Twice a year, the colors of the flowers and trees stun us, but Where are The Best Places To See Fall Foliage?
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Where are The Best Places To See Fall Foliage?
Not every state present us with the beauty of autumn’s color-changing splendor. And it’s only in the fall, though, that we indulge in scenic driving, marveling at the vibrant colors of the foliage.
Generally, along the East coast, the Mid-West, and some of the West, the trees turn colors starting in late October into early November.
If you’re in a place like Florida, where seasons outside of summer don’t exist, you may want to experience the magnificence of fall in more fitting areas.
Trees With Red Leaves In Fall
Several varieties of maple trees boast red leaves in fall like the sugar and red maple, the red crepe myrtle, red oak, and the black tupelo. There are birch trees in Maryland, for example, that offer impressed viewers red, yellow, and orange leaves among the green leaves on the same branch.
Trees With Orange Leaves In Fall
The smoke tree is a tall tree whose leaves turn bright orange in fall. It’s native to southern states like Tennessee, Kentucky, and northern Alabama, but stretches over to Oklahoma and some parts of Texas.
Nineteen species of hickory trees grow in the U. S. and offer viewers beautiful orange clouds 100 feet in the air during autumn.
You probably know the dogwood tree from its pink and white blooms in spring. What you might not recognize is that same tree bursting with bright orange leaves in fall. Dogwood trees grow all over the US.
Trees With Yellow Leaves in Fall
There are numerous trees all over the country that feature yellow leaves, including:
- Tulip trees (grows from southern New York and Connecticut across to Ohio and south to Louisiana and some of Florida.)
- Shagbark hickory (grows in a line eastward from Michigan down to Texas and across to the East Coast from Florida to Maine.)
- Ohio buckeye (grows in mid-Western states including western Pennsylvania, over to Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.)
Best Places to See Fall Foliage On The East Coast
Visitors and vacationers alike love to hit the national forest, botanical garden, and historic parks located in any small town along their road trip route for spectacular views.
Beginning in mid-September, you’ll find visitors to state parks and scenic drives starting around Georgia and northbound simply to sample each state’s beauty.
Georgia, Northern Alabama, and East Tennessee
The Blue Ridge Mountains run through the extreme eastern boundaries of these states from Florida to Maine. You’ll see picturesque small towns, the odd covered bridge, and, in some cases, Civil War historic sites all surrounded by fall colors.
North and South Carolina, and Virginia
Continuing along the Blue Ridge Mountains, some states have specific highways where you can revel in the glorious colors of fall. Many home and land owners here enjoy seeing the fall foliage change colors as the seasons change, and make land maintenance their top priority to keep their property looking pristine.
Great Smoky Mountains State Park in North Carolina and Tennessee
You mustn’t miss Boone Plantation just outside Charleston, South Carolina. The foliage around the famous plantation is little short of amazing. Be sure to stop at the Shenandoah State Park in Virginia as well.
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Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York
You’ve heard of Camp David, where the President spends time for rest and relaxation. It sits hidden among the stunning fall colors in the highlands of Maryland.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania is known for its quiet and peaceful countryside. People come from all over the country to get away from it all here. Leaves peak in late October.
Upstate New York is home to the Catskills and the Adirondacks. Don’t miss Windham, a small town offering viewers a five-state view of lush foliage colors in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
Ride the scenic Skyride at Hunter Mountain if you’d rather float instead of walk.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine
Take a riverboat ride in Essex, hike along the river to the waterfall in Kent, or just enjoy the scenery in Litchfield, Connecticut.
While you’re touring the apple orchards of the Berkshires in Massachusetts, take time to enjoy the colors of this most beautiful mountainous area.
The best times to visit Acadia National Park, not far from Portland, Maine, is late September to early October. The vibrant colors are at their peak then.
The Best Places To See Fall Foliage In The Mid-West And West
The Covered Road on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Houghton County, Michigan, is a 21-mile-long dirt road with a canopy of trees over it. Pull over at a designated stopping place for pictures. You’ll end up in Freda, another wonder of Fall.
Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin, in Door County, is incredible no matter the season, but the Fall is especially colorful here.
You might think Garden of the Gods, Illinois is a place of worship, but it’s actually 21 miles of national forest trails, so grab your camera and start hiking.
The Lieber State Recreation Area is where you’ll find Cataract Falls. Surrounded by incredible fall colors are the Upper and Lower Falls, about one-half mile apart.
Hiking trails through state parks in the Ozarks, the Lake of the Ozarks, and the Missouri River all offer the vibrant colors of Fall. Mid-September to early October is peak color times.
When Omaha, Nebraska enters the conversation, people think of corn. Instead, they should check out the Platte River State Park to see the intensely colored fall foliage.
Truckers and travelers driving through Utah only see gray highways and cornfields. They may or may not get to see the beautifully colored Bear River Mountains or drive the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway. They should.
As you’re making your way west marveling at the lovely colors of fall, notice how the state and national park maintenance crews keep the trees and brush pruned back. This removes dead and dying branches for the regeneration of new growth. Careful pruning prevents pest infestations as well as allowing the tree or plant to grow in its originally intended shape and fullness. It’s a good idea for the trees and shrubs in your yard.
Anywhere in Colorado, northern New Mexico, and northern and western Arizona share mountain regions high above the desert. These highlands are replete with so many colors, you’ll need to take more than one road trip to see them all.
Just drive from Southern California through Oregon and Washington to the Canadian border. It will stunningly round out your cross-country Fall colors trip. Pay special attention to the mountain chains west of the Rockies. It’s amazing.
If you’ve been wondering where you can enjoy the autumn colors in all their glory, you can start with the above destinations to make your journey special and unique.
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