Where the Leaves Turn
Peak foliage, and the narrow window you get for it. 15 places, mapped and ready to build a trip around.
Plan a trip on Trailwind →Acadia National Park
United StatesBestOctClimate18–73°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishGranite, spruce and hardwood against cold Atlantic light. Cadillac Mountain gets sunrise first in the country for part of the year.
Adirondack Park
United StatesBestSep–OctClimate10–75°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishSix million acres, which is larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier and Grand Canyon combined. The lakes double the colour.
Algonquin Provincial Park
CanadaBestSep–OctClimate9–75°FCurrencyCADLanguageEnglishSugar maple on the ridges turning scarlet over black spruce and open water. Canoe routes make it a colour trip rather than a drive.
Arashiyama
JapanBestNovClimate28–88°FCurrencyJPYLanguageJapaneseKyoto's western hills turn last. Late November, when the maples go, is the busiest week of the Japanese travel year.
Black Forest
GermanyBestOctClimate30–75°FCurrencyEURLanguageGermanBeech gold against the dark conifer the range is named for. Valley fog in the mornings makes it.
Blue Ridge Parkway
United StatesBestVariesClimate32–84°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishAirportAVL469 miles of blue mountains, best when the leaves turn.
Catskill Mountains
United StatesBestOctCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishClose enough to New York for a weekend, high enough to turn two weeks before the city does.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
United StatesBestOct–NovClimate23–73°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishThe longest show in the country. Elevation spreads peak colour over six weeks, so the ridgelines turn while the coves are still green.
Maroon Bells
United StatesBestJul–SepClimate-6–52°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishAirportASEThe most-photographed peaks in America, mirrored in Maroon Lake.
Mont-Tremblant
CanadaBestSep–OctClimate7–77°FCurrencyCADLanguageEnglishThe Laurentians go early and hard. Gondola up, colour in every direction, an hour and a half from Montreal.
Namiseom
South KoreaBestOct–NovClimate21–86°FCurrencyKRWLanguageKoreanA half-moon island of ginkgo and metasequoia avenues that turn gold and rust within a week of each other.
Nikko
JapanBestOct–NovClimate28–84°FCurrencyJPYLanguageJapaneseMomiji season around Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, close enough to Tokyo for a day trip and worth longer.
Shenandoah National Park
United StatesBestOctClimate28–88°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishSkyline Drive runs 105 miles along the ridge with 75 overlooks. Slow, and meant to be.
Westonbirt Arboretum
United KingdomBestOct–NovClimate36–70°FCurrencyGBPLanguageEnglishFifteen thousand trees planted specifically for autumn effect. Britain does not do fall like New England, but it does do this.
White Mountain National Forest
United StatesBestSep–OctClimate10–73°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishThe Kancamagus Highway is the most photographed 34 miles in New England for a reason. Peak runs high to low through October.