For everyone who feels energized and inspired watching the seasonal leaves changing colors, here are eight small towns in America where you can spot some beautiful fall foliage.
1. Oakland, Maryland
The fall season is heavily celebrated in this small town, culminating in the annual Autumn Glory Festival which is a five-day celebration that has taken place since 1954. The downtown area is situated just south of Swallow Falls State Park, one of the top hiking areas with an array of fall colors on display. The park includes the Youghiogheny River, which flows along the park’s border and passes through shaded rocky gorges creating rapids. Travelers can also spot the 53-foot waterfall, Muddy Creek Falls, and tall hemlocks lining the woods.
2. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
The Pocono Mountains perfectly showcase fall foliage during this time of year. Travelers can walk the paths and admire the fall foliage in Kemmerer Park or visit the 6,000-acre Lehigh Gorge State Park, which includes a steep-walled gorge, rock outcroppings, thick vegetation, and waterfalls. Visitors can also sit peacefully while viewing the scenery by taking a train trip with the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.
3. Snowmass Village, Colorado
West of Aspen and at the base of the Rocky Mountains, this small village is known for its aspen trees, which make the shift between summer greens and fall reds, oranges, and yellows particularly beautiful. Enjoy the landscape by visiting the Crater Lake Trail, which will allow you to visit two high-alpine lakes and see the colorful scenery also reflected in the waters.
4. Lake Placid, New York
Located in the Adirondack Mountains, this lakeside village is an excellent destination for spotting fall foliage with its combination of birch, maple, aspen, oak, and beech trees. With fall foliage peaking between late September and the first few weeks of October, some of the best outdoor activities for experiencing the scenery include hiking the Olympic Trail, taking the gondola at Whiteface Mountain, or taking a kayak out on the lake.
5. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
One of the best spots to enjoy the colorful fall leaves in Harpers Ferry is the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, which encompasses 3,500 acres. Located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the small town also serves as a good access point for hikers hoping to explore the area’s 22 miles of trails.
6. Bar Harbor, Maine
A convenient access point to Acadia National Park, this town is also one of the nation’s top locations for spotting fall foliage. Between mid-September and early October, the transitioning leaves draw visitors from across the country. Travelers hoping to take in the natural scenery can also visit the Cranberry Islands, take a hike at Cadillac Mountain, or walk the Shore Path from the town pier.
7. Port Townsend, Washington
This waterfront location on the Olympic Peninsula, located near Olympic National Park, includes white-capped mountains and colorful fall leaves. Nature-loving travelers can visit Fort Worden Historical State Park, walk along the bay, or check out the Point Wilson Lighthouse which is a nice vantage point for viewing the colors on display in the fall season.
8. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
One of the best locations to view the fall colors of the Ozarks, this mountainside town includes some beautiful hiking trails such as the King’s River Overlook and Leatherwood Lake Trail. For a panorama view of the Ozark National Forest’s fall foliage, journey to Whitaker Point (also known as Hawksbill Crag), which is one of the most photographed viewpoints in Arkansas.
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