The Most Stunning Places For Fall Foliage In The USA

It’s that time of year: the days are getting shorter and chillier, but the new season brings with it one of the most stunning natural cycles: the turning of the leaves. Bundle up, grab a camera and visit any of these gorgeous spots in the United States – from Vermont to Colorado – to view fall colors at their best.

Stowe, Vermont

Stowe, Vermont, is widely regarded as the nation’s best place for viewing fall colors. The town is always prepared to show off nature’s gift with special deals and many viewing options, including river and lake tours, winery tours, carriage and wagon rides, ghostly lantern tours and gondola rides. Route 100 is an excellent scenic drive in the area, and Vermont’s highest mountain, Mount Mansfield, supplies incredible vistas if you’re willing to hike to the top. A few other areas with beautiful hiking trails include Wiessner Woods, Kirchner Woods, Moss Glen Falls and Bingham Falls.

There’s no place like Vermont in the fall

Bar Harbor, Maine

For beautiful fall colors in Maine, visit Bar Harbor

Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina and Tennessee

With more than 100 different species of native and mostly deciduous trees, the Great Smoky Mountains offer an incredible fall show. Due to elevation affecting weather, the higher parts of the mountains begin to change colors first, slowly making their way down. Recommended scenic drives include Clingmans Dome Road, Blue Ridge Parkway, Foothills Parkway and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. On foot, enjoy the fall foliage while exploring the Appalachian Trail, Inspiration Point on the Alum Cave Trail, the Oconaluftee River Trail, Look Rock Tower and Sutton Ridge Overlook.

North Conway, New Hampshire

Nestled in the Mount Washington Valley, North Conway takes advantage of its surroundings and offers a dozen ways for leaf peepers to enjoy the views, including from a gondola, zip line, hike, dogsled, rollercoaster or boat. Recommended scenic drives, such as West Side Road, Cathedral Ledge Road, Jackson Loop, Eaton/Madison, Kancamagus Scenic Byway, Bear Notch Road and the Notches, will provide the vistas from the warmth of your vehicle. Just be fair to your fellow viewers, and avoid accidents by switching drivers from time to time.

Lenox, Massachusetts

One of the many cities in the Berkshires, Lenox is part of an entire region well known for its fall color – after all, it hosts Massachusetts’ largest state forest (October Mountain State Forest). Mount Greylock is an excellent viewing area with a plethora of hiking trails and a scenic byway. With natural wonders, such as Bash Bish Falls, throughout the area, it’s easy to discover fall foliage hotspots, most notably Bartholomew’s Cobble and Woods Pond.

The Poconos, Pennsylvania

Another area with incredible natural surroundings, the Poconos offer everything from fall foliage train excursions and air tours to vineyard tours. When it comes to scenic driving routes, Route 507 near Lake Wallenpaupack is the way to go. Bushkill Falls offers four hiking trails and up to eight waterfalls, which only add to the fall colors’ brilliance. Keep up to date with the Poconos Fall Foliage Forecast so that you know when and where to go for optimal autumn splendor.

The Poconos shine with brilliant colors in the fall

Catskill Mountains, New York

In southeastern New York State, the Catskill Mountains offer another incredible opportunity to surround yourself with the temporary brilliance of fall. Other than the always stunning Catskills waterfalls, don’t miss the Catskills Scenic Trail, Frick Pond Loop, Buttermilk Falls at Peekamoose and Hunter Mountain Fire Tower.

If you’re in New York, the Catskill Mountains offer glowing fall foliage

Taos, New Mexico

Picking up around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Southern Rockies) in New Mexico, Taos comes with beautiful vistas and creative ways to enjoy them. Points of interest for fall foliage include the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, the High Road between Taos and Santa Fe, and Highway 64, as well as the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Hiking trails such as Williams Lake Trail #62, Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67 and Goose Creek Trail #65 are excellent options. The Columbine Trail is particularly popular, and those less interested in hiking can opt for the Chile Express chairlift at Angel Fire Resort.

The Southwest has some incredible fall colors, including the area around Taos

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen, Colorado, is a city named after a deciduous tree, so of course it made this list. The Maroon Bells are a popular spot for a view of the golden Rockies. For scenic drives, check out Maroon Creek Road, Castle Creek Road and Independence Pass. If you’d prefer to get out and walk among the stunning scenery, the Cathedral Lake, American Lake, Hunter Creek and Crater Lake trails are excellent choices. Can’t make it out to Colorado?

Aspen has beautiful fall colors all around

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.