Colorado is well known for its gorgeous display of Aspens that blanket mountains across the state with incredible hues of golden bronze and dazzling yellow, and there are few better places to experience it than in the state’s magnificent Rockies. Independence Pass, the highest paved pass in North America, peaks at more than 12,000 feet above sea level, with jagged mountain peaks soaring into bright blue skies above an incredible array of fall colors.
Another one of the most colorful autumn routes in the state is Ohio Pass, between Gunnison and Crested Butte. North of Gunnison the road follows the Ohio Creek Valley with its fields and cattle ranches before reaching the peaks of the West Elk Wilderness and The Castles, pictured above, spectacular eroded volcanic remains that rise to the west.
The days remain long and temperatures are still more than manageable in Iceland in the fall. After mid-September is also when the dark night sky begins to put on its spectacular natural light show known as the aurora borealis as a a blanket of illuminations made up of countless shades of green, blue, red and yellow returns and lasts until the end of the winter. In Thingvellir National Park, renowned for its breathtaking beauty, willow, birch and plants of the heath family transform their appearance into an even lovelier place. The largest natural lake in Iceland, Lake Thingvallavatn, is found in the park, and in the autumn months the great northern diver gathers in flocks and breeds along its banks.
Thingvellir is home to Gullfoss, also known as Golden Falls, sometimes referred to as Iceland’s version of Niagara Falls. This magnificent waterfall, located in the upper part of River Hvita along the renowned Golden Circle, cascades down in two steps, one 36 feet high, and the other at 72 feet high, plunging into the more than one-mile long canyon below. Strokkur geyser, which sits in the middle of a geothermal field surrounded by bubbling springs, is also a must see. It erupts once every four to eight minutes, and soars as high as 65 feet.
There’s really no better time to visit Switzerland than the fall, especially from September through mid-October, when the weather is most likely to be cooperative. In the southern region of the country, you’ll find the especially picturesque city of Lugano, set along the shore of Lake Lugano on the border of Italy. Summer’s sizzling temperatures have given way to a milder climate and a choreographed setting of spectacular colors. Visit during the first weekend of October and you can attend the annual Autumn Festival which features folkloric music as well as celebrations of grapes and fine wines.
Wine enthusiasts may want to head to the northern shores of Lake Geneva, where each autumn, the 2,050 acres of ancient vineyards known as the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, blanket the lower mountain slopes. Hikers can walk and taste their way along this 21-mile Swiss wine route, stretching from Ouchy in Lausanne to Chateau de Chillon Castle. Follow the yellow arrows that mark the path leading through working vineyards and medieval villages, with pubs, eateries and local wine cellars making ideal pit stops.
The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts offer great leaf-peeping as well as fantastic museums, like the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, home to one of the largest collections of modern art in the U.S. Enjoy the striking fall foliage by taking a scenic drive along the winding roads lined with reds, golds and occasionally dark scarlet hues, passing glistening lakes, lush meadows and farms along the way. Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway, a 35-mile stretch in the southern Berkshires, is ideal. Be sure to stop at Bash-Bish Falls State Park to take in the awe-inspiring three-state views of a landscape dotted with crimson and gold.
This popular national park is one of the best in the country for fall foliage. It puts on a magnificent show of color with miles and miles of landscape ablaze in a gorgeous tapestry of brilliant hues. Drive the scenic six-mile Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and enjoy plenty of great fishing and hiking too. While you’re here, you might want to spend at least a day at Dollywood, hopping on some of the heart-pounding thrill rides as well as enjoying food and authentic Tennessee music. Gatlinburg is a great place to base your stay and is also home to the highest point in the state, Clingman’s Dome, as well as Newfound Gap Road where visitors can view the autumn scenery at 1,400 feet above sea level
