You don’t have to be obsessed with fall to appreciate how nice the foliage can be and, thanks to a weird-weather year, the season’s going to be a bit later than usual. But where to go? We’ve asked men’s lifestyle and travel writer Joe Miragliotta of JoesDaily.com to put together a list of some of the best places in the United States to take in the color. Check them out below!
1. Mt. Hood Loop – Oregon
If you find yourself in the Portland area this fall, a trip around the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood is a definite must. The area is beautiful any time of year with an array of waterfalls, fantastic views, glacier-blanketed mountains, and vast acres of forests. Once autumn rolls around, it’s those forests that take all that beauty to the next level with a bloom of golds and rusts. As for how to take it all in, there is a world of options available. From a simple drive or guided tour to horseback riding or even camping, there’s no wrong way to do it.
Mt. Hood Loop in Oregon
2. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Minnesota
If you’re looking for something a little more laidback, a visit to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is a great way to get your fall foliage fix. For the more outdoorsy types, the area offers loads of camping locations around with quick access to backpacking trails so you can make your way there at your leisure. If it’s something a little more romantic you’re after, how does a weekend at a B&B in nearby Duluth sound? From there you can enjoy a drive along Lake Superior via scenic Highway 61 to the lighthouse where uncountable Instagram-worthy pictures await.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Minnesota
3. Upper Buffalo Wilderness – Arkansas
While you’re all but guaranteed to find some spectacular foliage anywhere in the Ozarks, the portion that makes up Arkansas’ Upper Buffalo Wilderness has a few extras that might just make the decision for you if you’re still figuring out which part to visit. Thousands of acres of forests, numerous waterfalls, plenty of wildlife, and great hiking are just a small list of what you can find here. While there are tons of activities at your disposal for enjoying the area, during the fall season, the gorgeous 3-mile hike through rocky, wooded forest to the unparalleled lookout at Hawksbill Crag should absolutely be at the top of your list. Once you arrive, mountains and valleys covered with nearly every leaf color imaginable stretch as far as the eye can see. Just be careful not to look down.
Upper Buffalo Wilderness in Arkansas
4. Mohawk Trail – Massachusetts
Of course, no list of where to do some leaf-peeping in the US would be complete without a place for New England. While I could definitely mention literally the entire region and still be totally safe, I’m sure you’re looking for something a little more narrowed down. That said, I’ve chosen the leaves I grew up with (or, at least the trees they grow on)—Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts. Open since 1914, this 63-mile road is chock-full of things to do, regardless of your interests. History, hiking, antique shopping, theatrical performances, a variety of places to eat and drink, and just about every kind of lodging imaginable can all be found along the winding drive. I might be a little biased (I am), but this might just be the best option for taking in a little fall foliage on the list.
The Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts
5. Great River Road – Illinois
Whether you’re wanting to take a week-long road trip or a relaxing weekend vacation this autumn, the Great River Road is an excellent choice. I chose the Illinois section due to the diversity in both topography and activities that can be found there. Along the drive, you make your way through wooded hills and mounds in the north that give way to sprawling open plains in the center of the state, and finally, end surrounded by stunning bluffs and rock formations in the south. As you can imagine, potential things to do are as varied as the landscape. Like on the Mohawk Trail, there are lots of historic places to shop and stay, and like in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness there’s tons of hiking and camping to do—and all of it can be accessed via a breathtaking drive along the Mississippi.
The Great River Road in Illinois
6. Telluride Gondola Ride – Colorado
We’ve been talking quite a bit about actively taking in the foliage that comes along with fall, but sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy it. If this sounds more your speed, let me point you to Telluride and Mountain Village in Colorado. To be perfectly honest, leaving whatever amazing lodge you’re staying in to get a great view probably won’t be required. However, you absolutely should. Why? Because connecting the two towns is a free gondola that lifts you more than 1,700 vertical feet over a quietly scenic 13-minute ride. Undoubtedly the scenery would be awesome any time of year, but throw in the golden hues of turning birch leaves and it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful experience. Once you’re at the top, you can grab yourself a glass of wine and a bite to eat while you try to talk yourself out of moving there permanently.
The Telluride Gondola Ride in Colorado
7. Dolly Sods Wilderness – West Virginia
Last, but not least, on our list is the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia. If there’s one thing truly unique about this area, it’s that the landscape has a different set of colors to offer throughout the first few months of fall. The ferns covering the ground kick things off, turning from their verdant green to chartreuse and, finally, saturated rusts followed by blueberry bushes that cover large patches of land in a deep red. Somewhere in-between the local’s combination of both northern and southern hardwood trees begin to turn, completing a scene that is often described as closer to that of a gorgeous Canadian landscape than something you would expect to find in West Virginia.
Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia
Joe Miragliotta
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