20 Breathtaking Places to See Fall Foliage

As one of the most famous parks in the country, this nearly 750,000-acre spread in the Yosemite Valley draws over 4 million annual visitors. However, the fall season is not one of its busiest, which is fantastic news for leaf peepers. Because the park has elevation changes of 11,000 feet, visitors are treated to everything from alpine meadows at the highest areas, to oak woodlands further south. Pay special attention to the black oaks and golden bigleaf maples, which erupt in bright oranges and golds.

Forests surround this popular ski area, making it as beautiful in the fall as in its prime winter season. The fall leaves here are a veritable rainbow: there is the green of the pines interspersed with golden quaking aspens, pink dogwoods, and orange black oaks. Check out the Hope Valley area for the best foliage, just south of South Lake Tahoe. If the weather allows for it, consider renting a stand-up paddleboard or kayak to view the trees from the lake itself.

Sure, this is one of America’s most famous ski towns, but it is named Aspen for a reason. The state’s signature golden aspens abound here, making this one of the best destinations in the state to see fall leaves. One of the most iconic spots to view the foliage is from the nearby Maroon Bells, two 14,000-foot-tall mountains in the White River National Forest. There are plenty of hiking trails here that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the golden leaves, just make sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, is also home to around 300 lakes, making the area especially mesmerizing during the fall foliage season. Yellow, red, and gold aspens abound here, and look even more magical with the water’s reflection. And, fun fact, the strand of aspens in the area is actually one of the largest living organisms in the world, since all of the trees spring from the same root system. You’re also in the middle of Colorado wine country here, so make sure to allot time for some vineyard pit stops.

New England is rightfully known for its beautiful fall colors; and one of the best areas in the region is bucolic Litchfield County. Make sure to drive through charming towns like New Milford and Kent, and serene Mount Tom State Park for plenty of golden leaves. But, there are also postcard-worthy covered bridges, day hikes on the Appalachian Trail, and fantastic antique shopping to explore. Bed down for the night at Mayflower Inn & Spa, a country retreat with a killer spa and 58 acres of woodland.

Seeing the National Mall burst into fall colors is a trip that everyone should make once in their life, but our capital offers plenty of beautiful viewpoints within city limits. Some of the most stunning spots include the 400-plus-acres of the U.S. National Arboretum, the hardwood trees and trails of Rock Creek Park, and the Tidal Basin, with its views of the Jefferson Memorial. Diehard leaf peepers should book a stay at Riggs Washington DC; the hotel can arrange for a chauffeured drive to foliage spots around the city or farther afield. Or, consider The Jefferson, DC, a lovely boutique hotel that offers an on-site historian who can provide a bespoke itinerary for you—which means you can spend more time taking in the scenery and less time researching. And besides the thoughtful, luxe accommodations, bibliophiles will love that with every room booked, the Jefferson sponsors the purchase of a children's book for the D.C. Public Library.

Autumn is a perfect time to visit MidCoast Maine: the air is crisp, the fall leaves are bright with color, and there are hiking trails galore. Camden, a charming town on Penobscot Bay, offers plenty of options for leaf peeping, including Camden Hills State Park, sightseeing cruises from Camden Harbor, and stellar views from above on the Camden Snow Bowl lift. Grab a room at Camden Harbour Inn, which offers a special fall foliage package including a lobster picnic lunch.

Bar Harbor is an ideal home base for visiting Acadia National Park, one of the most visited parks in the country. Travelers here can not only enjoy kayaking or boat tours of the leaves near town, but, of course, explore Acadia in all its fall glory. The Park Loop Road is a popular 27-mile ride which brings visitors along oceanfront cliffs and towering mountain forests, but there are also 125 miles of trails to commune with the evergreens and hardwoods more intimately.

Due to the insulating effects of the Great Lakes, the fall colors on this picturesque island start in late September and last all the way into late October. And, with more than 80 percent of Mackinac designated as a state park, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to leaf peeping. There are also no motorized vehicles allowed on island, making it an excellent place for hiking and biking. Spend the night at Mission Point Resort, which has lakefront views of the changing colors.

Surrounded by one million acres of protected wilderness and thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, there are few places in the country as ideal for fall foliage as this city in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even better, the area is known for having one of the most vivid and longest fall color seasons in the entire world. After a leaf peeping drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, grab a cocktail at the storied Omni Grove Park Inn, where outdoor terraces offer stunning views of the changing leaves.

Perched in the White Mountains, Bretton Woods has long been known as a playground for the outdoors. Abutting the nearly 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest, the area is ideal for cross country mountain biking, fly fishing, and hiking, all under the canopy of the fall colors. Synonymous with the area is Omni Mount Washington Resort, whose leaf-centric activities include the longest zip line canopy tour in New England and scenic gondola rides up the mountain.

While most famed for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown is also one of the best places to see foliage in all of New York (and trust us, that’s saying something). Fall is an ideal time to visit; fewer tourists and temperate weather mean it’s a delight to wander the town and explore nearby Glimmerglass State Park and Mount Wellington. Book a room at The Otesaga on the shores of Otsego Lake for jaw-dropping views of the surrounding trees.

Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, this stunning park on the western edge of the Finger Lakes region of New York boasts three waterfalls, 66 miles of hiking trails, and plenty of dense forests that come alive with color in the fall. And if hiking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options for seeing the leaves: visitors can drive through the park to take in major scenic sites like the waterfalls, or can even hire a hot air balloon for a view high above the Genesee River gorge.

New Paltz is a hiker’s wonderland, so it’s little surprise that this is one of the most popular areas in the state when it comes to the best fall foliage. Make a beeline for the Mohonk Preserve, which has 70 miles of carriage roads and trails, plus mountain climbing on the famed Gunks cliffs. End your day at the spectacular Mohonk Mountain House whose 85 miles of trails offer some of the best views of changing leaves in all of New York.

The Natchez Trace Parkway has long been considered one of the most scenic drives in America; and there is no better time to see it than fall. One of the best pit stops along the drive is in charming Franklin, TN, especially the Natchez Trace Bridge. The structure is one of the most iconic photo stops for a reason: the views from the base of the bridge and the bridge itself are equally breathtaking. Leave time for a hike at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary as well, where you might spy a few of the namesake creatures if you’re lucky.

The short, but sweet fall season in Park City certainly packs a punch. This ski town blossoms with bright colors in autumn, which can be viewed by scenic drives or embarking on one of the area’s many hiking trails. Leaf lovers should certainly not miss the Mirror Lake Highway drive—since it’s one of the highest elevated roads in the state, the views are spectacular. And pack plenty of snacks for the hike up Fantasy Ridge; it’s not an easy one, but the sweeping vistas of Park City below are worth it. Relax for the night at the cozy Washington School House Hotel, just steps above Main Street.

The Appalachian Mountains form the backdrop of this bustling town on the border of Virginia and Tennessee. Its location makes it central to many prime leaf peeping spots, including the Appalachian Trail and Bristol Caverns. The nearby Cherokee National Forest is also worth visiting: it encompasses over 650,000 acres with ample trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Bed down for the night at The Bristol Hotel, whose rooftop bar—the city’s first —has sweeping views of the mountains and forests below.

The upper Connecticut River Valley area is home to some of New England’s best fall leaves. And while Killington is known primarily for its skiing, its gondola is still operational in the fall, giving visitors a true bird’s eye view of the brilliant leaves below. Nearby and worth a visit is Queechee State Park, home to Vermont’s deepest gorge and many hiking trails to admire the changing foliage.

During autumn, the Green Mountains often lure visitors from around the world; there are few places that boast fall foliage like this lush section of Vermont. Some of the best vantage points include the magical Skyline Drive to the top of Mount Equinox, and the nearly-thousand acres of forests and trails of the Equinox Preservation Trust. You can even hire Backroad Discovery Tours for a day trip filled with the area’s best foliage spots. After a long day of exploring, spend the night at the elegant Equinox Resort, right in the heart of the cozy town or a B&B.

At nearly 3 million acres, the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland are an understandable draw for nature lovers at any time of year. But in the fall, as its aspen trees erupt in color, it is a truly stunning sight. Base yourself in Saratoga for easy access to Medicine Bow and its picturesque hiking trails and superb fly fishing. Leaf lovers should also book a stay at Brush Creek Ranch, whose 30,000 acres feature a rainbow of foliage colors and plenty of hiking and biking trails.