TGR’s Guide to Leaf Peeping in 2025: When and Where to Find the Biggest Fall Colors
Summer heat got you down? Crisp mornings and horizons full of reds, yellows, and oranges are on the way. Fall is coming in hot (well, actually cold). According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this year’s foliage is shaping up to be, well.... vibrant. They've identified 21 states across North America primed for peak color.
The timing is reminiscent of the classroom calendars of our youth. Northern and midwestern states will see their best foliage late September, while New England, the Pacific Northwest, and the Blue Ridge Mountains will hit peak somewhere in mid-October. If you’re chasing fall colors across the map, you’ll have until early November before the end of the show.
Why Leaves Change in the First Place
As daylight shrinks and temps drop, trees start cutting back on chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll is the stuff that makes plants green. Without that pigment, other compounds step into the spotlight, turning leaves fiery reds, electric yellows, and everything in between. It's a kind of leaf sunset. Oak, birch, and beech are among the heavy hitters for fall fireworks, so head for the broadleaf forests.
The 21 Must-See Leaf-Peeping Zones
Here’s where the colors are expected to explode this year. Of the extended list, italicized spots are the cream of the crop, according to the Almanac:
- Acadia National Park, Maine
- Ozark Mountains, Arkansas
- Adirondack & Catskill Mountains, New York
- Traverse City, Michigan
- Black Hills, South Dakota
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia & North Carolina)
- Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains, New Hampshire
- Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois
- Jackson, Wyoming
- Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, Utah
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
- Buckhorn Lake State Park, Kentucky
- Vogel State Park & Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
- Door County, Wisconsin
- Poconos, Pennsylvania
- Green Mountain Byway, Vermont
- Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
- The Berkshires, Massachusetts
- Taos, New Mexico
Basically, if your road trip intersects with mountains, lakes, or deep valleys in these states, odds are you’re in for a show.
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Pro Tips for Fall Foliage Chasers
- Go when it’s calm. Wind strips the trees, and rain dulls the colors.
- Plan your timing. Even if the Almanac’s 80% accuracy claim may be a stretch, late September through late October is prime almost everywhere.
- Don’t want to gamble? Check EarthCam before you hit the road. They’ve got live feeds from pretty much everywhere.
On September 22, the Autumnal equinox officially tips us into fall. That’s when daylight and darkness hit equilibrum before the long slide into winter. Until then, bang out your maps and get planning.
Ski season may still be a ways off, but leaf-peeping is always a valid excuse to get into the mountains.
