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The most breathtaking places to see Fall foliage in the U.S.

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Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, TN.

Where nature paints America in red and gold

Every October, America transforms into a living canvas of gold, crimson, and amber. From misty mountain ridges to quiet lakeside trails, these places capture the magic of fall like nowhere else.

This guide takes you through the best state parks to catch peak fall foliage this October, some famous, some hidden gems, each waiting to show you nature’s most colorful show.

Vibrant autumn leaves covers this hiking trail in Lake Minnewaska State Park and Preserve in New Paltz New York.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve, New York

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is perched on the Shawangunk Ridge and offers sweeping views over cliffs, waterfalls, and dense hardwood forests. In October, this park is often in peak foliage mode around the second week.

The park’s hiking trails, like the Gertrude’s Nose and Awosting Falls loops, combine elevation change with panoramic outlooks, giving leaf-peepers dramatic vistas. In 2025, trend maps show the Hudson Valley region (including Minnewaska’s area) hitting its peak foliage window between October 6 and October 17.

Rudd Drive at South Taconic State Park.

Taconic State Park, New York

Taconic State Park lies along the eastern Hudson Valley and northern Berkshire region, providing access to ridge trails, river valleys, and forested slopes. Its mix of hardwood species means vibrant autumn color, especially late in October.

The park’s quiet roads and moderate trails are great for slower, contemplative leaf-peeping. Regions in New York are expected to show peak foliage from October 6 to 17, so mid-October remains a strong window to catch Taconic at its best.

Beautiful fall colors reflect off a pond at Kettle Moraine State forest in Wisconsin.

Kettle Moraine State Forest (Northern Unit), Wisconsin

The Northern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest features rolling terrain interspersed with kettle lakes, glacial ridges, and hardwood forest that deliver sweeping fall color. In October, sugar maples, aspens, and birches often shift to gold and orange tones.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail and scenic byways within or adjacent to this state forest allow for layered perspectives of color from both high and low vantage points. Trend maps for 2025 place the Midwest’s peak color window from roughly October 5 to 28.

Letchworth State Park is beautiful in any season.

Letchworth State Park, New York

Letchworth State Park, often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” features dramatic gorge views. In October, as leaves change, overlook points along the Genesee River reveal vivid contrasts between water, cliffs, and flame-tinted trees.

Trails along the gorge rim and along waterfalls highlight the vertical drop and color richness at different elevations. Given Upstate New York’s predicted peak between October 6 and 17, many visitors plan mid-October trips to Letchworth for ideal leaf color.

Wooded trail in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County Wisconsin during fall.

Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wisconsin

Though Whitefish Dunes is more known for its shoreline dunes on Lake Michigan, it also protects pockets of mixed forest, which show fall changes in October. Its unique combination of lakeside and upland tree cover offers a striking contrast.

The relatively mild atmosphere near the lake may delay or soften color change slightly, but trend forecasts suggest much of the Midwest will be in peak between early and late October in 2025.

Old Round Church in Richmond in Vermont.

Burlington State Park, Vermont

Vermont’s state parks are famous for autumn color, and Burlington’s Meyers State Park (or equivalent regional parks) often sees vibrant displays in early to mid-October. In this region, sugar maples and birches dominate, creating bright yellows and golds.

Visitors can use ridge trails and overlooks to view the patchwork of forests sloping toward valleys and rivers. For 2025, Vermont is projected to hit peak foliage between September 29 and October 10, so early October is typically the prime period in Vermont parks.

Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Fall Creek Falls, one of Tennessee’s largest state parks, combines waterfalls, gorges, and a mixed hardwood forest. While southern states tend to peak later, higher elevation zones in Fall Creek Falls often reach their color height in mid to late October.

The park’s cascades framed by yellow, orange, and red foliage make for striking images. In 2025, forecasts suggest Tennessee’s coloration may extend into the latter half of October due to warming trends, so visiting in mid to late October is wise.

Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia

Cloudland Canyon State Park lies on the western edge of Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, offering dramatic canyon vistas and hardwood ridges. Peak color here usually begins in mid to late October in high elevations.

Trails like West Rim Loop or Sitton’s Gulch Falls wind through transition zones with varied colors. In 2025, Georgia’s highest elevations are expected to begin showing full peak in mid-October, and lower zones may linger into November.

Charging river at Cuyahoga valley national park.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio, quasi-state region)

While Cuyahoga is a national park, much of the foliage viewing occurs on what functions like state and regional park land (towpath trails, park preserves) across Ohio between Cleveland and Akron. Its forests are filled with sugar maples, red maples, and oaks.

By that time, the towpath trails, river valleys, and cliffs deliver layered views of autumn color. According to outside coverage, the peak color window in Cuyahoga Valley is mid-October, making October 10–20 a reliable leaf-peeping period.

Road traveling through Smoky Mountains.

Newfound Gap Road

Newfound Gap Road runs through Great Smoky Mountains National Park but borders several state and national forest lands where state park systems manage adjacent zones. The forested ridges on either side are part of state forest lands.

In October, especially between late September to mid-October, these slopes exhibit strong red, orange, and gold. In 2025, the trend in the southern Appalachians suggests peak movement later in October in lower elevations.

Reflections of clouds in the waters of Lake Solitude, with brilliant fall foliage on the shores, in Mt. Sunapee State Park, Newbury, New Hampshire.

Lake Sunapee State Park, New Hampshire

Lake Sunapee State Park hugs the shores of Lake Sunapee and connects visitors to upland slopes and lake vistas. In October, trees near the shoreline often reflect vibrant color into the water, producing mirrorlike autumn scenes.

The forest cover near trails and peninsulas shifts through yellows and reds as temperatures cool. With New England predicted to peak around late September to October 10, early October visits still yield strong foliage here.

Fall colors on Hogback Mountain in Marquette, MI.

Hogback Mountain

Hogback Mountain State Park (or associated forest preserve) in Vermont lies amidst classic New England foliage country. In October, the ridgeline trails allow visitors to see rolling forested hills turning golden and ruby across valleys.

Because Vermont is projected to hit peak between September 29 and October 10 in 2025, early October is usually ideal here. Later in October, many leaves begin to drop, so timing is crucial for the best impact.

Caesar Creek State Park, Ohio

Caesar Creek State Park in southwestern Ohio surrounds a large reservoir and upland hills with mixed hardwood forest. In mid-October, red maples, birches, and oaks flare in autumn color that reflects on the water’s surface.

Scenic drives and trails around the lake’s peninsulas add vantage points while walking or driving. Given the Midwest’s projected peak color window of early to late October 2025, mid-October is a prime period to visit Caesar Creek.

Fall lovers are also talking about the Mississippi Natchez Trace fall festivals and music events.

Pequot Woods State Park

Pequot Woods (or local large state forest parks in Connecticut) often deliver strong fall color in October along ridge trails and lake edges. In mid-October, maples and oaks in the region blaze in red and gold across ridgelines.

Hiking loops and lookout points help capture varied angles of the foliage wave. In 2025, New England’s peak color is expected by early October, so the first half of the month is best in Connecticut area parks.

New Mexico Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta wrap-ups and fall arts have got the internet talking.

Which state park tops your fall bucket list? Like and comment on your pick.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

John Ghost is a professional writer and SEO director. He graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in English (Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies). As he prepares for graduate school to become an English professor, he writes weird fiction, plays his guitars, and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters. He lives in the Valley of the Sun. Learn more about John on Muck Rack.

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