5 Best Places to Travel to See Fall Colors
5 Best Places to Travel to See Fall Colors
I know I’m not the only one who counts down the days for Fall every year. The crisp cool air paired with vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red is something you do not want to miss. So, if traveling is in the books for this Fall, here are five must-see places to see those gorgeous colors.
1. Shenandoah National Park Virginia
This park is home to a 105-mile Skyline Drive, with numerous opportunities to catch those breathtaking sights. The park contains the Shenandoah River and a vast valley filled with wilderness. It’s protected underneath the National Wilderness Preservation System, a haven for the wildlife and the foliage that grows there. If you’re feeling adventurous, the 105-mile stretch offers trails leading to waterfalls surrounded by abundant nature. While driving, this national park has 69 scenic overlooks to catch those vibrant colors with your family or friends.
It can get a little chilly up in Shenandoah National Park, with an average range of 49 F- 69 F. However, it’s worth bearing the colder temperature for the stunning views. Since Shenandoah is so colorful during the Fall, it can get crowded during autumn. If you want a peaceful walk on the trailhead, it’s recommended to attend during the week instead of the weekend. The campgrounds go fast during the Fall; there are a couple of steps to complete to secure your spot. First, you cannot book a campground over the phone; instead, you must be at the campground in person. You should arrive by Thursday evening, as most of the campground sites will be booked by then. For parking, the two northern entrances are typically full; trying the Swift Run or Rockfish entrances are recommended.
When planning a trip to this national park, you want to go during “peak time” However, weather and elevation changes make it challenging to predict. Instead, photos will be posted on the Shenandoah Instagram and Facebook pages every Thursday from various points throughout the park. Other visitors also submit their photos, so you can better look at what’s happening. At 2 pm on Thursdays, there is also a fall broadcast on Shenandoah’s page, Facebook, and Instagram. On Shenandoah’s website, there is also a fall color webcam, so you can continuously monitor what’s happening in the park.
2. Maroon Bells- Aspen, Colorado
Want to see beautiful fall colors without a sweaty hike? Maroon Bells in Colorado is your destination! Pictures of the mountain range are so surreal that it mimics a painting. Maroon Bells is one of the most desired photography spots in Colorado. This mountain range can be found only 10 miles from Aspen and 16 miles from Snowmass.
In the Maroon Bells, there are natural habitats full of diversity. As a result, visitors have many options to choose from when it comes to Maroon Bells. There are six scenic hiking trails, camping sites, and even biking paths to explore. With various types of native foliage and wildlife, it never gets dull visiting this mountain range.
You need to know a few things before packing your backpack and heading to this destination. First, since it is so popular, you must make reservations in advance. If you visit between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, you will have to take a bus to get up to the trailhead. A bus is required to stop the parking lot from becoming too overcrowded. The fare for the bus is 15.95, but it includes the reservation for Maroon Bells. There are tons of hiking trails that have breathtaking landscapes, and sweating isn’t required. If you want to bring your car, the fee is 10 dollars; however, you still need to reserve a spot. Reservations start in May and end in October.
3. Acadia National Forest, Maine
This national park is located almost 160 miles out of Portland. This park has diverse nature, which includes mountains and the Atlantic shoreline. Nestled between these two environments, Acadia National Park has very diverse wildlife and plantlife. For this national forest, there is a peak leaf period. This period typically lands within the first two weeks of October. In addition, Acadia offers a scenic drive called the Acadia All-American Road. This road is one of the best scenic drives, offering bright, lively hues of orange, red, and yellow. If you want to check out when the colors are at their peak, go to www.mainfolaige.com.
The colors at Acadia National Park are breathtaking, and if you’re looking for a place to stay, Bar Harbor is the ideal choice. However, if you want to visit Acadia National Park in the winter, Bar Harbor closes for the winter season.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest park, going on for 469 miles. It runs from Virginia to North Carolina and is a small two-lane road for most of the way. There are frequent overlooks to pull off, so visitors can enjoy the vast wildness of the parkway.
The peak time for the leaves to be changed is typically mid to late October. However, elevation plays a crucial role when the leaves change. The leaves on the highest peaks will change color earlier than those on lower elevations. A helpful tip when going to the Blue Ridge Parkway is to drive along the parkway instead of picking one stop so you can find those perfect Fall leaves in case your predestined spot isn’t at its peak. The best section of the parkway is between Cherokee and Blowing Rock. This applies to the mileposts between Cherokee and Blowing Rock.
If you want to visit Blue Ridge Parkway in the Fall, drive up early in the morning. If you get there early, you can avoid the heavy crowd that comes with the fall season. It can also be less busy in the evening. The views would still be gorgeous in the evening, with the possibility of watching the sunset on the parkway. Avoid weekends during the peak fall season, as there will be many crowds.
Sometimes at the viewpoints, there will be little trails you can explore without the craziness of a crowd.
5. Cascade Mountains, Oregon
This mountain range can be found in Western North America, going through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. In total, this mountain range is a 700 mile stretch. The Oregon Casacade Mountains is one of the most stunning ranges in all of North America. The area of the Casacades that is in Oregon is filled with maples, fir trees, ash trees and cottonwoods. This provides a stunning display of colors once fall arrives. The best time to see these colors in person is from mid September into mid October.
There is a small fee if you’re looking to visit the Casacade Mountain Range. For the day, hikers will be charged a dollar while backpackers will be charged 6 dollars. There is an option to book a permit online instead of in person. Permits are required starting the Friday before Memorial Day and goes until the last Friday in September. There is a limit on the number of permits given daily. This is put in place so the area won’t become overcrowded.
