Much as we love the spring and summer hiking seasons, there’s a lot to be said for taking to the trails in fall when temperatures are more pleasant, paths are less crowded, the bugs are at bay and let’s not forget the stunning colors of foliage washed with every shade of red, yellow and orange. There are places throughout the country for hiking in breathtaking autumn scenery, so lace up your boots and hit the trail.
Fall Hikes
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Adirondack Mountains, New York
For fresh air and fabulous views the Adirondack Mountains are a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts covering 6 million acres in northern New York state. With some of the most impressive foliage in the Northeast, the Adirondacks are a prime destination for locals and visitors, with many trails that offer spectacular autumn color. Beginners will appreciate the hike at Bald Mountain that summits at the Rondaxe Fire Tower. Coon Mountain Trail overlooks Lake Champlain and is a trail from which you can observe hawks wheeling overhead in the early fall months. Located in the Keen Valley, Gothics Trail winds up the 10th highest mountain in the area and provides some challenge for veteran hikers. And for those hoping for a panoramic view of colorfully painted treetops skirting crystal-clear waters, Black Bear Mountain Trail in Eagle Bay overlooks the Fulton Chain Lakes and doesn't disappoint.
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Chugach State Park, Alaska
The South Fork Valley Trail in Chugach State Park is a 9.6 mile round trip ending at Eagle and Symphony Lakes with gorgeous views of surrounding peaks and a gradual 1700 foot elevation gain that makes it an easy hike for the intermediate hiker. Thickly forested and ablaze with color in the fall, this 495,000 acre park is one of the largest state parks in the United States. Besides the impressive autumn colors, the park boasts extensive ocean shoreline, abundant lakes, and massive glaciers and ice fields. The western side of the park is in the foothills of the Chugach Mountains and just seven miles east of downtown Anchorage.
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Blackwater Canyon Trail, West Virginia
Four parking lots along this trail allow you to choose the length of your hike and the type of scenery you'll see, although avid hikers normally choose to follow the complete 10.2 mile route and pass under the Big Run Archway - a landmark built in the late 1800's by Italian stonemasons - and past 35-foot Douglas Falls. Located in Monongahrela National Forest, this trail was originally used for hauling coal and lumber through the stunning surrounding canyon. The trail curves along the Blackwater River and is a place of solitude and spectacular scenery with mountains lining both sides of the path and the roaring river providing a soundtrack. The habitat is home to several endangered species including the West Virginia flying squirrel, Indiana bat, and the Cheat Mountain salamander.
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Great Smokey Mountains, Tennessee
Peak fall color in the Great Smokey Mountains begins in the last two weeks of September and often lingers for up to seven weeks, moving from highest to lowest elevations. With a variety of trees lining the trails there's an abundance of autumn color to marvel at. Try the 2.6 mile round trip trail through old-growth forest to Grotto Falls - this popular trail is rated moderate to difficult. Birch trees along the way are already showing their muted yellows, while the witch hobble and sumac viewed at higher elevation are sporting reds. Dogwoods put on their color later in October, moving from a muted pinkish cast to bright and brilliant shades of red. Fall flower displays add to the show: purple asters, great blue lobelia, and goldenrod are plentiful throughout the park.
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Ute Trail, Colorado
Rated as a moderate to difficult hike, the Ute Trail near Aspen, Colorado climbs 1200 feet as hikers wind their way upwards over a series of short switchbacks. The trail ends at a craggy outcrop of rugged cliffs that reward with a simply stunning panoramic view: downtown Aspen, the Roaring Fork River, and the countryside gently rolling down and down into deep valleys. On clear days it's possible to see 40 miles down-valley to Glenwood Springs. Look east toward the snowcapped peaks that mark the twisty turns of Independence Pass and the Continental Divide. This hike is a short but challenging 2.2 miles out and back. It's an aerobic workout well worth the effort, and ambitious hikers can even go another 2300 vertical feet to the summit of Ajax Mountain.
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