Readers share their top 10 beautiful places to see fall foliage
10Best | USA TODAY NETWORK For many, the only thing that takes the sting away from the end of summer is the anticipation of the beautiful autumnal colors. Well, the season of leaf peeping has arrived, and our readers voted the following 10 locations as the best places to see fall foliage in the United States. No. 10: Finger Lakes, New York
Many Finger Lakes communities celebrate the arrival of fall color with seasonal festivals and events, including the Bristol Mountain Fall Festival and the Naples Grape Festival.
No. 9: Stowe, Vermont
Vermont is well known for its fall foliage, particularly in the Green Mountains. For the best leaf peeping, make the drive along the Green Mountain Byway between the towns of Waterbury and Stowe. Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, sits along the way.
No. 8: Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania
Fall foliage in the Laurel Highlands usually peaks in mid-october, making the Pennsylvania region an ideal fall getaway destination. Go for a drive along Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway with a stop to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater framed by colorful leaves, or take a scenic hike in Ohiopyle State Park.
No. 7: Door County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s best fall foliage can often be found in Door County. Leaves
reach their peak of color between late September and mid-october, when visitors from around the country come to drive its tree-lined roads or hike its trails.
No. 6: Taos, New Mexico
There’s no shortage of leaf peeping opportunities in and around Taos, starting with a drive along the High Road to Taos or the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. The town makes an excellent base for autumn adventure as well, from biking along the West Rim Trail on the Rio Grande River or hiking Williams Lake Trail.
No. 5: Ozark Mountain Region, Arkansas
A variety of different tree species, including maple, hickory, sycamore and oak, paint the landscape of the Arkansas Ozarks in warm fall colors each September and October. This hilly landscape attracts leaf peepers who want to get outdoors for an autumn hike in the mountains.
No. 4: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Autumn is one of the most popular times to visit the Smoky Mountains, thanks in large part to the spectacular fall foliage and cool temperatures. Gatlinburg travelers have their choice of several aerial tramways and chair lifts for taking in a bird’s-eye view of the landscape before or after a trip into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
No. 3: Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
The Pocono Mountains are ablaze with hues of red, orange and yellow come autumn, thanks to the area’s 127 species of indigenous trees, plants and shrubs. Leaf peepers can hop in the car for a scenic cruise along Route 507 near Lake Wallenpaupack or climb aboard a fall foliage train.
No. 2: Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Just about the entire Upper Peninsula puts on a display of fall color that peaks during the last two weeks of September and the first week of October. A favorite fall experience for leaf peepers is the drive along M-26 along the shores of Lake Roland and past the trees of Copper Country State Forest.
No. 1: White Mountains, New Hampshire
The annual display of fall color in the White Mountains of New Hampshire typically takes place each September and October, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe. One of the best places to take it all in is along the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway as it cuts through White Mountain National Forest.