Here’s where you can see fall foliage across America in 2024
Fall officially began on September 22 and now, in mid-October, much of the United States is experiencing peak fall foliage.
According to The old farmer’s almanacMuch of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest will be at or near their peak fall colors next week.
Where and when the foliage will be most colorful depends on the geography, altitude and weather of each particular destination. Leaves change color at altitude before the tide rolls further south. Areas in the north – including parts of Montana and New Hampshire – are past peak defoliation.
Every fall, different forecasting tool aims to predict the appearance of fall foliage across the United States using information such as precipitation and temperature statistics, historical trends in peak leaf peeping, local observations and model outputs from previous years.
A reliable source to determine peak leaf picking season is Smoky Mountains fall foliage forecast map. It makes fairly accurate forecasts each year by taking into account tree species specific to each region and using user-submitted photos to further bolster its predictions.
Even so, predicting fall foliage is difficult because no one can guarantee exactly where and when foliage will peak – especially with unusual weather patterns is increasing. For example, The devastation of Hurricane Helene in the Southeast in late September has put most of the region off limits this foliage season as it recovers from catastrophic flooding. Western North Carolina, including the city of Asheville, was hit hard by flooding and the entire length of the Blue Ridge Avenue in North Carolina and Virginia remain closed. Some residential roads Great Smoky Mountains National Park also still closed.
Related: Hurricane Helene: What you should do if you plan to travel to the Southeast United States
With that in mind, here are other parts of the United States where you can plan a last-minute fall foliage trip.
When and where can we still see fall foliage at its peak?
Based on this year’s Almanac report, much of the United States has entered the fall season. The 2024 report shows the expected progression of color change through an animated map based on foliage reports from Almanac readers.
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“Of course, past results don’t necessarily indicate what will happen this year, but it will give you a pretty good idea of the typical leaf pattern,” said a representative from the Old Farmer’s Almanac. collect”. “In this description, yellow marks the beginning of foliage season, orange and red are peak season, and brown is peak period.”
Foliage has begun to change in the northernmost states of the West and Midwest, and some areas will be past their best by October 16. The publication predicts much of New England and the Pacific Northwest will Fall colors are at or near their peak around the third week of October.
The most beautiful places to see autumn leaves
New England and upstate New York
For visitors on the East Coast, foliage is everywhere New EnglandAmerica’s most popular leaf-peeping states, including Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, reached their peak in early October.
However, in coastal areas, the fall peak will occur later, as in Maine. Acadia National Parkplaces are predicted to decrease this year from October 21 to 27, each Report local news. However, if you don’t get there during that time frame, you can still expect some bright colors remaining among the browning leaves. While you’re there to see the leaves, you can also take time to watch the sunrise as it first reaches the United States from the top of 1,530-foot Cadillac Mountain.
Vermont and New Hampshire are also great destinations for hiking, leaf peeping, apple picking, and snacking on cider doughnuts. Don’t forget the fall foliage in the Berkshires, a mountainous region in western Massachusetts that’s easily reached from New York City And Boston. Mid-October is also one of the best times of the year to see fall leaves Adirondack Mountains in New York, where visitors can benefit from one of the longest and more predictable fall foliage seasons.
West
Usually, leaves begin to change color in the Northwest direction Colorado, Wyoming and Montana in late September, with cottonwoods and poplars in Grand Teton National Park turn gold. Although fall starts early in this area, it usually doesn’t peak until October.
This year, Fall foliage season in Colorado peaks in early October in western regions Denver (include Aspen, Vail and Steamboat Springs), and the peak will shift eastward in the coming weeks.
Utah national park – which includes Arches, Zion and Bryce Canyon – may be best known for its sandstone cliffs and gravity-defying domes. However, they are also great places to enjoy the fall foliage of canyon maples, scrub oaks, evergreens, and other trees in late October through early November. The autumn morning illuminates the red rocks in a spectacular way.
On the West Coast, the area around Portland, Oregon, is famous for its beautiful scenery, and Oregon’s wild landscape explodes with vibrant colors at every turn. This year Portland is is expected to begin peaking in mid-October. Ride a steamboat and admire the changing leaves on the river or hop in your car and drive the Columbia River Highway – a stretch of interstate specially designed for scenic views.
Midwest
Consider Kansas and parts of Missouri, such as the Lake of the Ozarks, in your leaf viewing plans this year. The maple, oak, pecan and ash trees along the 1,150 miles of lakeshore will become a picturesque riot of color on November 1. American smoke trees, however, turn almost pink. electricity, tends to peak much earlier.
Alternatively, take a scenic drive through country roads winding through the rugged forests of the Ozark Mountains for even more awe-inspiring vistas.
Related: 5 Stunning Fall Foliage Trips in the Midwest
South
Visitors can also go to the southern edge of the Arizona and New Mexico for late fall foliage season, which will peak in mid-November this year. Fall foliage can also appear farther south in Texas.
In the southwest corner of Texas, Big Bend National Park is home to the nation’s largest protected area, the Chihuahuan Desert. November is a great month for camping, hiking, and backpacking. Explore the Chimney Trail that winds through desert grasslands and the Santa Elena Canyon Trail that winds along the Rio Grande River.
Another great place to see fall foliage Texas in November is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where big-tooth maples grow in a panorama of color across McKittrick and Pine canyons.
Or, if you want to go a little further south, consider a trip to Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. The area has more than 600,000 acres of forestland, and most of the state is typically at its peak mid to late November.
Bottom line
While fall foliage tools and maps cannot guarantee anything, they are useful guides for determining where and when you should plan your fall foliage trip during the fall. this year. This is especially true for maps that update based on real-world user data collected as the season progresses.
In the next few weeks, this will be the time when yellow leaves bloom across the United States. By November, much of the country is usually past its peak period.
However, areas in the United States still display beautiful foliage throughout the season, and visitors can expect to see more vibrant splashes of color in some destinations later in the year than usual. See The old farmer’s almanac and Smoky Mountains fall foliage forecast map for estimated peak days nationwide in 2024.
Remember that any weather changes over the next few weeks could adjust the predicted peak times for any of these locations, so make sure your plans are as flexible as possible. can.
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