As the leaves change from summertime green to beautiful shades of rust, crimson, and gold, people flock from miles around to gaze at the beauty of the season, flooding small towns with tourists. Here are the best spots across America to witness nature’s breathtaking spectacle:
Vermont: The Maple Wonderland
In Vermont, fall foliage paints the landscape with a palette of fiery amber, magenta, and bronze. The state’s abundance of maple trees makes it a top destination for leaf peepers from around the world. Small towns like Stowe and Woodstock offer picturesque views against a backdrop of the Green Mountains.
New Hampshire: The Granite State’s Autumn Glow
The Kancamagus Highway, with its scenic vistas, offers one of the best drives to experience the explosion of color. Hiking trails lead adventurers through forests ablaze with color to panoramic mountain views. The state’s quaint New England charm is enhanced by the fall foliage, making it a haven for photographers and nature lovers alike.
Maine: Coastal Hues and Autumnal Views
Maine’s rugged coastline is contrasted beautifully by the warm tones of fall, especially in Acadia National Park. The park’s Cadillac Mountain provides a stunning vantage point to view the tapestry of colors against the Atlantic Ocean. Small fishing villages, like those in Bar Harbor, are framed by the fiery foliage, offering a serene autumn escape.
Colorado: Rocky Mountain Majesty
In Colorado, the aspen trees steal the show with their golden hues, setting the Rocky Mountains ablaze with color. The Maroon Bells, two peaks near Aspen, offer one of the most iconic views of fall in the state. The contrast of the golden aspens against the evergreens and rugged mountain peaks is a sight to behold.
Michigan: The Great Lakes’ Autumn Canvas
Michigan’s fall foliage is enhanced by its proximity to the Great Lakes, creating stunning reflections of autumn colors. The Upper Peninsula, in particular, offers breathtaking vistas along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Small towns like Marquette become vibrant stops along a fall foliage tour. The state’s numerous lighthouses add to the picturesque scenery.
New York: The Empire State’s Fall Tapestry
New York’s Adirondack and Catskill Mountains offer some of the most vibrant fall foliage in the East. The historic Hudson Valley becomes a patchwork of color. Small towns like Sleepy Hollow capture the essence of fall with their festive decorations and historic charm.
North Carolina: The Blue Ridge Parkway Experience
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through North Carolina’s mountains, offering a slow-paced and stunning drive through fall foliage. Overlooks along the parkway provide panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains in full autumn color. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, part of the range, offers a variety of hikes through old-growth forests lit with fall colors.
Oregon: The Pacific Northwest’s Autumn Spectacle
Oregon’s diverse landscapes, from the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River Gorge, are transformed by fall colors. The state’s vineyards in the Willamette Valley also offer a unique backdrop of golden vines. Portland’s many parks become canvases of color, making the city a walkable autumn paradise. Oregon’s waterfalls add to the dramatic autumn scenery.
Pennsylvania: The Keystone State’s Colorful Canopy
Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains and historic covered bridges are quintessential fall scenes. The state’s vast state park system offers countless trails through forests bursting with color. The Allegheny National Forest becomes a particular point of interest with its stunning vistas.
Virginia: Autumn in the Old Dominion
Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is famous for its Skyline Drive, offering 105 miles of stunning fall views. The state’s historical plantations and estates take on a romantic aura with the changing leaves. Wine country in Virginia is also a popular autumn destination, with vineyards set against a backdrop of colorful mountains.
Wisconsin: The Midwest’s Fall Color Show
Wisconsin’s Door County is often referred to as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” especially beautiful in the fall. The state’s extensive network of state parks and forests, like Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, become a mosaic of colors. The Wisconsin River and its surrounding bluffs provide a dramatic setting for fall color cruises.
Minnesota: The North Star State’s Autumn Array
Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness offers a unique way to view fall foliage from the water. The state’s North Shore along Lake Superior is lined with maple, birch, and aspen trees in fiery hues. Minnesota’s numerous state parks offer trails with vibrant fall landscapes. Small towns serve as cozy retreats after a day of exploring the colorful outdoors.
Massachusetts: New England’s Fall Charm
Massachusetts embodies the quintessential New England fall, especially in the Berkshire Mountains. The historic town of Salem becomes a festive destination in autumn with its Halloween celebrations set against colorful foliage. The Mohawk Trail offers scenic drives through small towns and past colonial-era farms.
Washington: The Evergreen State’s Autumn Palette
While known for its evergreens, Washington State surprises visitors with stunning fall colors in places like the Olympic Peninsula. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness becomes a patchwork of golds and reds among the evergreens. The state’s apple harvest adds an extra layer of charm to the autumn season, with festivals and pick-your-own orchards.
Connecticut: The Nutmeg State’s Foliage Feast
Connecticut’s small towns and rolling hills are the epitome of New England fall charm. The state’s scenic byways, like the Merritt Parkway, become tunnels of color in the fall. Historic towns like Mystic offer waterfront views against a backdrop of autumn hues.
Ohio: The Buckeye State’s Autumn Blaze
Ohio’s Hocking Hills region is renowned for its fall foliage, with deep gorges and cascading waterfalls framed by colorful trees. The state’s Amish Country becomes a picturesque scene of rolling hills and farms amid the changing leaves. Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a retreat near the urban areas, with miles of hiking trails through forests of gold and red.
Tennessee: The Smoky Mountains’ Autumn Splendor
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. for its fall colors. The park’s diverse elevation means that fall colors can be enjoyed over an extended period. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge become gateways to the park’s autumn beauty, offering cozy accommodations and southern hospitality.
Montana: Big Sky Country’s Fall Canvas
Montana’s Glacier National Park offers dramatic fall colors with its aspen and larch trees turning golden against snow-capped peaks. The state’s vast wilderness areas, such as the Bob Marshall Wilderness, become quiet retreats to enjoy the solitude and beauty of fall. Small towns like Whitefish come alive with fall festivals celebrating the season’s harvest.
Idaho: The Gem State’s Autumn Jewels
Idaho’s Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers rugged landscapes punctuated with vibrant fall colors. The state’s numerous hot springs become even more inviting surrounded by colorful foliage. Small towns like McCall, situated by Payette Lake, offer picturesque autumn views and outdoor activities.
Utah: The Colorful Canyons
Utah’s national parks, like Zion and Bryce Canyon, offer a different take on fall with their unique geology framed by autumn colors. The state’s high elevation areas, like the Wasatch Mountains, are dotted with aspen trees turning golden in the fall. Scenic drives through these parks provide views of towering cliffs and canyons contrasted with splashes of fall color.
Georgia: The Peach State’s Autumn Spectacle
Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the Appalachian range, offering southern charm with their fall foliage. The state’s vineyards in the North Georgia mountains provide a scenic backdrop for wine tastings amidst the autumn colors. Historic Savannah, with its oak-lined streets and parks, takes on a golden hue in the fall.
