A previous autumn provides hope.
Here are the basic suggestions for autumn color photography: 1. Get up and get out early (is that actually 2 suggestions?), 2. Bring a camera support if more than one tree will be the subject, 3. Use a long lens (i.e. 150-300mm) to compress perspective and strengthen color areas. 4. Find reflections that will double the colored areas. 5. Hope for a cold morning after a warm afternoon so the resulting fog/mist will diffuse the image. 6. Dial in f16 with support or f8 with out it. 7. Use manual focus in any event.