America's Top National Parks for Leaf Peeping

If you missed out on experiencing the country's gorgeous national parks this summer, don't worry. Leaf peeping season is just getting started in many parts of the U.S. and there's never been a better time to take in the foliage in one of these beloved national parks.

There's nothing quite like cruising Skyline Drive through Virginia's Shenandoah National Park in mid-October and taking in bursts of yellow, red and orange leaves. Visitors should expect increased traffic on the 105-mile-long roadway this time of year but there are more than enough scenic overlooks to choose from.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited park in the country and for good reason. The fall colors here are sure to inspire a return trip. Plan your visit for late-October or the early days of November and you're likely to experience peak foliage in places like Newfound Gap.

The leaves within Maine's Acadia National Park typically peak in mid-October. Not only is this a great time to visit for vibrant fall colors but visitors will also enjoy fewer crowds compared to summer's peak tourist season. Just be sure to pack a few layers.

Undeniably one of the country's most photogenic national parks, Yosemite is home to a plethora of evergreen trees but still offers visitors plenty of eye-popping colors, including beautiful dogwood and maple trees.

Hikers, kayakers and other visitors to Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park are certain to fall in love with the park's mesmerizing autumn colors, which include various shades of red, purple, gold and orange, among others.

Rich color helps to make Utah's Zion National Park even more enticing come autumn. The peak season for leaf-peeping typically runs late-September to early-October so you'll have to hurry or risk waiting until next year.

Named after the deepest lake in the U.S., this national park is a photographer's dream come true during the fall when Crater Lake's deep blue water is complemented by the countless surrounding gold, orange and red leaves.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park usually experiences its best fall colors later in the season from mid-October through mid-November, making it ideal for procrastinators. It's also worth noting that the park is home to the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef in addition to the four highest peaks in Texas.

No matter your favorite color, you're certain to spot it inside Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Hop onto State Road 303 and you won't even have to get out of the car as the route passes directly through the park, treating fall travelers to awesome scenery.

Gorgeous color-changing aspens and migrating elk make fall in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park unlike anyplace else. Bear Lake Road and the Glacier Gorge Trail are just two of many spots guaranteed to wow autumn visitors.

Although miles of rock come to mind when thinking about Grand Canyon National Park, the North Rim, which only 10 percent of all Grand Canyon visitors experience, is actually an extremely popular spot for leaf-peeping. The only downside is that lodging and restaurants close in mid-October ahead of the winter months.

You'll want to head to South Carolina's Congaree National Park in late-October or early-November to experience peak fall color. There's much more to enjoy here as well as autumn ushers in mild temperatures accompanied by low humidity and ideal water levels for cruising Cedar Creek.

One of the best national parks for camping, Glacier National Park is home to many beautiful larch trees, most of which visitors will find on the west side of the park. These deciduous conifers typically turn a vibrant gold color in mid-October.

Fall in the Tetons usually runs from early-September through mid-October but it all comes down to climate conditions. Oxbow Bend is undoubtedly one of the most popular sites in the entire park and is the perfect place to capture Grand Teton National Park's stunning foliage.

Sequoia National Park is well-known for its evergreens but there's plenty of colors to be seen this time of year when the park's dogwoods change to orange and crimson and are complemented by yellow fern fronds on the ground. Visitors to the picturesque Mineral King Valley will also discover beautiful aspens and cottonwoods, among other colorful tree species.

The autumn hues within Mount Rainer National Park are often at their most astonishing from mid-October until the arrival of snow in November. Seeing them at their best isn't difficult either as the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway offers travelers convenient access to this one-of-a-kind fall scenery.