USA Fall Foliage Travel Guide: 10 Places to Catch Fall Foliage
Where to Find America’s Most Beautiful Fall Colors
You can catch fall foliage in the USA from just about anywhere. You can take in the views against the sunrise on the east coast in Maine or California along the west coast as the sun dips below the horizon. “From sea to shining sea,” and all across this vast land, you have plenty of options for admiring autumn colors.
Americans partake in a time-honoured tradition referred to affectionately as ‘leaf-peeping’, and ’leaf peepers’ are people who make the journey to see the glorious colors of fall. Autumn colors can be seen in so many places across the continent, so we’ve curated a list of our favorites. Come along and ‘leaf-peep’ with us as we explore America’s fabulous fall foliage.
1. Acadia National Park, ME
Fiery fall colors on an island off the Maine coast
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
Acadia National Park, in Downeast Maine, is just off the rocky coast on Mount Desert Island. Acadia is one of the nation’s most-visited national parks, and you can always count on a glorious display of fiery autumn colors. Another excellent reason to visit Acadia: it’s a spectacular place to catch the first rays of the sun sweeping over the east coast.
Highly recommended is a drive along Park Loop Road, a 27-mile (43 km) trek that meanders through forests and mountains and along the rugged Atlantic shoreline. The crown jewel of Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard. View the breathtaking panoramic views bursting with autumn colors from late September through early October.
Phone: + 1 207-288-3338
Acadia National Park, ME
2. Ozark National Forest, AR
October is the best time to visit for full fall colors
Good for: ถ่ายรูป, ผจญภัย
The Ozark National Forest in Arkansas is a haven for autumn colors, and nowhere is it more spectacular than along Arkansas Byway 7. This route is frequently named one of the most beautiful drives in the USA. Start an excursion at the right time in the north and you can drive through a kaleidoscope of autumn colors all the way down south.
If your schedule doesn’t allow for a long road trip, an excellent place to start a shorter stretch of Byway 7 is at Bull Shoals Lake. This route passes through the heart of the Ozark National Forest. Drive as far as you want, and you’ll witness unbelievable landscapes and the brilliance of an Arkansas fall.
Ozark National Forest, AR
3. Catskill Mountains, NY
Fall’s finest colors in upstate New York
Good for: คู่รัก, ถ่ายรูป, ผจญภัย
In mid-October, the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York explode with fall colors. Mountain tops, rolling hills, and valleys are aglow with bright oranges, reds, and yellows. To admire the fine scenery, you can take to the winding byways, hop on a train, or ascend a fire tower.
Some of the best ways to ‘leaf-peep’ in the Catskills include a stop at Summit Mount Utsayantha and climbing to the top of the fire tower for a 360-degree view of autumn at its finest. You could also climb aboard the Delaware & Ulster Railroad train and relax as you travel through colorful Catskill territory. Or hike to Vernooy Kill Falls to view cascading waterfalls in the bold colors of the season.
Location: Shandaken, NY 12464, USA
Catskill Mountains, NY
4. Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
Brief but beautiful fall colors in the last frontier
Good for: ถ่ายรูป, ผจญภัย
Autumn in Denali National Park has a short window of opportunity. The sublime fall transformation happens here anywhere from late August through September. The alpine tundra at higher elevations changes color first, and the Yukon low-land taiga follows, with bursts of brilliant color from spruce and poplar trees that contrast beautifully against the backdrop of lush lichen and moss.
An excellent way to ‘leaf-peep’ in the Denali is to hike one of the park’s many trails. An easy trail to hike is the Curry Ridge Trail. You’ll trek above the treeline from the tundra and experience stunning views of alpine lakes, the Yukon wilderness, and majestic Denali. Along the way, enjoy the ever-changing fall landscape.
Phone: +1 907-683-9532
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
5. Minnesota’s North Shore, MN
Where you can experience autumn twice
Good for: ประหยัด, ถ่ายรูป, แปลกใหม่
The beauty of witnessing fall along Minnesota’s North Shore is that you can experience it twice. The first burst of autumn colors occurs in mid-September through early October in the Sawtooth Mountain range. The second round of blazing autumn glory happens along the North Shore from late September through mid-October.
The Sawtooth Mountains in the Superior National Forest is home to a Fall Color Tour with 4 linked byways that showcase the intense colors. Along the North Shore, the cooler air that billows off Lake Superior makes for a later autumn. So, drive along the iconic North Shore Scenic Drive to view this magnificent shoreline autumn display.
Minnesota's North Shore, MN
6. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Neighborhood, OR
Breathtaking waterfalls surrounded by brilliant fall leaf color
Good for: Couples, Photo, Adventure
Columbia River Gorge, a river canyon with stunning waterfalls, is spectacular to see any time of the year. The views of the canyon in late September or early October are heightened by the arrival of autumn, and the result is simply awe-inspiring.
The Hood River is at the heart of it all in the Gorge. One way to take in its beauty is to hop on a river cruise and relax as you float through autumn leaf color. If your goal is to see both a waterfall and the colors, you can view Horsetail Falls from the Columbia River Highway. Don’t miss a trek to the world-famous and picturesque Multnomah Falls if you want to stretch your legs.
Phone: +1 541-308-1700
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Neighborhood, OR
7. The Enchanted Circle Byway, NM
Fall leaf-viewing on a magical byway
Good for: ถ่ายรูป, ประหยัด, ผจญภัย
Exploring the Enchanted Circle in New Mexico is a unique way to experience fall in New Mexico. Starting and ending in Taos, the series of connected byways offers 84 miles (135 km) of gorgeous scenery aglow in the most fantastic autumn colors you’ll ever see. Enchanted Circle is easily navigable even though the names of the roads change throughout the journey.
The Enchanted Circle in New Mexico’s high-country links Taos, Questa, Red River, Eagles Nest, and Angel Fire. Visit the towns along the route, but there’s no comparison to the diverse landscapes you’ll see ablaze with the ever-changing and magical colors of fall.
The Enchanted Circle Byway, NM
8. Blue Ridge Parkway, VA and NC
Yes, there’s autumn foliage in the south of the USA
Good for: คู่รัก, ถ่ายรูป
The Blue Ridge Parkway starts in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and, 469 miles (755 km) down the road, ends at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This parkway is simply splendid; exploring any stretch of it for autumn colors will reward you with vistas of trees changing from lush greens to gilded golds, radiant reds, and sunshiny yellows.
As the temperature drops along the Blue Ridge Parkway in mid-October, leaves begin to change color, and while the overall effect is beautiful, there are some stellar spots to see. Stop by Mabry Mill, Cascade Falls, Rough Ridge, the Chestoa View Overlook, and Linn Cove Viaduct for some amazing photos.
Blue Ridge Parkway, VA and NC
9. Chuckanut Drive Scenic Parkway, WA
A short drive but the autumn views are sweet
Good for: ถ่ายรูป, ผจญภัย
Chuckanut Drive Parkway is a short, 21 miles (33 km) but mighty scenic byway carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Chuckanut Mountains. October is the best time to see the brilliant display of autumn colors here, and Chuckanut Drive does not disappoint. The parkway is routed through the densely wooded forests and offers dramatic and panoramic overlooking views of Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands.
There are plenty of stops along Chuckanut Drive for amazing autumn views. Check out Larrabee State Park for picture-perfect scenes of Samish Bay. Consider trekking Oyster Dome up Blanchard Mountain for a bird’s eye-view of autumn over the land and the Samish Sea.
Chuckanut Drive Scenic Parkway, WA
10. Yosemite National Park, California
Colors galore and fewer crowds in autumn
Good for: คู่รัก, ครอบครัว, ถ่ายรูป
Yosemite National Park, with evergreen trees dominating the landscape, experiences more concentrated fall leaf colors. This is true in its smaller stands of maples, oaks, dogwoods, and other deciduous trees in mid-October. The autumn colors may not be as plentiful, but they do look gorgeous contrasting with the dark green backdrop of coniferous trees.
Autumn is the perfect time to visit Yosemite. Temperatures are cooler and the throngs of summer crowds are gone. Yosemite is a magnificent National Park, so you may have to seek out the best spots to view the colors of the season. But put in the work and you’ll be rewarded with some breathtaking views.
Phone: +1 209-372-0200
Yosemite National Park, California
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