New England has the most beautiful fall foliage in the world. That’s not an opinion — it’s a fact. Which roadway in the region is best for leaf-peeping is another matter, but the Kancamagus Highway across the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Mohawk Trail across the northern Berkshires of Massachusetts are top candidates. Both are recognized in the federal Scenic Byways program. As we drove them, the Kanc stretches 34.5 miles west to east from Lincoln to Conway, N.H., while the mountainous portion of the Mohawk Trail covers about 36.5 miles east to west from the Greenfield traffic circle (intersection of Route 2 and Interstate 91) to downtown North Adams. Here’s how the two drives stack up on some essentials.

SCENIC OVERLOOK