4 Fall Foliage Trips in the U.S.

The obvious trip is one through the Northeast on a New England road trip.  The vast forests through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut will fill your trip with gorgeous drives and camera (smartphone?) with countless breathtaking photos.  This trip is one of those clichés that holds true in that it’s not each destination that is what matters, but, instead, the road to them.  Plan on crowds and expensive hotel, and bed and breakfast rates, but it truly is a trip of a lifetime that is just within our country’s borders.

With over 100 different species of trees in the Smoky Mountains National Park, it is a ripe locale for perfect fall colors.  On top of that, the national park is completely free to all visitors so you’ll be saving money compared to other trips from the get-go.  Pack a jacket and hiking boots because some of the best spots for photos will be along one of the many secluded trails.  And crowds may not be terrible on those trails, as the Smoky Mountains offer over 800 miles of hiking trails for you to ditch the roads and other color-gazers for a uniquely private experience.

Contrary to the seemingly never-ending list of tree varieties in the Smokies, the best part of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the fall season is one variety (and in many cases, even one sole organism): the aspen.  The city of Aspen, Colorado certainly honors its namesake with the trees sparkling the surrounding mountains with bright, glimmering yellow leaves against white bark.  With that said, aspens grow throughout the region with amazing drives nearer to Denver such as the Vail area, and even Guanella Pass accessible through the mountain town of Georgetown.  For the closest mountain viewing, you may want to check out Golden Gate Canyon State Park just beyond the town of Golden where rolling hills meet towering mountains.

Continuing farther out west takes us to the Pacific Northwest where Oregon and Washington have been making the rest of the country jealous with their amazing flaura that overtakes the countryside and cities alike.  Just outside of Portland you can plan a morning trip at the extremely popular Multnomah Falls.  Or, head out for a daytrip (or even overnighter) to Cannon Beach where you’ll be enthralled by the thousands of flowers that hug every nook and cranny of the quaint town.  If in Washington, hit up Bellevue Botanical Garden for a serene walk through incredible pathways.  Or, head to Mount Rainier where the colors are just as vibrant yet the crowds have dropped dramatically from the summer rush.