Take a look out your window.
Do you see hues of reds, yellows, and oranges dotting the trees? If so, you’re in the prime spot for watching fall leaves change.
In many parts of the country, this is a common occurrence every fall. From September through November, trees will go from lush and green to bright colors, and then as the leaves fade it means winter is just around the corner.
So, it’s no wonder people from all across the country, and many from outside North America flock here ever year to check out the changing leaves.
Are you interested in checking this out yourself? Well, you’re in luck, we have a list of some of the best places to see falls leave change.
Let’s get to it!
Shenandoah National Park
Tucked into the mountains of Virginia you’ll find Shenandoah National Park. This park is so into the fall leaves (and with good reason) that it offers a weekly Fall Color Report throughout the season, to let visitors know exactly when the best time to visit is. If you were hoping to add a little natural sightseeing outside Washington DC this is it.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Of course, virtually anywhere in Maine will offer you some great opportunities to get your “leaf peeping” in, but it’s hard to compete with the incredible beauty of Bar Harbor. This area is on the rugged coast of Maine, and coupling the dark ocean with the vivid colors of the leaves is a photo opportunity you do not want to miss.
Vail, Colorado
Now, you might be thinking Vail is a great spot for skiing, and there’s no doubt it is, but where there are mountains, there are trees and Colorado has plenty of those. The rich deep yellows of the famous Aspen trees that dot the mountainsides, provide a beautiful backdrop to the crisp mountain air at 12,000 feet.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Most leaf peepers take to the roads or hiking trails in order to get their best views of the changing fall foliage, but in Chattanooga (about two hours from Nashville) you can see leaves in an entirely different way: by boat. Enjoy a cruise down the Tennessee River and you will have a leaf peeping voyage you won’t likely forget.
Traverse City, Michigan
There’s no doubt the Great Lakes are something to see on their own, but when the fall leaves start turning, make a beeline for Grand Traverse Bay. Here, you’ll find a spectacular 100 mile long drive that winds in and out of the shores of Lake Michigan giving you a prime view of the bright maple and oak trees as they turn.
Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Drive well less than an hour to the East outside the thriving little city of Portland, Oregon, and you’ll feel like you’re in a different world. Winding along the Columbia River Gorge will provide you with far more than just leaf viewing opportunities, you can try your hand at hiking, windsurfing, and of course checking out the area’s many waterfalls.
Where do you go when you want to see the fall leaves change? We’d love to know any of your hidden secret spots!