10 Fantastic Fall Foliage Destinations
Devil’s Hopyard State Park
Location: East Haddam, CT
Why It’s Great: There’s gorgeous foliage everywhere, with the added bonus of a beautiful waterfall and covered bridge. It’s New England in the fall at its’ finest!
Devil’s Hopyard State Park (the name comes from a local legend of Satan being seen at the park along with various other paranormal sightings) is located in Southeastern Connecticut in the small town of East Haddam, CT, which is frequently rated amongst the best fall color destinations in the country. Just taking a scenic drive around the area is sure to put you into the fall spirit.
I love this park because it never gets overcrowded, even during the primeĀ of fall. The trails here are so quiet and peaceful with lots of trees and creeks. Bight foliage and pretty leaves scattered amongst the ground really creates that perfect fall ambiance. You will even find a gorgeous waterfall here that just looks amazing when surrounded by the colors of the season.
I recommend the 4 mile Red Trail which will take you past a historic covered bridge which looks absolutely gorgeous when surrounded by fall foliage. Devil’s Hopyard offers anything you could possible want in a New England fall day hike- gorgeous weather, an idyllic covered bridge, beautiful nature, and of course, stunning foliage. Photographers, nature lovers, and leaf peepers alike should all be very pleased with this quaint Connecticut treasure.
More info and pics from Devil’s Hopyard State Park
The Inner Basin Trail
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Why It’s Great: Rare-for-Arizona foliage just 2 hours from the hot desert climate of Phoenix, endless golden aspens, cool fall temperatures, and a great high altitude workout. Inner Basin is a great adventure for Southern Arizona residents looking to flee the heat as well as anyone else in search of an amazing fall trail.
Just 2 hours north of Phoenix, you will find one of the most colorful fall trails of all.Ā Inner Basin is notĀ just for Phoenix leaf peepers seeking an escape from the desert heat, but for everyone seeking a gorgeous fall mountain hike. Any fall leaf peepers out there will appreciate the beauty of one of the West’s most colorful trails.
Located in Flagstaff, a high elevation city in the Northern portion of the state (just an hour from the Grand Canyon), the fantastic Inner BasinĀ hiking trail is loaded with golden aspensĀ for its’ entire 3.4 mile length.Ā It’s a hard hike with a starting elevation over 8000 feet and an ending elevation of around 10,000. On the plus side, if you can handle the uphill climb, you will be rewarded with incredible leaf peeping. On one downside this trail is very popular as you can imagine with Southwestern residents flocking to the area to catch a glimpse of fall, so visit on a weekday if at all possible.
