View of the Presidentials and Mt. Martha (right) from Weeks State Park auto road, Lancaster NH

I had the good fortune to have business in Lancaster recently as fall was setting in across the North Country. I stopped for a walk up the Weeks State Park auto road, which is currently closed to auto traffic on weekdays. I wasn’t the only pedestrian enjoying the unseasonably warm day. The leaves are turning; my guess is that peak color in this part of Coos County is still a week away.

From Mt. Prospect: town of Jefferson and Mts. Starr King & Waumbek

The oaks lining the auto road are still in full leaf, with just a hint of color. Squirrels were busy gathering acorns and dropping more than a few onto the pavement (but I dodged ’em). The green canopy was out of sync with all the colorful foliage visible from the auto road’s pullouts.

Since my last visit to Weeks, a small unpaved parking lot’s been added just outside the gate to the auto road. That’s an improvement over having to walk across two lanes of 50 m.p,h. highway to get to the park from the pretty little lot on the other side of U.S. 3.

The fire tower was locked, unfortunately. Perhaps summer weekends are the only time to get a look at the inside of this unique structure.

Loveliest fire tower to be found anywhere, in my opinion. Weeks State Park, Lancaster NH.

Green and shady on the auto road, but that’s sure to change within a week.

No attendants at the park on a fall weekday – but there’s an iron ranger to accept donations.

View from the first pullout on the auto road, looking west.

Part of the easterly view from the auto road: Pliny Range, from Mt. Cabot (L) to Mt. Starr King (R-foreground).