No need to go to places all around the world to experience the beauty of fall foliage. All across the states, in every possible inch where you see trees, you can enjoy the beauty of this phenomena, the fall foliage. The enjoyment of the fall foliage is the cheapest but the richest thing you can experience this fall. Here is a selection of 10 locations in the States where you can enjoy the fall foliage the most, but if you don’t feel like traveling, just get outside and find your own special place where you will spend the most beautiful time of the year.
Aspen, Colorado
When the town is named after a tree, then it must be an extraordinary specimen. The gold tones of the aspens in the fall makes the landscapes perfect for enjoying the views. Because the season in Aspen is short for the fall foliage, the best way to go there is in mid-September or the latest in the first weak of October. After that there is not much to enjoy of this phenomena.
Image by Dave Soldano via Flickr
The Catskills, New York
Catskills is a location in the southeastern New York with more than six major river systems, 35 mountains peaks and a famed Woodstock festival. This place is best to be visited during the period of the fall foliage because of the vibrant colors. The yellow, orange and red colored leafs are making this place unique during the period of last two weeks in September through mid- to late-October, and the festival is just a great addition to the natural beauty.
Image by Katy Silberger via Flickr
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
Fall foliage season in the Berkshires starts in late September and it is present during Columbus Day weekend in mid-October. You can still enjoy the vibrant colors in late October, but don’t expect anything in November. This place is the best one to escape from the busy life of New York City, Boston and Philadelphia….
Image by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Flickr [Ogden Gigli]
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
The 80-mile long Columbia River George is a natural border between Washington and Oregon. During the season of fall foliage the place becomes awe-inspiring. The big leaf maples, Oregon ash, twisted pines and the cottonwoods starts to show their real colors in the fall. So if you want to visit and enjoy the magic of this season, be sure to come from mid-September to mid-October. A place we suggest to visit is Multnomah Falls, you can see it in the following photo.
Image by Michael Matti via Flickr
Green Mountain Byway, Vermont
A 11-mile route through Vermont that connects many different locations, from Stow to ski resorts, state parks and state forests, it is lined up with maple, birch and beech trees. During the fall foliage period the golden colors around the road makes it feel like you are traveling in a fairy tale. So want to drive in the magic? Make sure you do that from the second week of September till the first week of October.
Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, New Mexico
Another road which is best to be visited from the late September to the early October if you want to see the most vibrant colors it offers. It is 83-mile long loop that starts in Taos. Here you can observe the yellow and the dark orange color of the aspen trees.
Image by Nicholas A. Tonelli via Flickr
Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina & Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited in the States. There are more than 100 different species of native trees. Different kids of scarlet oaks, maples, sweetgums and hickories are just some of them. During the period from early October to early November you can enjoy the jaw-dropping landscapes of rick colors. The colors include different shades of gold, orange, crimson and purple. You can enjoy all of this during your hike trips on the many trails you can find in this park.
Image by Tom Bricker via Flickr
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Michigan is the state with the largest forest system in the eastern US. Here you can find more than 20 forested state parks. All of them rich with aspen, ash, birch, maple, sycamore, oak, beech and tamarack are the stars of this densely forested peninsula that is located inside three Great Lakes. The tranquil waters supplemented with the rich colors of the trees in fall foliage period, makes the reflections amazing. So want to experience the magic, just get here during the period of mid-September till mid-October.
Image by James Marvin Phelps via Flickr
Lake Of The Ozarks, Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is the best to be hiked during the fall period. The surrounding hills with vibrant colors are just an addition to all the beauty. Whether you want to go hiking or enjoy the view on a yacht or want to do something more adventurous like mountain biking or horseback riding, you wont make mistake. The shades of scarlet, gold, mahogany and russet colors will leave you speechless. When to go? Well the last two weeks of October are the best time for this enjoyment.
Image by Thomas Hawk via Flickr
Image by Thomas Hawk via Flickr
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park in Montana is one of the most beautiful parks in US. The most of the photos on the internet of this park are taken in the spring or the summer but it is as much beautiful as in fall. Just visit it in the period from mid-September to mid-October and you will see that the beauty is persistent during the whole year. So experiencing this national park during the fall foliage period is as much satisfying as the other periods of the year.
Image by GlacierNPS via Flickr