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For northern boaters, as September spills into October and November, it means spectacular sunrises, sunsets and fall foliage along the waterfront.
While leaf peepers typically travel inland and north to witness the breathtaking fall extravaganza in mountainous areas, coastal boaters can just as easily point their bows toward marvelous views closer to home. The trees and bushes aligning back-bays, riverbanks, tidal creeks and local anchorages blossom in colors so rich you can practically taste them.
The northeast and mid-Atlantic states offer the most intense color shifts with vibrant yellow, red and orange foliage most prominent, but beautiful tones can be seen all the way down into the Carolinas – and sunsets along the entire east and gulf coasts can be at their dramatic best this time of year, making for absolutely stunning photos.
Of course, there has to be a catch – but this one is small: fall colors at the water’s edge seem to come fast, and leave (pun intended) faster. It’s not exactly a “blink and you’ll miss it” scenario, but don’t dilly-dally. Get out on the water within a week or two after you notice the colors first starting to change. To help predict peak season in your home waters, or anywhere else in the U.S.A., check out the following interactive fall foliage peak season prediction maps.
The entire east coast is blessed with many navigable rivers, ports and harbors offering idyllic fall viewing with plenty of water under your bow. Head up almost any primary drainage not located in a major population center and, within a few miles, you should find plenty of shoreline to scope out stunning fall foliage, plus an anchorage or two for catching an amazing sunset.
Here are seven cruising picks to delight your passengers and crew.
Penobscot Bay/River, ME
Maine’s Penobscot Bay offers miles of viewing options, especially as the bay grows more intimate above Camden Hills State Park. Continue up the Penobscot River or fork over to the Orland River and East Channel for spectacular and unbroken fall views.
Merrimack River, MA
The 117-mile-long Merrimack River in Massachusetts offers beautiful coastal scenery and easy cruising between the John Greenleaf Whittier and Rocks Village bridges right on up to Haverhill. Stay in the channel and you’ll have plenty of water to work with, but resist coming tight to the banks as there are shallow spots as you head further upriver. The stretch from Amesbury Point to Riverside Park is particularly impressive with bright reds, oranges and yellows aligning both riverbanks.
Connecticut River, CT
This river calls to boaters with easy access to eastern Long Island Sound from Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. Deep draft vessels should enter on the flood because of shoaling at the river mouth, but water depths are fine within the main channel. Head upriver and the view for several miles between Brockway Island and Hurd State Park is hard to beat with all the fall colors of New England bursting forth along the river banks. Hamburg Cove, east of Brockway Island, is especially accommodating for visiting boaters with first-come first served moorings.
Hudson River, NY
You’ll have to push several miles up this awesome river to find suitable fall viewing, but not as far as you might think. The stretch between Hastings on the Hudson and South Nyack includes the impressive Palisades along the New Jersey side, and the scenery is absolutely spectacular along both banks between Bear Mountain and Hudson Highlands state parks. Pull into Half Moon Bay Marina and the powerful Croton Gorge Waterfall is just a two-mile hike or cab ride away.
Rappahannock River, VA
The longest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, the Rappahannock River offers stunning sites anytime of the year, but especially in the fall. Although much of the lower river is bordered by farmland, fall foliage viewing really fires-up once you pass Jones Creek Landing. Trailer boats can put in at Carter’s Wharf near Warsaw or Hoskin’s Creek in Tappahannock to shorten the trip and easily cruise upriver to view Fones Cliff. The bare spots there border maples, sycamores, black gums, and sweet gums that light up the river. Bald eagles are often seen drifting over the water and cliffs along this entire stretch.
Dismal Swamp Canal (ICW), VA/NC
The amber waters of Dismal Swamp Canal offer an enchanting cruise for boaters traversing the Southern Branch of Virginia’s Elizabeth River at mile 7.1 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), or approaching from the Pasquotank River via Albemarle Sound in North Carolina.
Surrounded by a vibrant autumn canopy of red, orange and yellow trees in a remote and tranquil setting, the banks here teem with flora and fauna. Keep your camera ready to record not only the beautiful fall foliage, but also sightings of black bear, white tailed deer, river otters and Pileated Woodpeckers.
Crews touring the 22-mile canal – is the oldest continually operating man-made canal in the United States – will find the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center – a perfect place to dock overnight and experience and incredible fall sunrise or sunset in a magical setting.
Croatan National Forest, NC
Fall boaters who navigate through the Croatan National Forest along the Neuse and Trent Rivers of North Carolina are treated to a stunning display of nature’s beauty as the serene waterways create a mirror-like effect, reflecting the autumn colors. The banks are adorned with a deciduous mix of oaks and maples, which turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow that contrast with evergreen pines. The forest’s unique pocosins (raised swamps) and bogs are home to fascinating plants like the carnivorous Venus flytrap and pitcher plants, which can still be seen in the fall. You’ll see plenty of wildlife here, too, including migratory birds, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and an occasional black bear preparing for winter.