“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” ~George Eliot
You don’t have to be a bird to enjoy the amazing array of fall colors. All across North America, from New England to the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, fall leaf peeping is one of the most popular (and inexpensive) joys of the harvest season.
Don’t know where to go? Check out our list of top cities by region to see the most amazing fall colors.
We know we can’t possibly include every amazing place there is to take in nature’s dazzling fall display, so if you have a favorite area, please let us know in the comments.
Top Spots in New England for Fall Colors
You can start your fall color tours earlier in these northern cities where the leaves start to turn their brilliant hues of yellow and orange as early as mid-September. The peak color time is typically the 2nd week of October.
Don’t forget your camera and a sweater, you can feel and smell the fall chill in the air.
The Birkshires
The term “Berkshires” is used by locals to refer to the portion of the mountain range that lies in western Massachusetts. The area is less than 3 hours from New York City and Boston. The Berkhires is a very popular tourist destination and the Mohawk Trail is a spectacular route through these pristine mountains.
Rhode Island
The whole state of Rhode Island offers marvelous fall colors. Prospect Terrace in Providence provides a panoramic picture of the Providence skyline and is set in the historic East Side of Providence. The peak time for colors in typically around the 2nd week in October.
The Rhode Island Tourism Division has a great statewide map and driving route available for download at visitrhodeisland.com.
Vermont
Vermont stands out as one of the best spots in New England, due in part to the abundance of sugar maples that create a brilliant canvas of red, orange, and gold colors.
Waitsfield, VT. Located in the heart of the Green Mountains at the junctions of two Vermont scenic-byways, Route 17 and Route 100. Yankee Magazine claimed Route 100 as the Best Fall Foliage Viewing in New England.
Vermont Gaps. For more amazing vistas and fall color scenery there are 4 nearby Gaps that are definitely worth checking out:
The Appalachian Gap
Middlebury Gap
Lincoln Gap
Roxbury Gap
Manchester and Bennington. These two towns are cherished for their classic New England beauty and historic structures. You will also find great museums, dining and shopping. Don’t forget to include a stop at the Somerset Reservoir.
New Hampshire
There are so many amazing cities in New Hampshire to see fall colors you really can’t go wrong. Check out the New Hampshire Fall Color Tracker to plan your trip and hit all the hot spots at the right times!
Here are few of the top towns to include on your trip:
Conway. With a backdrop of over 700,000 acres of protected White Mountain National Forest, this town is prime for fall colors.
Sandwich. Located on the shores of Squam Lake and nestled between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains.
Waterville Valley. A year-round resort community located in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, conveniently located only 2 hours from Boston.
Jackson. Jackson is an elegant resort area in the White Mountains. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west, north and east.
Hanover. You can pick up the Appalachian trail in Hanover and visit Dartmouth College. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011.
Maine
Generally, northern Maine is at or near peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. Central and western mountains of Maine are at or near peak Columbus day week/weekend. Coastal and southern Maine typically reach peak or near peak conditions mid-to-late October.
According the Maine’s website the best places to visit are:
Northern Main – Northeastern & Northwestern Maine, including Fort Kent, Caribou and Presque Isle.
Western Maine – Western Mid-Maine, including Greenville, Rangeley, and Bethel.
Central Maine– Central and Southwestern Maine, including Bangor, August, and Fryeburg.
Eastern Maine – Includes Houlton, Millinocket, Calais, Machias, Bar Harbor and Penobscot Bay.
Southern Maine – Mid-Coast and South Coastal Maine, including Rockland, Camden, Portland, Kennebunkport and Kittery.
Top Spots in the Midwest for Fall Colors
In this region, leaf color lasts for at least eight weeks, starting with the sumac that turns red in early September. Followed by the maples, then aspen and oak. Tamarack needles in northern bogs provide a late wave of yellow and gold.
Late September is peak in the following forest areas:
Chippewa and Superior national forests in Minnesota
Chequamegon and Nicolet in Wisconsin
Ottawa and Hiawatha in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has some of the most breathtaking views in the whole country. Miles of Lake Superior Shoreline, Pictured Rocks and the Porcupine Mountains never disappoint.
Peak fall color season is typically the last week of September and the first two weeks of October.
Pictured Rocks. Known for its abundance of autumnal colors, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is unique not only for its rock formations and shoreline, but also for its hiking trails and waterfalls.
Keweenaw Peninsula. Check out this website for the ultimate Fall Color Tour of this amazing area in the UP with “trillions of trees.”
Porcupine Mountains. With 60,000 acres of stunning forests, secluded lakes and scenic rivers, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is one of the few remaining large wild areas in the Midwest.
Minnesota
A great place to begin your fall color tour is to start in north-central Minnesota in the hardwood forests of Minnesota lakes country, around Brainerd, Park Rapids, Bemidji and Grand Rapids.
Brainerd. Walk the trails of the 540-acre Northland Arboretum. It’s the southern trailhead of the Paul Bunyan State Trail which is great for bicycling.
Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway. Tour the SE side of the Scenic Byway to explore Crosslake and Manhattan Beach area. Visit creeks, rivers and lakes, forests, nature trails and parks.
Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway out of Grand Rapids. The region is studded with lakes and thick with aspen, birch, pine and maple trees that pop with color in the fall season. The road winds around 36 lakes, and through state and national forest.
Gunflint Trail and the inland forests of the North Shore. Don’t miss the area between the Caribou and Sawbill trails around Lutsen, where there are many sugar maples.
Oberg Mountain loop is a an easy 2-mile hike.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads also are fun to explore; for fall color, try the 12-mile RR 60 between Boulder Junction and Star Lake in northeast Wisconsin.
Check out the Wisconsin Fall Color Map.
Tops Spots in the Pacific Northwest for Fall Colors
The fall color in the Northwest can be as spectacular as any in the country. Vine maples, larch, and aspen start to change color as the days become shorter and cooler. The fact that these trees are tucked in with evergreens creates a fall foliage display that is rich and varied.
Idaho
The International Selkirk Loop. An acclaimed scenic byway that passes through British Columbia, Washington, and Idaho. The Idaho portion runs from Priest River, through Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry, to the border town of Porthill.
Pend Oreille National Scenic Byway. This scenic byway begins north of Sandpoint on Idaho Highway 200 and runs east to the Idaho-Montana border. Much of the route skirts the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, providing gorgeous water views to accompany the colorful fall display.
Teton Scenic Byway. The fall colors of the Teton Mountain Range are truly memorable. This winding route passes through the towns of Ashton, Tetonia, and Driggs.
Montana
Late-September to mid-October is typically the best time but the fall color varies greatly depending on the elevation.
Beartooth Highway. A truly breathtaking drive that includes mountains and meadows. You will pass through Southern Montana and the towns of Custer, Shoshone, and the Gallatin National Forests.
Glacier National Park. Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is dotted with the golden hues of late-season larch and aspen and one of the country’s great scenic wonders.
Seeley-Swan Scenic Drive. State Highway 83 runs through the Seeley-Swan Valley within Lolo National Forest and includes several beautiful lakes.
North Fork Flathead River. Pictured below, The Flathead river is designated a National Wild and Scenic River.
Oregon
Columbia River Gorge. On the Oregon side of the river you can follow either Interstate 84 or the old Historic Columbia River Highway which runs parallel to the Interstate. These links will help you plan the details of your fall foliage tour through the Gorge.
Fremont-Winema National Forests. Located east of Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon, the Fremont-Winema National Forests offer miles of scenic drives. According to About.Com/Travel, the color is most spectacular in the lower, wetter areas of the forest.
Byways. These panoramic drives offer even more splendid fall colors:
McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway
Umpqua National Forest
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
One More Thing…
We know that, depending on where you live, you may not have to travel far to see amazing fall colors. However, if you are traveling more than 150 miles away please have a plan in case a medical emergency occurs. Fall Leaf Peeing is a pretty peaceful, non-contact sport but you never know what could happen.
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