Who can argue that autumn is one of the most colorful times of year?
That was a rhetorical question.
Fall is pretty, mostly because of the glorious displays put on by the fall leaves changing color. This phenomenon occurs all over the United States, but some spots offer better views than others. Grab your camera and a road atlas and take a day trip to one of the 11 best fall foliage sites in America.
11 Places To See Fall Leaves
Fall Leaves on Carriage Road at Acadia National Park
1. Acadia National Park – Maine
Of course anywhere in the North East is going to boast spectacular fall foliage. The Acadia National Park offers gorgeous views and extensive Ranger-led educational programs so that you can learn more about what you’re staring at. Make sure to head to Bar Harbor Maine before the end of October to take full advantage of the sights and services available.
Fall Leaves at Oak Mountain State Park
2. Oak Mountain State Park – Alabama
Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park. This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sight seeing lists. Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays. You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown.
Fall Foliage in New Hampshire
3. Mt. Washington – New Hampshire
While it’s typical to see fall foliage while you’re driving, the Mount offers guided cruises on the M/S Mount Washington. Starting Sunday, September 27, the Mount will offer Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises from 4:30 to 7 p.m. each Sunday through mid-October. The cruise departs from Weirs Beach, boarding at 4 p.m. Cost for adults is$43. Visit Cruise Mount Washington for more information.
Fall Color in Colorado
4. Aspen – Colorado
It’s no surprise that Aspen, Colorado is the perfect place to watch the Aspen trees change colors with the seasons. San Isabel National Forest offers extensive trails for viewing of some of the most fabulous aspen trees in Colorado.
New York Fall Foliage
5. The Catskills – New York
The Catskills and Hudson Valley region is about a two hour drive from New York City. One of the unique features of this area is that the color changing season lasts about six weeks, with colors rivaling those of its North Eastern neighbors, Vermont and Massachusetts.
Columbia River Gorge in Autumn
6. Columbia River Gorge – Oregon
The Columbia River Gorge winds through the Cascade Mountains, forming the border between northern Oregon and southern Washington. Leaf peepers can choose to drive, hike or kayak through the scenery – although I wouldn’t recommend taking an expensive camera on your white water rafting trip.
Fall Foliage and Snow along Denali Highway
7. Denali Highway – Alaska
Located in south central Alaska, the Denali Highway is where you’ll find the least amount of trees on the fall foliage list. But the signs of fall are still evident in the red, orange and purple terrain. Of course, you have to go to Alaska to see it. But if you can make the trip, you may also be rewarded with moose sightings!
Fall Color in Michigan
8. Tahquamenon Falls – Michigan
Tahquamenon Falls is one of the largest waterfalls west of the Mississippi River. It’s located along Michigan’s upper peninsula, and offers a unique chance to see white water rapids surrounded by blazing orange and red trees. (Which, sadly, are not pictured here, of course.)
Wisconsin Fall Leaves
9. Kettle Moraine State Forest – Wisconsin
Kettle Moraine State Park is located about 45 minutes north of Milwaukee. The park offers 30,000 acres of hills, forests, lakes and grasslands – giving you a variety of ways to capture the colors of autumn.
Fall Leaves on Mohawk Trail
10. Mohawk Trail – Massachusetts
The Mohawk Trail may be the most well known of the country’s fall foliage scenic drives. It covers 63 miles from the Massachusetts-New York border to the Connecticut River. Attractions in the region include Mount Greylock, The Bridge of Flowers, Glacial Potholes, a natural marble bridge formed by erosion, state forests, and old Indian hiking trails.
Fall Foliage at Glacier National Park
11. Glacier National Park – Montana
Glacier National Park in Montana boasts over 700 miles of hiking trails. While sections of the park are available for driving, the best way to experience the colorful fall vistas at Glacier National Park is on foot.
When is the best time to head out on your fall foliage expedition? Technically, the leaves change with the weather and not the calendar. And of course, each area’s “leaf peeper” season will vary slightly. Generally, the best time to see the colors of fall leaves is from mid September to mid October.
Photo Credits in order of appearance: liza31337 on Flickr, Southernpixel on Flickr, kla4067 on Flickr, brianna.lehman on Flickr, Randy OHC on Flickr, SarahMcD on FlickR, Alaskan Dude on Flickr, Aunt Owwee on Flickr, chefranden on Flickr, banspy on Flickr, Barbara Jones with permission
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30 Responses
Um. Having lived in Vermont the first 33 years of my life, I’m offended that it didn’t make the list. It’s a state in this nation, they didn’t secede like they want to!
The next time you’re in NYC I’m kidnapping you to VT.
Great article! I love that you mentioned the Tahquamenon Falls area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula–it is truly beautiful! Even more stunning, M-119 between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. It’s a stretch of road known as the “Tunnel of Trees.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-119_(Michigan_highway)
Poppy, I think Vermont is THE most beautiful state in the union and has the most to offer. Funny thing is, I have never been there. I just think it is gorgeous.
The Eastern Sierra in CA is another great spot to see fall leaves. And Vermont is amazing!
Wow! They are all very beautiful places of the United States! The closest one to me is New Hamshire.
Western Maryland has some amazing scenery around the fall as well. I used to live there and I drove out West probably once per year. Very picturesque.
Leaving out the Blue Ridge Parkway of NC and VA is a disgrace!
Have to agree with KB. I’ve seen it myself on many occasions and it bears mentioning. BRP is a F’awesome place to see fall foliage.
These places look awesome!
I love the picture of the fall evening in Maine.
This country of ours is so beautiful to see in the Autumn season.
The Fall colors reflections on the lakes and waters are my favorite settings and pictures.
The rurla country settings in New England are simply gorgeous and captivate my imagination of the “old days”
Thank you for such a great post. I wish I had seen this sooner.
[...] The point is that there are many reasons to get in your gas-guzzling car and drive around our wonderful nation right now, namely really pretty trees. [...]
Vermont really should be on this list.
lol GET OVER IT Poppy!!
Can’t believe this list could possibly be complete without including the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
oh, Cape Breton Highlands national Park. I find it hard to believe that all of the top 11 places to see fall foliage are in the US.
I think another good one would be Lost Maples State Park in Vanderpool, Texas. There is a species of maple there that is only found in that one state park. The best time to go is the last 2 weeks of October. I swear, the leaves are bigger that my head. Its amazind with all the colors. Texas actually made it illegal to pick the leaves because it might kill the tree
If you want to see another beautiful display of autumn leaves, visit the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, during the fall. absolutely amazing! (Look it up on the internet if you don’t believe me
)
I love all the fall colors here. I heard Vermont is really awesome, but the other places are breathtaking, too. I really like Door County in Wisconsin to see the Fall colors change.
Wonderful
All of them Moraine state park is one of the best park in Wisconsin Kettle Moraine State Forest is a large array of outdoor activities on its impressive expanse of glacial hills, pine and hardwood forests, glacial kettle formations, lakes, and prairie restoration sites. Featuring camping, hunting, fishing, hiking and picnicking, along with historic sites, such as Old World Wisconsin.
Most of these places I haven’t bee too. A good list, though I’m surprised neither Vermont nor the Smokey Mountains made the list, although I’m probably biased since I grew up in the Smokey Mountains.
West Virginia is beautiful in the fall
I notice that your list is US centric. Try Eastern Canada, Ontario and the Maritimes. Much better than the photos you provided.
Tahquamenon Falls is actually “east” of the Mississippi River, not west as reported.
[...] 11 Best Places to See Fall Foliage [...]
The Finger Lakes of central NY probably tops any of these places…
This is a great article. The Fall is my favorite time of year, though it lasts, it seems, only a short time. That is due to the fall colors coming on, radiating their beauty and then dropping to the ground after much fanfare. My favorite, and this is probably a biased opinion as I live here, is Colorado. The name says it all. Color – rado. It’s all about the colors! The East and the Midwest are beautiful as well, but there has to be something said for the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains along with the colors. One of my favorite places is the Vail Valley as the Aspen tree groves are truly breathtaking in the fall. Where I stay when I am in the Valley is at the East West Resort in the Beaver Creek area. They have a great selection of properties to choose from and a great availability in the Fall season. That would be my suggestion for all of you looking for a good spot to vacation to for this coming Fall.
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[...] You may recognize Tahquamenon Falls from our list of Top Places for Fall Foliage. [...]