leaf peeper
noun
US
: a person who visits wooded areas in autumn to view the changing colors of the foliage
Leaf peepers in northern Maine will find more orange blazing in the forestlands than they might have found in previous years …—
Down East
Down East
leaf-peeping
noun
US
… Woodstock, Vermont—one of New England's prettiest towns and a prime destination for fall leaf peeping.
—Danielle Pergament
Danielle Pergament
Examples of leaf peeper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even with far fewer rangers and limited services, leaf peepers and wildlife watchers continue to drive Trail Ridge Road and hike the park’s trails.
—AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025
Local reporting describes heavy traffic, overflow parking, and crowding at overlooks as leaf peepers arrive during good weather windows.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Fall colors season is underway in Arizona, and leaf peepers will rejoice at the red, yellow and orange hues bursting from the trees in northern and eastern parts of the state with higher elevations.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, leaf peepers hoping to take in a cascade of color should consider road trips along the Green Mountain Byway in Vermont, to New York's Finger Lakes region, along the Pacific Coast Highway in California, on the Pacific Coast in Oregon, and more.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Georgetown reopened to traffic from Interstate 70 after a flood of leaf peepers caused gridlock throughout the mountain community, bringing traffic on all roads to a standstill.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
This fall, New England’s famous foliage show may not last as long as leaf peepers hope.
—Viola Flowers, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Shenandoah County, Virginia Every fall, leaf peepers flock to Skyline Drive to admire Shenandoah National Park’s colorful foliage.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Extreme September heat As millions of leaf peepers prepare for the arrival of changing leaves across the U.S., this year's weather will impact the peak of fall foliage for some regions.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
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AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025
Local reporting describes heavy traffic, overflow parking, and crowding at overlooks as leaf peepers arrive during good weather windows.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Fall colors season is underway in Arizona, and leaf peepers will rejoice at the red, yellow and orange hues bursting from the trees in northern and eastern parts of the state with higher elevations.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, leaf peepers hoping to take in a cascade of color should consider road trips along the Green Mountain Byway in Vermont, to New York's Finger Lakes region, along the Pacific Coast Highway in California, on the Pacific Coast in Oregon, and more.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Georgetown reopened to traffic from Interstate 70 after a flood of leaf peepers caused gridlock throughout the mountain community, bringing traffic on all roads to a standstill.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
This fall, New England’s famous foliage show may not last as long as leaf peepers hope.
—Viola Flowers, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Shenandoah County, Virginia Every fall, leaf peepers flock to Skyline Drive to admire Shenandoah National Park’s colorful foliage.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Extreme September heat As millions of leaf peepers prepare for the arrival of changing leaves across the U.S., this year's weather will impact the peak of fall foliage for some regions.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leaf peeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaf%20peeper. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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