Happy October! The month of spooky scaries, pumpkin flavored treats, and the prime-time of leaf-peeping (which is an actual term, by the way). It's my favorite time of year, which is why I rounded up the best places in the US for those magical fall colors.
Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
This forest is home to 1.2 million acres of fall wonderfulness. There's no shortage of reds and yellows among that white oak, shortleaf pine and river birch that live in the Ozark National Forest. Along with that, there are plenty of mountains, springs and rivers to keep you buys for days.
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Aspen, Colorado
Surprise, surprise, this little ski town is filled with ... aspen trees! Plus, quite a few evergreens, meaning the fire crimsons and bold golds contrast perfectly with the kelly green of the pine needles. And if you time it juuuust right, you can catch snow and fall colors at the same time!
Bar Harbor, Maine
The little beach town of Bar Harbor is every fall-lover's dream getaway. Plus, it's just a short 5-minute drive from Acadia National Park, where there's almost 50,000 acres of trees on trees on trees. Plus, this place makes for one awesome bird and whale watching trip!
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Lenox, Massachusetts
This little town, about 20 minutes outside of the Berkshires (which is also amazing for fall colors), is a fall antiquing and spa oasis. The vivid reds and yellows provide an outstandingly beautiful backdrop to the most relaxing weekend.
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Between three of the Great Lakes is 4 million acres of fall paradise. I'm talking ash, aspen, beech, birch, maple, oak, sycamore, tamarack... And now I'm out of breath. Doesn't matter if it's a quick trip or an extended stay, the Upper Peninsula has plenty of activities (and trees) to keep you busy.
Great River Bluffs, Minnesota
The scenic drive of Great River Road takes you through little river towns and the Great River Bluffs State Park. Just like the name suggests, the river and bluffs in this park are an incredible sight - especially in the fall! The brilliantly bright reds and yellows are to. die. for.
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Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Fall is the perfect time to visit the lakes. Once Labor Day passes, most of the tourists are gone, but the temperatures are still in the sixties - so all you need is a light jacket! The Ozark Hills that surround the lake look almost like a painting. You won't believe those trees are real!
North Conway, New Hampshire
This New Hampshire town sits in the White Mountain National Forest. And when you're in the forest, you're pretty much guaranteed an amazing view of fall colors, am I right? But hop on the Kancamagus Highway, and you've got more than 26 miles of the most stunning leaves.
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Taos, New Mexico
The Enchanted Circle, which starts and ends in Taos, is an 83-mile loop around Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico. As you drive through the towns of Eagle Nest, Red River and Questa, you'll be blown away by the yellows and rich dark oranges of the aspen trees along the side of the highway.
Catskill Mountains, New York
The best of (five?) worlds... Also nicknames the "Five State Lookout" because you'll be able to see what those incredible colors look like in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
This gorge is home to over 50 waterfalls, so it's beautiful all year round, but it's especially breathtaking once those leaves starts to change. Check out Multnomah Falls for the most amazing view. But be careful - this area is very susceptible to wildfires!
Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
In the Poconos, you've got three different regions. The northern, central and southern areas all have different types of trees and different peak seasons. So, it doesn't matter which fall month you head out there during - you'll always have a first-rate experience.
![](https://blogstudio.s3.amazonaws.com/keep-it-wild-az/f14a4c12a3e2f24cd264129bb5b1c864.png)
Stowe, Vermont
The title of "Fall's Color Capital" wasn't just given to a random US town. Stowe was named this for a reason! If you could only see fall colors one more time, you'd want to see the maple, birch and beech trees that line this town's streets. Pro tip - take a ride on the ski area gondola for a birds-eye view of the magic.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Right along the Wisconsin River is a little fall wonderland. The city offers boat tours and river walks, showing off all the colors of the leaves. Plus, there's a couple amusement parks to keep the kiddos busy!
![](https://blogstudio.s3.amazonaws.com/keep-it-wild-az/0bda238bd1dfd146265b93570a674f1c.png)
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Is there anything more astounding than a beautiful lake surrounded by luminous yellows and oranges, all in from of the most amazing backdrop of mountains? No. The answer is no.
Happy exploring! Where are your favorite places to leaf-peep? Leave them in the comments below!
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