry weather over the past few months will cause this foliage season to be shorter and duller than others, with many places across New England already seeing brown leaves. While some areas still have bright autumn colors, they will also turn brown in the next couple of weeks.

Want to see the best of New England's fall foliage before the leaves die? Here are three regions worth taking a trip to this weekend.

The Southern White Mountains

Salge suggested that the southern portion of New Hampshire's White Mountains should reach peak this weekend. Pinkham Notch and Crawford Notch was hitting peak last weekend, so he recommended sticking to the southern peaks.

"There's a chance for some snow on the high peaks," he said, so if you keep to the southern peaks people may get lucky and get some photos with snow on the northern peaks while being immersed in fall colors. "Snow and leaves always popular for people to see with the dramatic colors in the front and snow in the back."

The White Mountains region has many scenic roads perfect for a peaceful drive-by. Try driving on the Kancamagus Highway , recognized as a National Scenic Byway by the United States Department of Transportation.

Lakes Region in Maine

Maine's Lakes Region in the western part of the state is filled with historical small towns, beautiful mountain ranges and hundreds of breathtaking glacial lakes.

The area is known for its outdoor activities, making it perfect for a fall hike or bike ride through breathtaking trails or parks. If you're looking to relax and take in the view from your car, scenic roads filled with foliage include High Peaks Scenic Byway , Grafton Notch Scenic Byway and Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway .

The Berkshires in Massachusetts

Foliage in the Berkshires has not peaked yet, and Salge predicts the region, as well as the Berkshire Foothills in Pioneer Valley, will see beautiful colors in the next couple of weeks.

"The Berkshires are definitely starting to come on as well," Salge said. "We had put the Berkshires as one of the best positioned areas this summer, and they actually got a little bit of rain in September as well so I'd put them as a pretty good bet."

As a premiere region for mountainous beauty and outdoor attractions, the Berkshires region is ideal for a picturesque New England fall. Driving through towns like Clarksburg and Williamstown on the historic Mohawk Trail will give a great view of the area's foliage, and the winding road to the peak of Mt. Greylock is sure to be filled with blazing red and orange hues.

For outdoor adventurers, western Massachusetts is filled with plenty of scenic state parks and forests perfect to wander, bike or hike through in the fall.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 3 places you can go to see peak fall foliage this weekend in New England