3 Incredible Fall Foliage Hiking Locations In The Northeast

Hikers Circle Photos

Smoky Mountains and Beyond

Search for any list related to viewing fall foliage and you’ll find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park included in it somewhere.

In fact, gorgeous fall hikes abound all up and down the Appalachians – from Maine down into northern Georgia.

If you time things right, you may even be able to squeeze in more than one trip. Venturing ever further South to experience each location in it’s peak.

From North to South, here are some of our favorites:

Acadia National Park

Let’s start in Maine. Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of mountain, woodland and shoreline terrain along the coast of Maine. It takes up much of Mount Desert Island, as well as several smaller islands. You will find numerous trails to choose from, ranging from very easy to quite strenuous. Regardless of your capability, enjoy the best foliage watching from late September into mid-October.

By Dana Moos

A Colorful View from South Bubble in Acadia National Park

By Lee Coursey

Acadia National Park

White Mountain National Forest

Moving on to New Hampshire, the White Mountain National Forest is at almost the same latitude as Acadia National Park, but further inland. It covers over 750,000 acres of mountainous terrain and includes some 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Peak times for enjoying fall foliage is from about the last week of September into into the second week of October.

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

Swift River

Presidential Range

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

And finally we arrive to the Tennessee-North Carolina Border, where the Great Smoky Mountains National Park never ceases to dazzle. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second most visited National Park in the United Sates! The Appalachian Trail passes straight through the middle of the park, comprising of only 70 miles of the over 850 miles of unpaved roads and trails for hikers to enjoy. More than 100 species of trees grow in the park, making the transition into fall all the more amazing. For the best display of Autumn colors, visit from the second week of October on up until the end of October.