As peak fall foliage season arrives, experts predict a season as brilliant as ever.

“The fall in New England is notoriously beautiful, and we have no reason to doubt that we’re going to have another beautiful fall foliage display this October,” says Rick Harper, a professor of urban forestry at the University of Massachusetts Extension.

Achieving those vibrant colors requires a combination of cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, Harper explains. This triggers a process known as leaf senescence, where plants lose their chlorophyll, the compound that makes leaves green and helps plants absorb energy from sunlight, revealing oranges, reds and yellows.

Harper notes that New England is lucky to have a unique combination of trees prone to bright, colorful displays, as well as an ideal climate. This year may serve as a bit of a revival for autumn’s beauty, as the unusually wet summer in 2023 as well as the extreme weather events that preceded it — the 2022 summer drought, the Arctic freeze of Feb. 4 and the damaging frost of May 18 — muted the vibrancy of last year’s foliage.

“Some of us in New England get a little bit spoiled because we see this every year … until we come across people who have traveled, not just from different parts of the country but different parts of the world, to see our foliage,” Harper said. “And this year will be no different. We will see people from all over flock to New England.”

For those looking to explore the best of the Massachusetts foliage, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has a new interactive fall foliage map, launched on Oct. 3, at tinyurl.com/28hhczfm. The map shades parts of the state based on the level of foliage, ranging from “no change” and “just changing” to “peak” foliage and “past peak,” organized by time period.

“Our parks come alive in the fall, and we want everyone to have the best opportunity to experience the beauty of Massachusetts’ natural landscapes,” DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo said. “The new interactive foliage map will make it easier than ever to enjoy the season, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a day trip to one of our parks.”

The map not only shows current conditions, but also forecasts foliage levels into November. While much of Berkshire County is shown as having its peak by Oct. 13, the majority of Franklin and Hampshire counties are at near-peak foliage levels by Oct. 20 and reaching peak levels by Oct. 27.

DCR’s interactive page also highlights 17 recommended foliage viewing spots in the state park system, including the Quabbin Reservoir and Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation.

Harper says he personally likes to enjoy the foliage with visits to orchards and hikes to higher elevations, where he can see the best of what the region has to offer.

“It’s really such a beautiful time of the year,” he says. “We are so fortunate.”