Fall is an incredible time of year for traveling and one that is often overlooked by many – including this writer!
Summer is my favorite season; I love the beach, the sunshine, and the longer days. This means the start of fall could have a slightly sad ‘back to school’ tinged feeling….if it wasn’t for the performance the trees put on for us every year.
The incredible array of burnt yellow, rust, and vibrant red leaves look incredible as they change from their verdant green, creating a whole blanket of explosive color.
There’s nowhere better in the world to experience these changing leaves on a large scale than in the U.S. and one of the many epic National Parks.
Of course, there’s no such thing as a bad National Park if you want to see stunning fall foliage. Where there are trees, there are changing leaves!
But these 7 stand out from the crowd for their scale and beauty and should be on your bucket list for your next fall staycation:
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is most famous for its rugged coastline and enormous dense forest.
This is perfect for cooling down in the summer and for biking and hiking year-round.
But it is the sheer size and density of the forest here that makes this one of the very best U.S. national parks for leaf peeping.
The park is primarily occupied by maple, birch, and oak trees which means that you can see an array of different colored leaves. The display is beautiful.
Sea kayaking along the coastline is one of the best perspectives for fully appreciating the fall leaves here.
You can book this with Acadia Sea Kayaking Adventures, which offers sunset tours for $80 per person.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Perhaps one of the most famous great American national parks, this place is a real paradise in the fall.
What I love about this park is that its mountainous landscape means that you can easily view the canopy of leaves from above.
The fall season in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is long because of its various elevations.
If you want to see the fall colors at the highest elevations then this is forecast to arrive between early and mid October this year. At the lowest levels the leaves won’t turn until mid-October to early November, making this a great spot for a late fall vacation.
According to the National Park Service, the best place to see the fall foliage in the Smoky Mountains National Park this year is on the Clingmans Dome Road or the Blue Ridge Parkway.
New River Gorge National Park
New River Gorge wasn’t made a National Park until 2020, but it has made a huge impression since then.
Located in the record-breaking state of West Virginia, the bridge over the gorge may be its stand-out feature, but the foliage to either side of the gorge is also a key attraction.
The park will reach peak fall colors between mid-October and early November this year and if you stand at the rim of the gorge in Grandview then you will be in the best position to see the foliage in all its glory.
If you’re really brave, then visit the park on Saturday, October 19.
This is Bridge Day, when base jumpers flock to the bridge so that they can plunge 900 feet into the gorge.
Join them, or just watch the spectacle from the safety of dry land!
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is famous for its red rock formations and these look even more bright and magnificent when they’re fringed by red and orange leaves.
The best way to explore the park is via its iconic scenic drive, but more adventurous types will have excellent views of the foliage if they choose to kayak or paddleboard on the Virgin River.
Zion National Park tends to be quieter in the fall when the summer crowds have disappeared, but the weather remains pretty warm.
It’s worth noting that fall comes later to Zion than almost any other U.S. national park, and you’ll still find fall foliage in full color here in late November.
North Cascades National Park
Fall hits a little differently in the North Cascades National Park. Instead of the blanket of orange and red, you expect from traditional fall foliage, you’ll see explosions of golden yellow here.
For any outdoorsy nerds, this is because North Cascades National Park is home to the larch tree, which is a rare conifer that turns brilliant gold before it drops its needles in the fall.
The best place to see these and the incredibly beautiful vistas of the park is the Maple Pass Loop.
It’s worth noting that limited services are available in this park in the fall. The Wilderness Information Center and other park visitor hubs close in early October, but despite this, the park is still well worth visiting.
Crowd levels will be low (this is one of the least visited national parks in the U.S.) and the scenery is worth making the effort for. Aim to visit in early fall, as State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) tends to close in mid to late November due to snow hazards.
Yosemite National Park
Unlike North Cascades National Park, Yosemite is a year-round gem, and there’s no bad time to visit. But Yosemite is particularly magical in the fall.
The crowds thin out, the waterfalls slow, and the whole park comes alive with color. All areas of the park will remain open until the end of October, so you won’t have to worry about reduced access to facilities and amenities.
Fall is also big wall climbing season in Yosemite so if you enjoy climbing (or want to try) then this is the time to visit.
The Yosemite Mountaineering School & Guide Service offers “Welcome to the Rock” beginners classes for $205.
More experienced climbers can join the 2 day Big Wall Climbing Seminar for $450.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Finally, the breathtakingly beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park is even more beautiful in the fall.
Fall is considered the best time of year for hiking in the park, and the higher you go, the more expansive and beautiful your views of the Rocky Mountain fall foliage will be.
Golden Aspens are the most sought-after fall trees here, but you’ll still see plenty of green thanks to the lush meadows, too.
As an added bonus, fall is mating season for the elk in the Rocky Mountains, and you can hear their mating calls as you explore the park.
It’s a curious but somewhat beautiful sound!
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