Explore the World’s Best Destinations for Viewing Nature’s Autumnal Beauty

Fall is when Mother Nature really works her magic. As summer’s heat fades, trees and shrubs of all varieties transform their greenery into a rainbow of yellows, reds, purples and oranges. Though the landscapes and the precise blends of colors may differ, the annual phenomenon takes place all over the world, from the mountains of Colorado to the streets of Seoul to the forests of Germany. That translates to endless options for seeking out striking fall foliage both near and far. Here, we guide you to some of the best leaf-peeping destinations across the globe.

NORTH AMERICA
You’d take too many pit stops if you tried to travel from sea to shining sea across the United States searching for fall foliage. But don’t miss these bicoastal stunners.

PHOTO: © AIVOGES | DREAMSTIME.COM

Denali National Park shouldn’t appear only on summer travel lists. Its 6 million acres and still snow-capped peaks light up in orange and amber as early as August due to the wild land’s high latitude. Bonus: Visitors will find fewer crowds, plus wildlife — moose, caribou — emerge before the cold sets in, so photos look like they were snapped by National Geographic pros.

Aspen presents the obvious choice in Colorado — after all, the town’s namesake is famous for its golden foliage. But locals also point their cars to two other mountain towns once September hits: Thanks to its 9,600- foot elevation, Breckenridge experiences some of the earliest leaf-peeping in North America. Drive through canopies of yellow along Boreas Pass (originally the country’s highest narrow-gauge railroad), or hike along the trails of French Gulch. Farther west, Kebler Pass stretches from Crested Butte to Paonia, taking drivers through one of the country’s largest aspen groves.

New England shines as another foliage hot spot. With 78 percent of its land forested, Vermont offers a quintessential autumn destination. The Green Mountains (specifically, along Smugglers Notch pass), the summit of Owls Head Mountain in Groton State Forest and the town of Stowe are favorite viewpoints for catching the sugar maple trees ablaze in the season’s colors.

In neighboring New Hampshire, autumn engulfs the White Mountains in a dazzling display of orange and red courtesy of the area’s sugar and striped maples, birch and beech trees, and tamarack. The foliage usually hits its peak brightness in early to mid-October.

Of course, you can also travel farther north — to Canada, that is. Ride the gondola to the top of Mont-Tremblant, one of the tallest peaks in Québec’s Laurentian Mountains, to take in 360- degree views of autumn’s kaleidoscope. The 24 native species of deciduous trees that cover Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park appear particularly striking when viewed against the area’s lakes. But for the best water-focused vistas, visit Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, where the colors are so pervasive, visitors can hike, cycle, fish and even golf against an autumnal backdrop.

EUROPE
The varied landscapes of Europe offer myriad ways to experience the colors of the season.

Bronze and crimson overtake the Scottish Highlands from late September into November. For an extra-charming experience, head to the town of Pitlochry, which hosts The Enchanted Forest event (this year, Oct. 3–Nov. 3), bringing Faskally Wood to life with music and lights. Also in the United Kingdom, England’s Lake District displays a veritable tapestry of fall hues as golds and scarlets reflect off the national park’s calm waters; immerse in the shades of the season with a traipse through Grizedale Forest.

In Ireland the reds of Killarney National Park’s foliage are outdone only by the presence of red deer, in rutting season at the same time. (The park is home to the last surviving indigenous herd in the country.

Fall isn’t thought of as prime time to visit Finland or Croatia — but it should be.

In Finland the fall colors are known as ruska. The fleeting season — it lasts less than two weeks — begins in the north, with the yellows and oranges of maple, birch, rowan and aspen trees, and quickly travels south. The national parks are ideal for taking in nature’s bounty. Croatia’s summer crowds would benefit from stick- ing around into October: Plitvice Lakes National Park’s 16 lakes always provide eye candy, but fewer crowds mean you can enjoy the waterfalls surrounded by currant- colored trees in peace.

© JOJJIK | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Brothers Grimm may have been inspired by the Black Forest in southwest Germany, but they forgot to write a fairy tale that takes characters on a road trip through the forest’s popping hues toward the golden slopes of the Bavarian Alps. There, surrounded by cherry-red and orange foliage, the famed Neuschwanstein Castle’s white limestone facade appears even more dramatic.

ASIA
Japan may be known for its spring cherry blossoms, but don’t skimp on autumn. In Kyoto the maple trees turn so crimson, they almost appear pink in photos, painting a living masterpiece around the curved roofs of the Tofuku-ji, Nanzen-ji and Diago Ji temples from mid-October to mid-December. For a change of terrain, head into the Kitayama or Arashiyama mountains. Later in the season (toward the end of November), Tokyo’s Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, one of the country’s oldest gardens, is a must-visit. The site’s three ponds reflect the red maples, and a grove of gingko trees turns a vibrant shade of gold.

© TAWATCHAI PRAKOBKIT | DREAMSTIME.COM

Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park in southwestern China offers an entirely different setting. The UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its turquoise lakes and waterfalls. In autumn (September and October), some of that water is brilliantly contrasted by the reds, oranges and yellows that surge through the surrounding forest. Find the best photo-op at Five Flower Lake.

You don’t have to leave the city — Seoul, that is — to experience nature’s bounty: Gyeongbokgung Palace, the capital city’s largest, is even more striking when framed by gold gingko; a walk along Seoul City Wall affords a bird’s-eye view of changing colors across the cityscape; and Bukhansan National Park, on Seoul’s northern fringes, bursts into a cacophony of orange. Peak foliage generally occurs in October.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Fall doesn’t, well, fall at the same time everywhere. To get a double dose of that glorious foliage, travel in the spring to the Southern Hemisphere.

The jagged peaks of one of the world’s most venerated hiking destinations, Torresdel Paine National Park in Chile, become even more striking when contrasted with the softer reds and yellows of lower-elevation plants.

Outside of Melbourne, Australia, Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden — known for its 15,000-strong collection of rhododendrons — is particularly enjoyable in autumn when the cool-climate garden is awash in sunset colors and the hydrangeas take on pleasing, rustic hues. And in New Zealand, a train ride can take explorers from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, where honey-colored foliage offers a welcome distraction from the hiking trail. Listen for the soundtrack of kea and great spotted kiwis.