Bring out the flannels and get ready for the abundance of pumpkin spice. Fall season is here, and to the delight of many photographers, the leaves are beginning to turn around the country.
Fall is a special time of year for photography. Of course, the colorful foliage display is special, but what makes it even more intriguing is how short of a window peak fall season is, sometimes lasting only a few weeks.
It’s important to plan accordingly and use your time strategically to maximize this short, yet beautiful, season. So here are ten fall foliage destinations you should to photograph in 2019. Get ready, and enjoy the colorful ride.
For an up-to-date fall foliage tracker, click here.
The Lakes Region, New Hampshire
Just south of the beautiful White Mountains and Kancamagus Highway, the Lakes Region is one of the most breathtaking spots for fall photography. Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in the state, is the center of this region, but several beautiful lakes dot the area. In the fall, the shoreline is lined with rolling hills of yellow and red trees, framing timeless, New England-style cabins and lake houses. While all of New Hampshire is magical in the fall, the Lake Region is especially beautiful.
Fall foliage peak season: Late September to mid-October
Stowe, Vermont
Much like New Hampshire, the entire state of Vermont is breathtaking in fall, so it is hard to narrow down just one location. But if there was a top destination, Stowe would be it.
Stowe is a beautiful ski town in Northern Vermont, deep in the Green Mountains. The town and mountain of Stowe is beautiful in itself, but this area is also next to Smugglers Notch State Park, which offers some of the best fall scenery in the country, known for its vibrant oranges, purples and reds.
Fall foliage peak season: Late September to mid-October
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Imagine a vibrant forest of oranges and reds that suddenly drops off into the pristine waters of Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers that, along with its many waterfalls and steep sandstone cliffs that fall into Lake Superior below. Explore this area by kayak or boat, and you will also be able to photograph the beautiful arches and formations that rise out of Lake Superior.
The best part though? This park is only a small sliver of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which is known for its beautiful fall season, marked by red and orange foliage. A trip up to this area will provide one of the best fall displays you can photograph.
Fall foliage peak season: Late September to mid October
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Yes, Gatlinburg is a tourist getaway in the south, but it is also surrounded by the beautiful Smoky Mountains, and the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is easily one of the premier fall destinations in the United States. From the many scenic drives, to the beautiful hikes, you will be surrounded by the deep yellows and reds that attract so many photographers to this southern region of the country.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid to late October
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is an amazing mountain town in its own right, and like Gatlinburg, it serves as the portal city to some incredible mountains and foliage. Asheville is surrounded by the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains and its legendary Blue Ridge Parkway, which winds through region and offers countless opportunities to photograph some of the best fall foliage you will ever see.
Expect for vibrant reds and oranges, layered in spectacular fashion or lining the beautiful mountain roads in this area, making Asheville the perfect place to capture fall colors this year.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid to late October
Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte, Colorado
It’s hard to explain or compare Colorado in the fall because there is nothing quite like it. The entire state seems to erupt in gold and yellow due to the millions of aspen trees that grow in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, so it’s hard to pick just one place to visit. However, Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte in Colorado all stand out, due to the number of aspens, and the incredible mountains that are in these areas.
It’s hard to put into words how magical photographing fall season is in these three ski towns. From scenic mountain drives, to beautiful hikes that take you through and above massive aspen groves, to simply looking out your hotel window, the opportunities are seemingly endless. Fall in these three towns is beyond worth it. Just remember that while the fall season in Colorado is amazing, it is also very short, lasting around two weeks or less, depending on the elevation.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid to late September
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Just when you thought the Tetons couldn’t get anymore beautiful, fall arrives. Already beautiful photo locations like Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing, and Snake River Outlook erupt in beautiful hues of yellow and red, and add even more character to these breathtaking mountains.
An added bonus of fall season in the Tetons is that it is also elk rutting season, and in the early morning hours, it is quite common to hear the beautiful sound of elks bugling as you photograph the incredible Teton range.
Fall foliage peak season: Early to mid October
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is magical year-round, but fall is especially beautiful to photograph. While many of the roads close early in the higher areas of the park, the famous Yosemite Valley floor lights up in a beautiful Fall display.
Typically in the Fall months, the water level in the Merced River, which runs through the valley, is significantly lower, allowing for incredible morning reflections of Half Dome, El Capitan, and other famous Yosemite landmarks. Add in the beautiful golden and red foliage that fills the valley floor, and it’s hard to beat photographing Yosemite in fall.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid to late October
Historic Columbia River Highway, Oregon
While the Columbia River Gorge is a large recreational area that is quite beautiful in this season, the historic Columbia River Highway, lined by incredible waterfalls like Horsetail and Multnomah Falls, stands out as a premier fall destination for photography.
This area is of course characterized by temperate rainforest, and lush green tones, but in the fall, those greens are accompanied by vivid yellows and reds when the trees turn, making every waterfall and landmark along this highway look even more incredible. Only a short drive from Portland, Oregon, the Columbia River Highway is easily accessible, and a top destination to shoot in the fall.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid to late October
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Like many destinations on this list, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness shines year round, and is home to the Enchantments and several other breathtaking alpine lakes and landscapes.
However, what makes fall so special in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is the abundance of larches that cover the landscape, even at higher altitudes. Turning from green to bright yellow, these trees add another element to an already beautiful area to photograph, making this magical place in the Cascades a prime location for Fall photography.
Fall foliage peak season: Mid September to mid October
Feature photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
