Autumnal Scenic Hikes and Rides for 18 Spectacular Leaf-Peeping Adventures
Autumn is a magical time in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, with vibrant foliage painting the landscapes in a riot of colours. Here are some of the best hiking and biking trails that showcase the region's breathtaking autumn scenery.
Maine
Maine's Acadia National Park is a must-visit for its stunning fall colours and coastal views. The park offers numerous hiking trails that showcase the vibrant foliage against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
New Hampshire
The Flume Gorge trail in Franconia Notch State Park, Lincoln, offers an easy hike with beautiful foliage and a boardwalk path ideal for beginners. For those seeking a more challenging hike, Mount Moosilaukee offers panoramic views of the colorful White Mountains and Vermont from the summit.
Massachusetts
Middlesex Fells Reservation near Boston offers a 7-mile Skyline Trail with beautiful autumn colours, while the Berkshires region features hiking near Mount Greylock and the Mohawk Trail, famous for fall scenery.
Rhode Island and Connecticut
Connecticut is known for having one of the longest-lasting fall foliage seasons in New England. Rhode Island, on the other hand, offers the Blackstone River Bikeway, managed by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
New York
The Catskills region includes the Catskill Scenic Byway, Hunter Mountain, and Kaaterskill Falls for memorable fall hiking experiences.
New Jersey
New Jersey's deciduous forests generally provide vibrant fall colours on many local state park trails along the Appalachian region.
Pennsylvania
Presque Isle State Park in Erie County offers fall foliage views combining lakeside scenery and forested trails. Route 6N and surrounding areas provide scenic drives and hiking opportunities amid fall colours.
Virginia
The Blue Ridge Parkway, including spots like Peaks of Otter, offers early to mid-October peak fall foliage with excellent hiking and biking opportunities.
District of Columbia
Though not detailed in the sources for specific trails, the DC area's many park trails such as Rock Creek Park and the C&O Canal towpath provide accessible fall foliage walks and rides with colourful scenery in autumn.
Additional Trails
- The 16-mile round trip bike ride in Stratton Brook State Park connects to the 8-mile Farmington River Trail.
- Spruce Hill via Busby Trail in North Adams, Mass., is a moderate hike offering stunning fall foliage views.
- Rock Spring Preserve in Scotland, Connecticut, offers a 3.6-mile hike with big views over Little River Valley.
- Big Pocono State Park in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, offers hiking trails in the Pocono Mountains, with Indian Trail offering great views for a short and relatively easy hike.
- The Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway in Albany, New York, is an 86-mile bike trail along the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.
- The 6-mile Carriage Road loop in Acadia National Park, Maine, offers a scenic bike ride surrounded by Mount Desert Island's mosaic forest and reflective lake surfaces.
- Forbidden Drive in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a flat gravel path alongside a creek for 5.35 miles, open to cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians.
- Cat and Thomas Mountains in Bolton, New York, are connected by forest trails and abandoned logging roads on the western side of Lake George.
- Tillinghast Pond Management Area in West Greenwich, R.I., offers a flat, easy 2.3-mile Pond Loop hike with views over a lake. Hikers must wear fluorescent orange clothing from September 14 to February 28 due to hunting season.
- Callahan State Park in Framingham, Mass., features more than 7 miles of trails showcasing suburban-Boston's fall foliage, with shared trails for hikers, dogs, and equestrians.
- Old Rag Mountain in Robertson, Virginia, is a challenging hike with breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley in Shenandoah National Park.
- The Blackstone River Bikeway in Lincoln, R.I., is a paved rail trail connecting Lincoln to Cumberland along the historic Blackstone Canal, offering colourful fall views.
- Franconia Notch State Park in Lincoln, N.H., offers a challenging bike path with a foliage-tunnel effect, winding up the notch.
- Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Baring, Maine, features a diverse landscape of forests and birdlife, including the endangered American woodcock. Don't miss the hike up Old Bald Mountain.
- The Nature Conservancy maintains Tillinghast Pond Management Area in West Greenwich, R.I.
- Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury, Connecticut, is the first entirely wheelchair accessible state park in the state.
Autumn in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions presents an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the beauty of home-and-garden landscapes as well as engage in active outdoor-living pursuits. After admiring the vibrant autumn foliage on numerous hiking trails like those in Acadia National Park, Maine, or Mount Moosilaukee in New Hampshire, one can return home to appreciate the transformed colors in their own home-and-garden surroundings.
