New England leaf-watching season is in full swing, as people from as far as Florida and Berlin flock to the region for scenic drives, train rides and bus tours to soak in the splendid hues of red, orange and bronze. With quaint towns and covered bridges scattered through swaths of changing forest, the rural Northeast provides an ideal setting to view nature’s annual show.

“Leaf-peeping is one of the most accessible tourism things that you can do,” said Teddy Willey, the general manager of the Frog Rock Tavern in Meredith, New Hampshire. “You don’t have to have the athleticism to be a hiker, you don’t have to have the money to own a boat.”

You just need to be able to jump in a car and head north, he said.

“Once you’re there, you just take it in,” Willey said.

He spoke just after his tavern was flooded with tourists from Indiana who had stepped off a sightseeing bus.

Among them was Vicky Boesch, of Fort Wayne, who had made the trip with her sisters.

“We came out to the Northeast to see the beautiful foliage and the colorful leaves,” she said, adding the she was impressed with Vermont.

“The leaves were very pretty on the mountains because the sun was out yesterday, and so that makes them pop more,” she said.

It wasn’t only the fall colors that provided a contrast with Indiana, she said, but also the region’s distinctive architecture, lakes and towns.

Gordon Cochran, of Lake View, Iowa, said he was in New Hampshire to visit his daughter and had a “beautiful ride” on the slow-moving Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.

Weather conditions associated with climate change have disrupted some recent leaf-peeping seasons. One problem is that global warming has brought drought that causes leaves to turn brown and wither before they can reach their colorful peak.

Willey acknowledges that he’s not a leaf guy.

“Personally, no. I grew up here, so I think it loses its luster a little bit,” he said with a chuckle, adding that the season still has its moments.

“I’ll be driving somewhere around the Lakes Region, and all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘You know what, there’s a reason why people come here and there’s a reason I live here. It really is quite beautiful,’” he said, referring to a scenic part of eastern New Hampshire.

Midway into October, the vibrant fall colors have drawn thousands of visitors to New England’s trails eager to capture the beauty of autumn. But the influx of hikers has led to concerns about overcrowding and safety, especially in popular spots in New Hampshire.

State park officials are excited to see so many people enjoying the outdoors, but they urge hikers — both new and experienced — to come prepared and be respectful of nature and others on the trails.

Tamara Breau, who recently hiked New Hampshire’s Artist Bluff Trail, described a chaotic scene caused by overcrowding.

“We saw people pushing each other, going off-trail to bypass crowds,” Breau said. “A few hikers came down from the summit saying they were terrified by how packed it was.”

Crowded conditions aren’t just frustrating, they can be dangerous. On Saturday, heavy traffic on I-93 delayed rescuers trying to reach a hiker who had slipped and injured her leg on the Franconia Ridge Trail.

Oliver Pierson, director of forestry for Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, highlighted the importance of common sense and communication on busy trails.

“It’s really about being respectful and enjoying both the scenery and your fellow hikers,” Pierson said.

Fall foliage is a New England staple. NBC10 Boston meteorologist Tevin Wooten tells us what to expect this year based on the summer’s hot and dry weather.

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He also reminded hikers to be well-prepared for changing weather, especially in mountainous areas where temperatures can drop quickly. Pierson recommends packing extra layers, including wool socks, rain gear, a hat and gloves.

As days grow shorter, Pierson encouraged hikers to start their adventures early to ensure they have enough daylight to complete their hikes safely.

“Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the foliage and get down before dark,” Pierson advised.

In the recent rescue, New Hampshire Fish and Game said the injured hiker had limited cell service and was fortunate that nearby hikers were able to call for help. Park officials, and other hikers, hope to see that same spirit of consideration as more people head out to enjoy the season’s beauty.

“If there’s a line, wait your turn. Don’t try to go off-trail,” Breau said. “If people keep damaging the trails, they’ll eventually have to close them.”

Officials say everyone can enjoy the stunning fall scenery while keeping trails safe by coming prepared and staying mindful of others.

The Green Mountain Club is a resource hikers can use to learn more about what to pack and what to expect, as well as trail options and route updates. You can check out the Green Mountain Club here: greenmountainclub.org/hiking.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, in partnership with the White Mountain National Forest, offers a mountain safety education program called Hike Safe that aims to educate hikers on essential outdoor preparedness. Hikers can support search and rescue operations by purchasing a voluntary Hike Safe card. 

Those with a card are not required to repay rescue costs if an emergency occurs in most situations.

The Hiker Responsibility Code was developed and is endorsed by The White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire Fish and Game. You can learn more about the program here: wildlife.nh.gov/get-outside/hiking-safety.

Visit New Hampshire advises all travelers to practice Leave No Trace when they are visiting.

With a major election just around the corner, researchers with the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire have released an updated status report on how signs of civic health in New Hampshire have shifted over the past four years.

Quixada Moore-Vissing, a UNH faculty fellow, said the research team decided to follow up on the work they published in 2020, after seeing several major events — including the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and nationwide demonstrations for racial justice, the presidential election, and the attack on the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — that could significantly influence the way people see themselves and their political context.

“We thought to ourselves, ‘Wow, we really need to figure out what’s going on with civic health more immediately than waiting a few more years, as we usually do,’ because there have been so many things that could affect how we’re interacting across civic engagement in New Hampshire,” Moore-Vissing said during a Q&A session.

Their hastened research, which was released Oct. 7, found a harrowing drop: The percentage of Granite Staters who reported feeling they matter to their communities fell 33 percentage points in just four years, from 76 percent in 2019 to 43 percent in 2023.

The numbers suggest the declines were particularly dramatic among those aged 50-64 and those who live in the North Country, though more research is needed to understand the trends on a granular level, Moore-Vissing said.

There were other signs that people are connecting less with those around them.

The percentage of Granite Staters who reported frequently hearing from or spending time with family or friends slipped 4 percentage points, from 85 percent in 2019 to 81 percent in 2021.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those who frequently do favors for neighbors fell from 11 percent to 5 percent, who worked with neighbors to do something positive for a neighborhood or community dipped from 27 percent to 21 percent, and who attended a public meeting fell from 19 percent to 12 percent.

“I think the question here is, ‘Is this decline in social connectivity temporary due to the pandemic?’ We certainly hope so,” Moore-Vissing said. “But this could also be connected to some bigger-picture issues.”

Perhaps political divisiveness at the national level is trickling down into local communities, or perhaps the rise and durability of remote work is a factor, she said.

“The fact is we really don’t know what’s behind these declines … we want to keep an eye on this,” she added.

As many residents confront concerns over the affordability of housing, child care, and health care, the researchers noted that economic factors can influence civic health.

“Those disproportionately affected from high-burden costs may have difficulty prioritizing other needs and may be less inclined to participate in public life,” Michele Holt-Shannon, director and co-founder of New Hampshire Listens, said in a statement.

“But as the state’s population continues to grow, so can people’s ability to connect and feel like they belong,” Holt-Shannon said. “When residents feel they belong, they’re more likely to feel included in their community, express their thoughts and opinions, and feel able to influence decisions.”

The full reports from 2024 and 2020 are available online, as is a guide for nurturing civic health at the local level.

A version of this story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.