The prime leaf-peeping season is upon us: Discover where to witness breathtaking fall foliage across the US in 2024

Autumn officially kicked off on September 22, and as we reach mid-October, much of the country is showcasing peak fall colors.

As reported by the Old Farmer's Almanac, significant portions of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest are set to reach peak fall color in the upcoming week.

The vibrancy of foliage varies by geographic location, altitude, and weather conditions. Higher elevations see color changes before they move southward. Northern regions, including parts of Montana and New Hampshire, have already passed their optimal viewing time.

Every fall, various forecasting tools are employed to estimate when autumn foliage will appear across the U.S., utilizing factors such as precipitation, temperature data, historical peak trends, local observations, and models from previous years.

A dependable resource for identifying peak leaf-peeping times is the Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map. This tool provides an accurate yearly forecast by considering local tree species and leveraging user-submitted photos to enhance its predictions.

However, predicting fall foliage remains challenging, as there are no guarantees about when and where colors will peak — especially with the rise of unusual weather patterns. For instance, Hurricane Helene's impact in the Southeast in late September has rendered much of the area inaccessible during this foliage season due to severe flooding. Western North Carolina, including Asheville, faced significant flooding, leading to closures along the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia. Some roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park also remain shut.

Considering this, here are additional locations in the U.S. where you might plan a last-minute fall foliage getaway.

When and where can we still catch the fall foliage at its prime?

According to this year's Almanac report, much of the U.S. is already fully immersed in fall. The 2024 report illustrates the anticipated color changes through an animated map derived from foliage data submitted by Almanac readers.

"While past outcomes do not guarantee this year's results, they provide a solid indication of the typical progression of fall foliage," noted a representative from the Old Farmer's Almanac. "In this illustration, yellow signifies the start of foliage season, orange and red represent peak season, and brown indicates it's past peak."

Foliage has begun to change in the northernmost Western states and the Midwest, with some areas expected to have passed their peak by October 16. The publication forecasts that much of New England and the Pacific Northwest will reach or be near peak fall colors by the third week of October.

Top locations to witness fall foliage

New England and Upstate New York

For East Coast travelers, the foliage in many of New England's top leaf-peeping states—such as Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire—reached its peak earlier in October.

In contrast, coastal areas will experience peak fall foliage later. For instance, Maine's Acadia National Park is expected to showcase its colors from October 21-27 this year, according to local news. If you miss this window, vibrant hues may still be visible among the browning leaves. While visiting, consider catching the sunrise from the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain, where the sun first touches the U.S.

Vermont and New Hampshire are fantastic spots for hiking, leaf peeping, apple picking, and enjoying cider doughnuts. Don’t overlook the fall colors in the Berkshires, a mountainous area in western Massachusetts that’s easily accessible from New York City and Boston. Mid-October is also an ideal time to explore the fall foliage in New York's Adirondack Mountains, which boasts one of the longest and most consistent leaf-peeping seasons.

West

In northwest Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, the leaves typically begin to change color in late September, with the cottonwood and aspen trees in Grand Teton National Park turning a brilliant gold. While autumn starts early in this area, peak foliage usually occurs in October.

This year, Colorado's fall foliage season reached its peak in early October in areas just west of Denver, including Aspen, Vail, and Steamboat Springs, with the peak colors expected to shift eastward in the upcoming weeks.

Utah's national parks—including Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon—are famous for their stunning sandstone cliffs and gravity-defying arches. However, they also offer fantastic opportunities to experience the vibrant fall foliage of canyon maple, scrub oak, evergreens, and other trees from late October to early November. The autumn light beautifully highlights the red rocks.

On the West Coast, the region around Portland, Oregon, is celebrated for its picturesque scenery, with Oregon's wild landscapes bursting into color at every turn. This year, Portland is anticipated to reach peak foliage around mid-October. Enjoy a steamboat ride to take in the colorful leaves from the water, or drive along the Columbia River Highway, designed specifically for its stunning views.

Midwest

Don’t forget to include Kansas and parts of Missouri, like Lake of the Ozarks, in your leaf-peeping itinerary this year. The maple, oak, hickory, and ash trees lining the 1,150 miles of the lake’s shore will display a riot of vivid colors by November 1. However, the American smoke tree, known for its striking electric pink hue, tends to reach its peak much earlier.

Alternatively, enjoy a scenic drive along the country roads that meander through the rugged forests of the Ozark Mountains for even more breathtaking views.

South

Travelers can explore the southern regions of Arizona and New Mexico for late-season fall foliage, which is expected to reach its peak by mid-November this year. Fall colors are also possible further south in Texas.

In the southwestern part of Texas, Big Bend National Park features the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert in the nation. November is an excellent time for camping, hiking, and backpacking. Be sure to visit the Chimneys Trail, which meanders through desert grasslands, and the Santa Elena Canyon Trail, which follows the Rio Grande.

Another fantastic location to witness fall foliage in Texas during November is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where bigtooth maple trees burst into vibrant colors across the McKittrick and Pine canyons.

Alternatively, if you're willing to travel a bit further south, consider visiting Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. This area encompasses over 600,000 acres of forested land, and most of the state typically reaches its peak foliage from mid to late November.

Bottom line

While fall foliage maps and tools cannot guarantee specific outcomes, they serve as valuable resources for planning your fall foliage trips this year. This is particularly true for maps that are updated using real-time user data collected throughout the season.

In the coming weeks, it will be prime time for leaf-peeping across the U.S. By November, much of the country has typically passed its peak foliage.

Despite this, certain regions of the U.S. continue to display stunning foliage throughout the season, allowing travelers to anticipate vibrant colors in some locations later in the year than usual. Check The Old Farmer's Almanac and the Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map for estimated peak dates nationwide in 2024.

Keep in mind that any weather changes in the upcoming weeks may affect the predicted peak times for these areas, so try to remain as flexible as possible with your travel plans.