Despite its abundant forestland, The Natural State is often overlooked by leaf peepers – but Ozark National Forest sprawls across more than a million acres, enveloping the Ozark mountains and exploding in crimson when autumn takes hold. Campsites spread out under the cover of oak-hickory trees and Mount Magazine is the area's (and the state's) highest point. At 2,753 feet (839m), it offers sweeping views over the canopy.
The forest is also home to elusive elk, who are at their most active at the break of dawn or in the evening. Their mating season is September through to October, so the orange forest echoes with the sound of the Eastern elk's bugle calls in autumn. Woodland hiking routes such as the River's Edge Trail offer the chance to spot kingfishers and blue heron too. Check the NPS website for the latest updates on specific trails.
Far from New England, in America's sun-baked Southwest, the compact desert town of Taos is cloaked in gorgeous colours by late September. The dinky town is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, which is crisscrossed with hiking trails. The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, a picturesque driving route, also spools out from Taos and slices through the peaks.
Late summer and early autumn brings with it the harvest season. The New Mexican chile is reaped around the town and ristras of the dried peppers are strung up on storefronts in fall and beyond. September is typically festival season too. The Taos Fall Arts Festival (on until 2 October) sees works by local artists exhibited on Civic Plaza Drive with the street blocked off for a night of art, music and festivities.
Southwest USA is synonymous with rugged red rocks and rambling desert, but there are flashes of autumnal foliage too. The city of Sedona is right in the middle of ‘Red Rock Country’ where, come autumn, orange-topped trees sprout from rust-coloured crags and hiking trails duck into forestland bright with golden hues. A top route nearby is the West Fork Oak Creek trail: around nine miles (14km) north of the city, the path follows Oak Creek which is lined with colour-changing trees.
Apple carts generally pop up on highways surrounding the city this time of year, and freshly harvested chiles are sold. Sedona's Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, an arts centre modelled on a traditional Mexican village, also gears up for its Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Taking place between 29 October and 2 November in 2022, this free event remembers loved ones with altars displaying Mexican heritage and culture and offers activities like decorating sugar skulls or live performances.
For those wanting to skip the leaf-peeping altogether, the golden mounds of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a pretty good place to start. The protected dunes are the tallest in North America, reaching a whopping 750 feet (229m) at their highest point, and they're a favourite spot for sandboarding and sledding.
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Yet pockets of yellow do still pop up across the park's sandy expanse, which is also home to some aspen and conifer forest. Mosca Pass Trail winds some seven miles (11km) through meadows and woodland, gaining 1,400 feet (427m) in elevation as it goes. Head for the half-mile (800m) Montville Nature Trail for a much shorter, gentler forest hike with views of the dunes. Note that the visitor centre is temporarily closed until early October, but most other areas of the park are open.
While this swathe of Virginia is often overshadowed by the northeast, Shenandoah National Park is a sure bet for an autumn road trip. The Skyline Drive Scenic Highway beats a path through the park and takes around three hours to travel in total. At its best when glowing with amber and gold, the highway is studded with a series of overlooks offering panoramas over the dappled foliage. Check the NPS website for the latest alerts.
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Many wineries and cideries (at their best in autumn) spread out across the area too. The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail and the Shenandoah Spirits Trail each weave through the best of the bunch, awash with crisp ciders and Virginian varietals, plus plenty of mountain views to boot.
The white-sand beaches of Pensacola, an ocean-front Floridian city, are glorious year-round – and when the summer peters out and the sunbathing crowds disband, the temperatures remain balmy. The Bands on the Beach programme, which sees musicians of all genres entertain sand seekers, lasts until 25 October in 2022.
Beyond the beach, Pensacola's historic downtown area is home to the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, which chronicles Floridian history. This is also prime time for foodies to visit. Late in the season, usually at the end of September, the Pensacola Seafood Festival fills the downtown area with seafood stalls, live music and more. And there's Taste of the Beach, which kicks off in mid-October with over a dozen of Pensacola Beach's restaurants serving their signature dishes.
Denali's wild expanse is famed the world over – but given its sheer size, most visitors find they have plenty of elbow room. This is the third-largest national park in the States, but only some 600,000 visitors per year enter its borders. In autumn the aspen and birch trees explode in a riot of colour, and the Northern Lights may even swirl overhead.
Wildlife such as moose (whose mating season is in autumn) and bears are particularly active: moose use this time to store up fat for the bracing winter, while bears prepare for hibernation by consuming as much food as they can find. Note that the shuttle bus does not operate beyond the summer months, so visitors will need to bring their own vehicle and be prepared for changeable conditions too.
The colour-splashed cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are beautiful all year round, but they take on an added charm in autumn. This protected area of Lake Superior's shore is characterised by its unspoiled strands and stripy scarps, which are blanketed with orange. Grand Portal Point (pictured), a rocky precipice jutting into the water, is a popular spot along the shore, with views over the vast lake and across to other picturesque cliffs.
The Au Sable Light Station, rising its head from a dense canopy, is another scenic view. The lighthouse dates back to 1873, soaring around 107 feet (33m) above the lake. Tours of the lighthouse have finished for the year now, but it looks at its best when viewed from a distance poking out amidst the colourful foliage anyway.
Far from the foliage-seeking hordes, this protected stretch of coastline in the Outer Banks is all powdery, golden sand and windswept waters. Temperatures can reach 28°C (82°F) through September, dipping only slightly through October (but always check the weather before you go since there's a chance of hurricanes all the way from July to December).
Abandoned fishing cabins and three historic lighthouses dot the shoreline here – you can usually climb Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, although it's likely to remain closed throughout 2022 for restoration work, while Bodie Island Lighthouse is open until early October. The seashore is also a haven for bird lovers, with species including black skimmers and American oystercatchers. The campgrounds here typically stay open right until the end of November too – keep an eye on the website for any changes.
Dramatic Tallulah Gorge plunges to one thousand feet (305m), with water carving its way through two miles (3km) of forest-covered rock. In autumn, the woods are flecked with orange and yellow, and the hiking trails winding around the rim of the canyon offer spectacular views across burnt orange and blushing red foliage. Permits are typically required to hike down by the water's edge; check the website for updates.
Highlights of the park include the gushing Hurricane Falls, which is accessible via the Hurricane Falls Trail, a two-mile (3km) loop studded with scenic outlooks. Not for the faint-hearted, there's also a dizzying suspension bridge which swings some 80 feet (24m) above the gorge floor and offers close-up views of the bright autumn leaves.
This gorgeous Texan maple forest gives the northeast a run for its money. The site rambles for more than 2,000 acres, sewn with around 10 miles (16km) of hiking trails. The West Trail covers the most ground, and includes a breathtaking overlook, while the shorter West Loop Trail whips through a tranquil ashe juniper grove.
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The area is popular with keen birdwatchers too: visitors should look out for the eye-popping yellow face of the golden-cheeked warbler, which is endemic to the area. The trees tend to turn in the final weeks of October, and the Texan state parks website publishes regular updates.
Blazing leaves and lofty views await in Alabama’s Cheaha State Park this season. The park is swallowed by the Talladega National Forest, which bursts into hues of rust and blonde once autumn settles in. It’s also home to the highest point in the state, the pinnacle of Cheaha Mountain, so it offers unparalleled views.
Many visitors favour sunset or sunrise hikes on the trails that wiggle through the forested park, which is punctured by waterfalls and scenic lookout points. There’s also the vertiginous Cliffside Restaurant (temporarily closed) with sweeping views over the surroundings, plus a handful of campgrounds and cabins (advance reservations are encouraged). Be sure to check the website for up-to-date info.
Stretching out across northern Utah, the Wasatch Mountains are an adventure playground year-round and a beacon of foliage come autumn. Two hiking routes wind to the summit of 11,749-foot (3,581m) Mount Timpanogos, the second-highest peak in the range, while lofty ATV and horse-riding trails snake through Wasatch Mountain State Park too. Leaf peepers hit the paths before the winter snow beds in.
Dinky towns are folded into the mountains too, with picture-perfect spots like Park City (pictured) offering panoramas of the peaks. Park City’s downtown is lined with snug spots for hot chocolate and seasonal bakes (check the opening status of individual outlets) and mountain-bike trails wiggle out around the town too. The area's annual biking event, Tour des Suds, winds through a seven-mile (11km) mountain route with fancy dress encouraged. See the Park City website for up-to-date advisories before planning a trip.
The Bluegrass State has little shortage of parks, but this one comes to life in autumn. The thundering falls are fittingly nicknamed the 'Niagara of the South', and are hemmed in by leaves of crimson and chestnut come fall. The park is also famous for its rare 'moonbows' or 'lunar rainbows': natural spectacles created by the dim moonlight and the spray from the falls.
The best views of the park are found along the five-mile (8km) Cumberland River Trail, which weaves its way upstream with blazing trees offering cover all the way. Another top sight is the elegant Edward Moss Gatliff Bridge, completed in the 1950s – it arches across the Cumberland River, reflecting in the still water, the autumn colours of the surrounding trees painted alongside it.
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