The Best Way to View Autumn Colors Is By Foot

The Best Way to View Autumn Colors Is By Foot

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Posted October 19, 2024

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Lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trails is hands-down the best way to immerse yourself in autumn’s dazzling display. Whether you’re conquering a mountain summit in Virginia or meandering through geologic history in Wisconsin, trails offer a front-row seat to nature’s most spectacular show. These overlooked destinations have the perfect trails for leaf-peeping.

Jefferson National Forest

As I walked along the path surrounding Pandapas Pond in the Jefferson National Forest of central Virginia, fall was already making itself known with a cool morning breeze. This eight-acre pond, situated within the hardwood forest, is encircled by a one-mile loop trail that traverses wetlands over boardwalks and bridges and connects to miles of additional trails in the surrounding forest.

Coy and demure, the white oak and red maple trees at Jefferson National Forest outside of the rousing Virginia Tech college town of Blacksburg were showing signs that fall was certainly on its way.

Nearby, the Blue Ridge Parkway gets all the love when it comes to leaf-peeping season as millions drive the scenic byway to take in the explosive colors that cover the land when the leaves change color. But for those wanting a more immersive leafy experience, one of the best ways is by foot or bicycle.

While North America has no shortage of trails that immerse visitors in the outdoor splendor of fall, here are a few overlooked ones. Even better, they tend to be less crowded.

Autumn Leaf Peeping in Jefferson National Forest

Jefferson National Forest Photo: Heide Brandes

Fall Foliage in the Finger Lakes Region of New York

The Finger Lakes region of New York transforms into a mesmerizing tapestry of reds, oranges, and golds each autumn, offering leaf peepers an unforgettable experience. Among the area’s crown jewels for fall hiking are Watkins Glen State Park, Letchworth State Park, and Buttermilk Falls State Park. These natural wonders not only showcase the vibrant foliage but also boast rich histories and breathtaking waterfalls, creating a perfect trifecta for autumn adventurers.

Watkins Glen State Park, carved by glaciers and water over millennia, features a dramatic gorge with 19 waterfalls along its two-mile path. The Gorge Trail, winding through 200-foot cliffs, provides hikers with a unique perspective as fall colors frame the cascading waters. This park’s history dates back to the mid-1800s when it was a private tourist resort before becoming a state park in 1906.

Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park offers a different but equally stunning fall experience. The Genesee River has carved a gorge up to 600 feet deep, flanked by forests that erupt in a riot of color come autumn. The park’s 66 miles of hiking trails provide numerous vantage points to admire the three major waterfalls – Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls – each framed by the season’s palette.

Buttermilk Falls State Park, named for the frothy appearance of its main cascade, offers a more intimate leaf-peeping experience. The park’s series of waterfalls, dropping 600 feet in total, are surrounded by hemlock-hardwood forests that burst into color each fall.

Autumn Letchworth State Park

Autumn Letchworth State Park Photo: Heide Brandes

The Natural State Shines in Little Rock, Arkansas

Pinnacle Mountain State Park, just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, is also a popular leaf-peeping destination thanks to its diverse hardwood forests that don their fall colors. Rising 1,011 feet above the Arkansas River Valley, the mountain offers hikers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding landscape along an extensive network of hiking trails catering to various skill levels.

The East and West Summit trails, each about 0.75 miles long, provide a challenging ascent to the mountain’s peak. For a less strenuous experience, the 1.5-mile Base Trail encircles the mountain’s foot, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the fall foliage at a gentler pace. The Rocky Valley Trail and the Ouachita Trail offer longer hikes through the colorful woodlands, stretching 2.5 and 3 miles, respectively, within the park boundaries.

Cyclists can also see the park’s fall beauty on the new Monument Trails at Pinnacle Mountain, which now take visitors to places never before accessible in the park. While these trails are technically for mountain biking, all but a few are open to hiking and trail running.

Additionally, the nearby Arkansas River Trail, while not within the park itself, connects to Pinnacle Mountain and provides 88 miles of scenic riding along the river, perfect for experiencing the broader region’s fall colors.

Seattle’s Wilder Side

Issaquah, located less than an hour from Seattle in foothills of the Cascade Mountains, offers a spectacular array of trails that come alive with vibrant colors during the fall season.

The city’s extensive network of hiking paths, ranging from easy walks to challenging climbs, wind through lush forests and bubbling creeks, providing hikers with stunning vistas of autumn’s palette. Popular trails like those in Tiger Mountain State Forest and Squak Mountain State Park showcase a diverse mix of deciduous trees, including maples, alders, and cottonwoods, which transform their greens into reds, oranges, and golds as the weather cools.

The unique combination of elevation changes and varied ecosystems create a dynamic and ever-changing display throughout the season. Additionally, the region’s typically mild and dry autumn weather provides perfect conditions for outdoor exploration, allowing visitors to comfortably immerse themselves in nature’s spectacular show while enjoying the crisp air and the earthy scent of fallen leaves.

Autumn Leaf Peeping on the Ice Age Trail

Ice Age Trail Photo: Heide Brandes

Going Back to The Ice Age in Wisconsin

The Ice Age Trail, a 1,200-mile footpath winding through Wisconsin, takes hikers on a journey through the state’s glacial landscape and autumn’s display.

This National Scenic Trail traverses a diverse array of terrains, from rolling hills and prairies to dense forests and wetlands, all sculpted by ancient glaciers. During fall, the trail comes alive with a spectacular palette of colors as maples, oaks, aspens, and other deciduous trees don their fall coats.

What makes the Ice Age Trail particularly ideal for day hikes to view fall foliage is its accessibility and variety. The trail is divided into numerous segments, like the Northern Kettle Moraine, Devil’s Lake, and Chippewa Moraine, allowing hikers of all skill levels to experience the autumn splendor without committing to a long-distance trek.

 

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  • Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist who focuses on travel, adventure, outdoor experiences, culture and more. She has bylines in such magazines as National Geographic, BBC, The Smithsonian, Cowboys & Indians, Southern Living, AAA Journeys and more. Her work can be seen at www.heidebrandes.com. When not traveling and writing, Heide is an avid hiker, caver, professional belly dancer, medieval reenactor and kind of a quirky chick living in Oklahoma.    

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