As autumn starts
to settle over the U.S., plenty of leaf-peepers are eagerly awaiting the annual
show of Mother Nature’s splendor—that is, leaves turning to brilliant shades of
yellow, orange and red. But, understanding precisely where and when this phenomenon
will reach its peak vibrancy in various areas of the country takes more than
just guesswork.
For those keen to
witness the trees' colorful transformation, national parks are always popular
because where better to view the changing of the seasons than places where forests
are preserved and protected? However, some types of trees have more potential
for picturesque pigmentation than others, just as some parks provide better
access to areas where the kaleidoscopic effect is on display.
Which is why onX, which offers digital maps and other resources
for outdoor enthusiasts via a suite of apps, recently analyzed its data to
determine which national parks will probably prove the best for brilliant fall
foliage this year.
According to Frommer’s,
the company applied its Hunt app's "Deciduous Tree Layer" filter to
pinpoint parks with the highest density of trees renowned for their vivid
autumn hues, including oaks, maples, hickory and birches. By combining this
data with trail mileage information, its analysts curated a list of nine parks
where visitors stand the best chance of seeing vast amounts of spectacular foliage
this fall.
And, in terms of getting
the trip timing right, data compilers also leaned on satellite imagery from
2023 to determine when each of these parks attained peak color last year,
providing valuable insights on how to plan for your autumn outings this year.
Of course, the radiance of autumn leafage can be affected by another crucial
factor: weather. So, you may want to take into account meteorologists’
forecasts about where fall foliage is likely to be at its best.
Here’s a look at
the top national parks for fall foliage, according to onX:
1. Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
Trail
miles: 1,025
Tree
types: oak, maple, beech, hickory, birch
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
2. Shenandoah
National Park, Virginia
Trail
miles: 664
Tree
types: oak, maple, birch, ash
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
3. Cuyahoga
Valley National Park, Ohio
Trail
miles: 311
Tree
types: hickory, maple, beech, aspen
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
4. Acadia
National Park, Maine
Trail
miles: 186
Tree
types: oak, maple, birch, aspen
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
5. Isle
Royale National Park, Michigan
Trail
miles: 186
Tree
types: aspen, birch, beech, elm, ash, cottonwood, oak
2023
peak fall dates: October 2–30
6. Voyageurs
National Park, Minnesota
Trail
miles: 157
Tree
types: aspen, birch, maple
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
7. Mammoth
Cave National Park, Kentucky
Trail
miles: 76
Tree
types: oak, ash
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
8. New
River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Trail
miles: 73
Tree
types: oak
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–November 13
9. Indiana
Dunes National Park, Indiana
Trail
miles: 13
Tree
types: oak, ash, maple, beech
2023
peak fall dates: October 16–30
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