When autumn comes, thousands of leaf peepers flock to New England to take in a carpet of russet, red and orange. But whether you want to find golden leaves elsewhere, or forgo the fall foliage altogether, there are plenty of other destinations in the States to spend the season. We've picked our favourite under-the-radar spots for a US autumn escape.

The Natural State is often overlooked as a leaf-peeping destination, but its abundant forestland lends itself perfectly to the activity. Ozark National Forest sprawls across a million acres, enveloping the Ozark mountains and exploding in crimson when fall takes hold. Campsites dot the woodland, so you can sleep under the cover of oak-hickory trees, while Mount Magazine is the area's (and the state's) highest point. At 2,753 feet it offers sweeping views over the canopy.

The forest is also home to elusive elk, who are best spied at the break of dawn or in the evening. Their mating season is September through to October, so the orange forest will echo with the sound of the Eastern elk's bugle calls. Keep your eyes peeled for them as you take to one of the woodland hiking routes such as the River's Edge Trail, offering the chance to spot Kingfishers and Blue Heron too.

One of the farthest points from New England in the States, the compact desert town of Taos is cloaked in fall colour by late September. The 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 around storefronts in fall and beyond. September is festival season, too. The Taos Fall Art Festival sees works by local artists exhibited around the city, while the Paseo Project hosts visual art displays, as well as film screenings, storytelling and dance performances.

Southwest USA is synonymous with rugged red rocks and rambling desert, but there are flashes of fall 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 autumn hues. A top route nearby is the West Fork Oak Creek trail: around nine miles north of the city, the path follows Oak Creek which is lined with fall foliage for the season.

Apple carts pop up on highways surrounding the city, 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 in early November. The colourful festivities unfold under an autumn canopy, and involve mural painting and performances by local musicians.

If you want to skip the leaf peeping altogether, the golden mounds of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve are a pretty good place to start. The protected dunes are the tallest in North America, reaching around 750 feet at their highest point – all thoughts of fall will be whipped away as you rocket down them on a sand sled or board.

If you can't resist a peek at some fall leaves, though, pockets of yellow pop up across the park's sandy expanse, which is also home to Aspen and Conifer forests. Mosca Pass Trail winds some seven miles through meadows and woodland, gaining 1,400 feet in elevation as it goes; the Montville Nature Trail is a much shorter, gentler forest hike over half a mile and includes views of the dunes.

The city of Wenatchee and its namesake valley are known as the 'Apple Capital of the World' and there's no better time to visit than when the area's greatest export is freshly harvested. In fact, this pocket of north Washington state exports more apples each year than anywhere else on the planet. Visit one of the many cideries and orchards, taste apple dishes on city menus and buy the fruits fresh from brimming fruit stands.

The 10-mile Apple Capital Loop Trail, the longest loop trail in the state, hugs the tree-fringed Columbia River and takes hikers and bikers beyond the city. Strike out north or west and you'll find yourself in the wilds of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which stretches over the region's impressive peaks.

While this swathe of Virginia is often overshadowed by the North East, Shenandoah National Park makes for the ultimate fall 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 – climb out your vehicle and soak in the dappled fall foliage, and look out for deer and even black bear too.

From the park, you’re in the perfect position to explore the region's many wineries and cideries, at their best in autumn (just be sure to appoint a designated driver in advance). The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail and the Shenandoah Spirits Trail each weave through the best of the bunch, so you can sip crisp ciders and Virginian varietals while drinking in the mountain views too.

The white-sand beaches of Pensacola, an ocean-front Floridian city, are glorious year round – but while summer peters out and the sunbathing crowds disband the temperatures remain balmy. The Bands on the Beach program, which sees musicians of all genres entertain sand seekers, lasts until late October, and moderate climes means you can tackle the 177 steps of the Pensacola lighthouse for views across the ocean.

Beyond the beach, autumn is ideal for exploring Pensacola's historic downtown area, with the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum chronicling Floridian history. Fall is a prime season for foodies, too. Taste of the Beach kicks off in mid September with cooking demos by local chefs and plenty of chance to sample their delights. The Pensacola Seafood Festival follows a few weeks later, filling downtown with seafood stalls, live music and more.

Silver Falls State Park is one of the finest spots for an autumn hike in the Pacific Northwest. At more than 9,000 acres, this is Oregon's largest state park, and its most spectacular. The Trail of Ten Falls is the best way to explore it: a mighty seven-mile loop, it takes in 10 watery cascades rushing over moss-covered rock in the shadow of bright autumn foliage. A vast campsite means you can make a night of it too.

The woodlands and waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park are a stone’s throw from Oregon’s wine country, Willamette Valley. Some 719 vineyards and 554 wineries are scattered across the valley, glowing orange in autumn and ripe for tasting – Pinot Noir is the most ubiquitous grape. Family-owned Silver Falls Vineyards are closest to the park (less than 10 miles away) with a cosy tasting room open at the weekends.

The stark landscapes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park show few signs of fall, the lunar plains changing little with the seasons. The searing desert heat settles in autumn, though, making for a much more pleasant hike in its 6,000 acres than you’d have in high summer. You can also rattle across the landscape in an ATV or on a mountain bike, and tap into park rangers' knowledge of the site at the visitor centre.

Time your visit for later on in the day – temperatures will be even cooler, and you'll also have the chance to gaze up at the starry night skies. Borrego Night Sky Tours can help you make sense of the star clusters and constellations. Look out too for the gargantuan sea-serpent, velociraptor and scorpion scultpures that rise out of the desert plains, just beyond park limits, in Borrego Springs.

Denali's wild expanse is famed the world over – but given its sheer size, you're unlikely to rub elbows with too many other leaf peepers during your fall visit. 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 you may well catch the Northern Lights swirling overhead. It's also free to stay at the Riley Creek Campground if you travel out of summer.

Wildlife such as moose (whose mating season is in fall) and bear are particularly active through autumn: moose use this time to store up fat for the bracing winter, while bear prepare for hibernation by consuming as much food as they can find. Early autumn is the best time to visit, before the temperatures plummet, and you'll need to rent a vehicle, as the shuttle bus does not operate beyond the summer months.

The colour-splashed cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are beautiful all year, but they take on an added charm inthe fall. This protected area of Lake Superior's shore is characterised by its unspoiled strands and stripy scarps, which are blanketed with orangel. 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 amid dense fall foliage, is another scenic view. The lighthouse dates back to 1873, soaring around 107 feet above the lake and offering panoramic views of its surrounds. Tours of the lighthouse tend to run up to mid-October, so time your trip for the earlier part of the season.

The Bluegrass State has little shortage of parks, but this is one of the best to explore 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.

For the best views of the park, follow the five-mile-long Cumberland River Trail, which weaves its way upstream with blazing trees offering cover all the way. Look out too for the elegant Edward Moss Gatliff Bridge, completed in the 1950s – it arches across the Cumberland River, reflecting in the still water, the fall colours of the surrounding trees painted alongside it.

If it's escapism you're after, the seemingly boundless beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore deliver. Far from the fall-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 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).

You'll find abandoned fishing cabins and three historic lighthouses (two of which are open to the public) dotted around the shoreline –  one of them, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, offers Full Moon Tours so you can take in star-studded panoramas after dark. The seashore is also a haven for bird lovers, with species including black skimmers and American oystercatchers. The four camp grounds here also stay open right until the end of November.

Dramatic Tallulah Gorge plunges to 1,000 feet, with water carving its way through two-miles 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. If you want to hike down by the water's edge, you'll need to obtain a permit, of which 100 are released each day.

Highlights of the park include the gushing Hurricane Falls – you can reach it on the Hurricane Falls Trail, a two-mile loop studded with scenic outlooks. Not for the faint hearted, there's also a dizzying suspension bridge which swings some 80 feet above the gorge floor and offers close-up views of the burning autumn leaves.

Texas might not be your first thought when planning a leaf-peeping trip, but this gorgeous Texan maple forest gives the North East a run for its money. The site rambles for more than 2,000 acres, sewn with around 10 miles of hiking trails, allowing visitors to delve deeper into the fiery autumn foliage. The West Trail covers the most ground, and includes a breathtaking overlook, while the shorter West Loop Trail takes in one of the site's rushing springs.

The area is a fantastic spot for keen birdwatchers, too: 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 so you can see the colours at their best.

Looking for more travel ideas for the coming months? See our A to Z of European destinations that are perfect for autumn, too.