I've been to all 63 major US national parks. These are the 6 I always tell people to visit in the fall.

Acadia National Park successful Maine is celebrated for its vibrant autumn colors, pinch agleam maple and oak trees scattered crossed its gorgeous, rugged coastline and forested hiking trails.

Although the parkland tin decidedly get crowded this clip of twelvemonth — particularly astatine spots for illustration the Cadillac Mountain acme (where you'll request a timed-entry reservation) and Jordan Pond — I deliberation the views are worthy it.

Even a short hike aliases thrust done the parkland offers a classical New England autumnal experience, and a sojourn is decidedly thing I'd urge putting connected your recreation bucket list.

In my opinion, Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park is simply a hidden gem for autumn colors.

The forests on the Cuyahoga River are awesome for leafage peeping, and I find that the rolling hills stay serene moreover erstwhile the parkland is busy.

Popular trails for illustration the Brandywine Gorge Loop to Brandywine Falls and the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath connection classical autumnal views, but location are tons of quieter spots that let visitors to bask the foliage without the crowds.

Cool, crisp aerial and vibrant scenery make it a cleanable autumn flight that's easy accessible from the Cleveland area.

Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park is ever gorgeous — but successful my opinion, it's particularly beautiful successful the fall.

By mid-September, the gangly aspen trees successful the parkland move a superb gold, opinionated retired against the precocious upland peaks. Walking astir Bear Lake is 1 of my favourite ways to return successful the autumn foliage.

Just support successful mind that if you're visiting the parkland done mid-October, timed-entry reservations are required for definite parts of the day.

In my opinion, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is located successful North Carolina and Tennessee, is 1 of the champion spots successful the state for autumn color.

The parkland is location to complete 100 type of autochthonal trees, and the foliage play lasts for weeks, from precocious September successful the higher elevations to early November successful the valleys. By October, the mountains move into rolling waves of red, orange, and gold.

Scenic drives connected Kuwohi Road bring spectacular views, and a hike connected the Alum Cave Trail puts you correct successful the mediate of the color.

Plus, cooler temperatures make autumn an particularly magical clip to research the most-visited US nationalist park.

Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is stunning astatine immoderate clip of the year, but I really emotion visiting successful the fall, erstwhile cooler temperatures make hiking and sightseeing a small much comfortable.

Although parts of the North Rim are closed owed to flash floods, the celebrated South Rim remains afloat unfastened and fresh for visitors. It offers classical views of the canyon's layered cliffs and melodramatic sunsets.

I've moreover recovered that celebrated viewpoints, for illustration Mather Point and Desert View, are little crowded than they are successful the summer.

Plus, trails for illustration South Kaibab let you to research the canyon without the peak-season power that tin make hiking location dangerous.

Fall successful Grand Teton National Park is spectacular, arsenic the aspens and cottonwoods move golden against the classical jagged upland peaks.

In summation to the beautiful foliage, the wildlife is besides very progressive — you mightiness spot elk aliases moose grazing successful the meadows.

Overall, September and October are awesome times to sojourn this Wyoming park, arsenic these months typically bring cooler upwind and smaller crowds.

This communicative was primitively published connected September 10, 2025, and astir precocious updated connected September 14, 2026.