Top Spots To See Fall Foliage Beyond New England

Yes, fall foliage also blossoms in other parts of the country.

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Published August 28, 2026
A majestic Japanese maple tree with twisting dark branches and brilliant red, orange, and gold autumn leaves spreads over a calm garden pond surrounded by lush greenery
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Labor Day is the unofficial last day of summer, even though the season doesn’t really end until September 22 this year. Cheer up about saying goodbye to summer because you can say hello to fall foliage.

I live in the Northeast, and have always had access to the famed New England leaves that turn all hues of orange, gold, yellow and red before they tumble to the ground. Peak leaf peeping season ranges from September to October, depending on the region. There are plenty of online tools to keep track.

Even though Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire are the most well-known stars for nature’s color show, fall foliage also blossoms in other parts of the country. Now is the time to start planning a trip to different parts of the country.

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, SOUTHEAST

Quiet roadway passing beneath a stone bridge surrounded by golden autumn trees and colorful fall foliage
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This is a 469-mile route from Rockfish Gap, Virginia, to Cherokee, North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Highlights: Start your hike at Milepost 302.8. It’s uphill for 1/3 of a mile to the top of a rocky mountain featuring a boardwalk. Another 1/2-mile will take you to a 4,700-foot summit called Rough Ridge. On the way, you’ll pass boulders and observation stops to pause for photos. In the distance you’ll have views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct. When you take your eyes off the changing color of the leaves, you’ll find waterfalls and monarch butterflies before they fly off for winter vacation in Mexico. The Tanawha Trail is more challenging, 13.5 miles that parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway among forests of hickory, oak and rhododendron.

UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN

Forest waterfall cascading into a river surrounded by evergreen trees and vibrant autumn leaves in red, orange, and yellow
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Known to locals as the U.P., it’s located in the northern part of the state, covering 29% of its area but only 3% of the state’s population. Bordering Canada, Lake Superior is to its north, and to the south are Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Highlights: There is a reason the Upper Peninsula boasts one of the most bountiful autumn color sights. Full of oaks and flaming maple trees, you’ll enjoy the usual red, yellow and amber range of colors, with the added touch of aquamarine from the tall evergreens. You’ll be awed by Tahquamenon Falls State Park’s Upper Falls, known as second only to Niagara Falls. Mosquito and Miners Falls, both just off H-58, are short walks from the parking area. U.S. 41 leads to the Hiawatha National Forest. Make your final tour through Manistique, where you won’t know whether to look left for a palette of colors, or right over Lake Michigan.

DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN

Aerial photograph of a town surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, yellow, green, and red. Churches, homes, winding roads, and community buildings are nestled within a forested landscape
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Northeast Wisconsin between Green Bay and Lake Michigan is fondly nicknamed the “Cape Cod of the Midwest” for its cherry orchards, quintessential small towns and endless shorelines.

Highlights: For early risers, sunrise is the place to start, driving through twisting roads. The view from the top of Ellison Bluff is the pinnacle of Wisconsin fall colors. Peninsula State Park is home to Skyline Drive, where you’ll stop to breathe in and photograph stunning overlooks. You’ll discover lots of color reflected in Fish Creek, as well as Sven’s Bluff, with vistas of islands off the coast. Bikes can be rented at the park’s entrance.

COLORADO ASPEN FORESTS AND THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY

Scenic mountain landscape featuring a winding dirt road, colorful fall foliage, forests, and rugged mountain peaks under a soft sunset sky
Haizhan Zheng/Getty Images

The Million Dollar Highway winds itself through 25 miles of gold aspens, from Silverton to Ouray. Once a narrow, frightening road, it was rebuilt and extended in the 1920s. Recommended for drivers who can navigate carefully and slowly through all the twists and turns.

Highlights: It’s true that there are million-dollar views throughout. Late September is the ideal time for aspen trees to put on their once-a-year show. Some aspen colonies are believed to be nearly 80,000 years old, and each fall their flat leaves glow in the sunshine and sway in the wind.

OREGON: FROM MOUNTAIN TO VOLCANIC LAKE

Snow-capped mountain towering above a colorful autumn landscape with forests, rolling hills, and a small community below
Mount Hood from Rocky Butte, Oregon
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Fall foliage shows up all over the state, including the majestic 11,000-foot-tall Mount Hood in the north, volcanic Crater Lake’s clear waters in the south, Portland’s Japanese Garden in the northwest and Shore Acres State Park on the southern coast, where forests line the ocean’s edge.

Highlights: The air is crisp with lots of sunshine in the fall. Oregon’s state tree is the Douglas Fir, adding a new dimension to the typical fall leaf colors with the evergreen’s deep green hue, along with tall sequoias and ponderosa pines. No wonder this state, full of forests, is home to Christmas tree farming.

But in fall, you’ll swoon over such a variety of trees: yellow to red maple, burgundy dogwood, ash, birch and some names you may never have heard of, like horse chestnut. Drive the Gorge’s canyon route, or admire 2,000 trees turning color in Hoyt Arboretum. Early September is the start for leaf peeping, but certain trees have red leaves that sometimes linger into November.

Fall foliage is the star of autumn, but you’ll enjoy more than the breathtaking colors. Whether driving, hiking or cycling, you’ll find lots of activities to round out your trip. You’ll also discover bird watching, wine tastings, orchard visits, covered bridges, art galleries, regional cuisine and unique small American towns. In many parts of the U.S., autumn is a time to cherish the outdoors while taking in an artist’s palette of colors.

Candy Schulman’s essays, health, and travel pieces have appeared in AARP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Next Avenue, Oldster, Parents, Travel & Leisure, among others. She is a creative writing professor at the New School in New York City and a private writing coach. Learn more at candyschulman.com.