During foliage season the hills of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom start to glow like the jewels on a crown. The colors slowly spreading down from the higher elevations and ripening into shades of red with undertones of yellow, burnt orange and splashes of pink.

Forecasters predict a stellar year. Thanks to a wet summer, the forest canopy is chock full with the kind of leaves that turn pretty colors including maple, ash and oak. Calculating exactly when and what colors Mother Nature will pull out of her hat, is a seasonal hobby for natives and newcomers alike.

If you’re new to “leaf peeping” all you need is a decent road map, plenty of gas and a sense of adventure. You can see the leaves by foot, car, bus, bike or boat. It doesn’t matter how you do it, because there’s good foliage all around and it’s accessible to everyone.

For those who want a bird’s eye view without the effort of hiking to the top of a mountain, try the Burke Mountain Toll Road and enjoy a picnic lunch with views of Willoughby Gap. Jay Peak Ski Area offers scenic tram rides to the peak during foliage season, beginning September 16th. Don’t miss their Fall Arts & Crafts Festival on Oct. 7 and 8.

According to the experts, colder temperatures and less sunlight kick foliage into gear. It’s a complex chemical process that scientists like Paul Schaberg are still trying to figure out. Schaberg is a plant physiologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Burlington who studies maple trees. In 2003, he co-authored a paper called Factors Influencing Red Expression in Autumn Foliage of Sugar Maple Trees.

“Shorter days and colder nights cause the green chlorophyll in the leaf to disappear and other pigments (colors) to take over. The red pigment is like an antioxidant, protecting the aging leaf from sun and cold damage, insects and fungal attacks,” Schaberg said.

If local meteorologist Steve Maleski can predict the weather, can he forecast the foliage? Well no, according to Maleski, who is co-host of a popular weather forecast called “Eye on the Sky,” heard on Vermont Public Radio and local stations.

“All I can say is whatever the colors, there will be lots of it this year due to our wet summer,” said Maleski from his studio at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury.

Maleski says the best time for peak foliage will likely be the last week of September through mid October. But it also depends on the region. Typically, the Northeast Kingdom is the first part of the state to see the first signs of color.

In Caledonia County, the higher elevations such as the hillsides in Lyndon, Burke, East Haven, Sutton and Sheffield are great for viewing. “In my opinion, Darling Hill Road in East Burke is the most breathtaking view in autumn, especially on a bike,” according Joe Healy, editor of Vermont Magazine.

In Essex County moose and trees reign supreme. Rick Deblois is the manager of a new store called Clyde River Outfitters in Island Pond that stocks items for hunters, fishermen, campers and anyone needing supplies for the backcountry.

“Once we've had a frost it won’t be long before we see some real good color up this way,” Deblois said.

Jacques Couture is a maple farmer with 6,200 taps in Westfield. He runs a B&B with wife Pauline, and he’s also president of the Vermont Sugar Makers Association.

“I’d like to say I know how the color will develop, but the leaves will do what they will and we’ll just have to wait and see,” Couture said, whose favorite scenic drives include Routes 100, 14, 16 and 105.

Most maple farmers gladly welcome visitors during their off-season when they have more time to visit with guests. Feel free to stop in anywhere you see signs that say “ Vermont maple syrup sold here.”

Wherever the road takes you, Happy Leaf Peeping!