Where to Enjoy Fall Colors in and Around Chicago

Another top spot to admire fall colors in Chicago is the 312-acre (126-ha) Grant Park, situated in the heart of the city’s Financial District. As well as being home to one of the world’s largest fountains (the Buckingham Memorial Fountain) and leading museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History, the park also offers several natural areas in which to admire the changing leaf colors of elms, hawthorns and maples. Be sure to also check out the cockspur hawthorns in the Art Institute’s South Garden

If you fancy getting out of Chicago to admire the annual change of leaf colors, head to Evanston, an attractive commuter town located a half-hour drive north of the Windy City. Recommended spots, especially during the peak of the season, are the expansive gardens of Northwestern University, the three-lined central artery of Ashbury Avenue, Dawes Park and the 23-acre (9.3-ha) Ladd Arboretum, where you’ll find species such as elm, maple, oak and pine wearing their finest fall attire. The arboretum’s Cherry Tree Walk is also at its best during the fall months.

If you’re looking for the ultimate nature immersion during the fall, head to the Morton Arboretum, located in the town of Lisle a half-hour drive west of Chicago. Founded in 1922 by salt magnate Joy Morton, its unspoilt natural spaces are spread over 1,700 acres (688ha) and feature over 4,000 species of tree. Among the most striking of these during the annual change in leaf colors are bur oaks, walnut and willows. Flora buffs will also love browsing the specialist library, which holds almost 30,000 volumes on plants, flowers and trees.

An area of untamed beauty located a 20-minute drive north of Downtown Chicago, LaBagh Woods provides the perfect escape from the city. Most of its territory consists of densely wooded areas populated by large oaks, maples and cottonwoods, which explode into color during the fall, their colors changing from refreshing greens to vibrant oranges and reds. Other natural areas include wetlands, savannas and sedge meadows. To explore this wild region and admire the fall colors, go hiking or biking on the 20-mi (32-km) North Branch Trail System.

It might sound morbid to suggest a stroll around a cemetery, but there’s nothing gloomy about Graceland Cemetery during the fall. Located a few blocks back from Lincoln Park, in the Buena Park area of the city, this tranquil resting place is also home to a collection of over 2,000 trees spanning 50 species, which has been certified as an arboretum by the Morton Arboretum. During the fall, the changing colors of its red oaks, silver maples and European beeches – to name just three – are among the most magnificent sights in Chicago.

Located on the lakeshore between Jackson Park (to the south) and Grant Park (to the north) is the 653-acre (264-ha) Burnham Park. Beautiful trees can be seen pretty much anywhere within this vast green space, but the best spot to witness the annual changing of the leaves is Promontory Point, a man-made peninsula jutting out into Lake Michigan. From here, you can admire a dense bank of aspens and maples, set against the backdrop of Downtown’s glinting skyscrapers. The contrast of grey metal and glass and bright foliage is especially dramatic in mid-October.