Top Forest Destinations - Fall Color
- Category: Top Picks
Top Forest Destinations - Fall Color
Kancamagus Scenic Byway, New Hampshire
Head to New Hampshire during the first two weeks of October for breathtaking fall color. You’ll have an excellent view of the hills and trees from the Kancamangus Byway, a three-hour long route that winds through the notches of the White Mountains. Don’t miss a view of the famous "Old Man of the Mountain" in Franconia Notch.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
This 469-mile scenic route is one of the most famous drives in the country. Running from the southern Appalachian Mountains of Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, the parkway takes you high into the mountains, so you’ll have unmatched views of the hills and valleys below. This area has the biggest concentration of hardwood trees in the U.S. Visit in late September and October to see red maples, yellow poplar, red sassafras, and crimson oaks.
Chautauqua and Allegheny Country, Pennsylvania and New York
The western edge of New York and Pennsylvania offers some of the best fall color anywhere. These lush woods are a fun place to explore in spring and summer, and in the fall they pop with color as the oak, cherry, yellow poplar, ash, and maple trees turn red and orange. A great way to view the trees is from the 29-mile long Longhouse Scenic Byway.
Green Mountains, Vermont
For serious fall color, nothing compared with a trip to Vermont. The gorgeous Green Mountain National Forest is 100 miles long, running all the way from the Appalachian Gap to the Massachusetts border. For a good view of the trees, take Route 100 across the width of the state from Wilmington to Stowe. The best color show runs from mid September through the second week in October.
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, or “UP,” is a camper’s paradise. With hundreds of miles of Great Lake shoreline, rivers and trout streams, and endless hiking trails, this is a great place to camp during any season. But in the fall, the UP puts on a special show when the leaves change. You can wander through the forests, hiking to one of the region’s 150 waterfalls or watching for wildlife like deer, moose, wolves, bears, eagles, and charming chipmunks.
