20 Regions Across The U.S. Showing Off Stunning Peak Foliage This Month
Across the country, autumn is reaching its most breathtaking moment, and landscapes are bursting with fiery shades of red, orange, and gold.
Each region has its own way of showing off the season’s brilliance – mountain ridges glowing at sunrise, quiet valleys drenched in amber, and city parks where every path feels alive with color.
For travelers and leaf-peepers, timing is everything, and this month offers the perfect window to see fall in its full glory.
These 20 regions are where the leaves are currently at their most spectacular, turning ordinary views into unforgettable autumn panoramas.
1. Northern Vermont’s Emerald Kingdom
Locals call it the ‘Northeast Kingdom’ for good reason. Vermont’s northernmost region transforms into a royal display of scarlet maples and golden birches during October.
Winding roads through Stowe and the Green Mountains reveal postcard-perfect scenes at every turn.
Farm stands offering fresh apple cider and maple treats make perfect stopping points between photo opportunities.
2. White Mountain Wonders
The Kancamagus Highway cuts through New Hampshire’s White Mountains like a ribbon through a gift box of autumn treasures. Early morning fog lifts to reveal valleys ablaze with color.
Franconia Notch and Mount Washington Valley offer hiking trails where the reward isn’t just at the summit – it’s all around you. The reflection of multicolored hillsides in crystal-clear lakes doubles nature’s artwork.
3. Maine’s Coastal Color Explosion
Where the mountains meet the sea, Maine’s fall display takes on a unique character. Acadia National Park’s deciduous forests create a striking contrast against the deep blue Atlantic.
The Maine Highlands further inland showcase an untamed wilderness transformed by autumn’s touch.
Take the drive up Cadillac Mountain for panoramic views that capture both the colorful coastline and island-dotted bays below.
4. Adirondack’s Wilderness Canvas
New York’s largest protected natural area becomes a painter’s dream in October. The Adirondack Mountains feature six million acres of forests, lakes, and peaks dressed in their autumn best.
Whiteface Mountain offers drives and gondola rides for spectacular aerial views.
For a unique perspective, paddle a canoe across one of the region’s many lakes to see the colorful hillsides perfectly mirrored in still waters.
5. Catskill Mountains’ Artistic Inspiration
The landscape that inspired America’s first great art movement – the Hudson River School – continues to dazzle each autumn. New York’s Catskill Mountains burst with color from late September through October.
Kaaterskill Falls becomes even more magical framed by golden and crimson leaves.
The region’s charming small towns like Woodstock and New Paltz provide perfect bases for day trips along scenic byways where every curve reveals a new autumn masterpiece.
6. Pennsylvania’s Pocono Paradise
Just a short drive from major East Coast cities lies a mountain escape that transforms magnificently each fall.
The Pocono Mountains feature more than 127 varieties of trees, creating one of the most diverse autumn displays anywhere.
Bushkill Falls, nicknamed ‘the Niagara of Pennsylvania,’ frames its eight cascading waterfalls with brilliant foliage.
The Delaware Water Gap provides dramatic views where the river cuts through mountains dressed in their autumn finery.
7. Allegheny’s Ancient Forest Tapestry
Pennsylvania’s only national forest contains some of the oldest growth in the eastern United States. The Allegheny National Forest’s ancient trees put on a spectacular autumn show across its half-million acres.
The Kinzua Sky Walk – a railroad bridge converted into an observation deck – extends 624 feet into the air above a gorge filled with colorful trees.
Scenic drives like Route 6 offer easy access to panoramic vistas that showcase nature’s most vibrant season.
8. Shenandoah’s Skyline Spectacle
Virginia’s most famous national park becomes a 105-mile corridor of color each autumn.
Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive offers 75 overlooks where visitors can pull over and marvel at the rolling waves of crimson, gold, and orange.
The Blue Ridge Mountains live up to their name even in fall, as distant peaks take on a blueish haze that contrasts beautifully with nearby colorful slopes.
9. Blue Ridge Parkway’s Painted Journey
America’s longest linear park becomes its most colorful road trip in autumn. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Color progresses down the mountains like a slow wave, starting at higher elevations in early October.
The parkway’s carefully designed scenic overlooks frame views of mountains blanketed in color, with each turn revealing another breathtaking panorama.
10. Great Smoky Mountains’ Misty Magic
America’s most visited national park earns its popularity during autumn when over 100 species of trees transform into a kaleidoscope of color.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, offering accessible beauty for all ages.
Clingmans Dome and Newfound Gap Road provide spectacular overlooks without strenuous hiking.
11. Ozark Mountains’ Hidden Treasure
Spanning parts of Arkansas and Missouri, the Ozarks offer some of the Midwest’s most underrated fall scenery.
Ancient mountains – some of the oldest in North America – provide a rugged backdrop for spectacular autumn colors.
Buffalo National River becomes even more scenic with colorful bluffs reflecting in its clear waters.
12. Upper Peninsula’s Copper Country
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula transforms into a wonderland of color each fall. Locals call it ‘copper country’ not just for its mining history but for the brilliant copper hues that dominate the autumn landscape.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers a unique perspective where colorful cliffs meet the turquoise waters of Lake Superior.
The Porcupine Mountains contain the largest tract of old-growth hardwood forest in the Midwest, creating an especially rich autumn palette.
13. Wisconsin’s Peninsula Paradise
Door County juts into Lake Michigan like a finger pointing at some of the Midwest’s most spectacular fall scenery.
This peninsula features over 300 miles of shoreline where colorful forests meet the blue waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay.
Further north, Wisconsin’s Northwoods region offers more remote autumn adventures.
Copper Falls State Park showcases waterfalls framed by brilliant maples and aspens, while scenic drives through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest reveal endless color.
14. Minnesota’s North Shore Symphony
Lake Superior’s northwestern shore hosts one of the Midwest’s most dramatic fall displays.
Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive follows the coastline for 150 miles, with overlooks revealing colorful hillsides dropping into the world’s largest freshwater lake.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area offers a more remote experience where paddlers can glide through pristine lakes surrounded by fiery maples and golden aspens.
Seven state parks along the route feature waterfalls that become even more photogenic when framed by autumn color.
15. Colorado’s Golden Aspen Groves
The Colorado Rockies put on America’s most famous high-altitude autumn show. Vast groves of aspen trees turn brilliant gold against azure skies and snow-dusted mountain peaks.
The drive from Aspen to Maroon Bells rewards visitors with what may be the most photographed mountain scene in North America – especially in fall.
Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road offers sweeping vistas of valleys filled with patches of gold aspen stands among dark evergreens.
16. Utah’s Wasatch Wonder
The mountains surrounding Salt Lake City transform into a patchwork quilt of color each autumn.
The Wasatch Range features brilliant red maples, golden aspens, and orange oaks set against dramatic rocky peaks.
Alpine Loop Scenic Byway near Park City winds through canyons where color seems to spill down mountainsides.
For a unique perspective, take the aerial tram at Snowbird Resort to see the colorful valleys from above, with the Great Salt Lake shimmering in the distance.
17. Northern Rockies’ Wild Palette
Montana’s Glacier Country offers some of the West’s most rugged and colorful autumn landscapes.
Golden larch trees – unusual conifers that drop their needles after turning bright yellow – create a unique fall display against the dramatic backdrop of glacier-carved peaks.
Idaho’s Bitterroot Valley and Wyoming’s Grand Teton region add their own splashes of color to the Northern Rockies’ autumn canvas.
18. Columbia River Gorge’s Fiery Canyon
The massive canyon dividing Oregon and Washington becomes even more spectacular when autumn arrives.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area features diverse forests that create a rich tapestry of fall color.
Multnomah Falls – already Oregon’s most visited natural attraction – becomes even more magical when surrounded by golden bigleaf maples.
The historic Columbia River Highway offers numerous viewpoints where visitors can see the colorful canyon walls dropping dramatically to the river below.
19. Washington Cascades’ Alpine Artistry
The mountain range dividing Washington state serves up some of the Pacific Northwest’s most dramatic fall scenery.
The Cascade Mountains combine alpine lakes, jagged peaks, and colorful forests into unforgettable autumn vistas.
The Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth nestles in a valley where golden larches and crimson vine maples create a festive atmosphere.
20. Sierra Nevada’s Alpine Glow
California’s mighty mountain range saves some of its most spectacular scenery for autumn.
The Sierra Nevada’s eastern slope puts on a particularly colorful show when aspen groves turn brilliant gold against the rugged landscape.
Lake Tahoe’s already-stunning blue waters become even more photogenic when surrounded by colorful trees.
The less-visited Plumas and Lassen regions to the north offer equally impressive displays with fewer crowds, where hiking trails wind through meadows and forests painted in autumn hues.
