Can you smell the pumpkin spice in the air? Even though the heat of summer lingers, sweater weather is just around the corner, bringing with it cooler temperatures, crisp air, plump pumpkins, comforting coffees and a vibrant, changing landscape of fall foliage.
Deep reds, spicy oranges, and golden yellows soon will speckle forests across the U.S., whether in more remote locations or in the heart of the city. Here are our top 6 picks of places to view the best fall foliage near IHG® Army Hotels.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes from Fort Belvoir or Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Best time to visit: early- to mid-October
With more than 100 miles of varying elevations, Shenandoah National Park delivers a variety of breathtaking views. It’s no wonder fall is the peak travel time for visitors. To truly embrace the experience, the National Park Service offers great tips on avoiding crowds as well as a live fall foliage report. Their best advice is to travel the trails midweek and dodge the northern entrances that typically have the longest wait times. These guys do fall right, providing visitors with regular Thursday updates on fall conditions through the park’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages.
If you’d prefer a leisurely drive, the Virginia Department of Forestry has developed nine fall foliage driving tours that avoid the state’s most trafficked locations and, of course, come highly recommended by the people who know Virginia’s trees the best.
Elk Neck State Park, Maryland
Approximately 45 minutes from Aberdeen Proving Ground
Best time to visit: mid- to late-October
With a stunning combination of water views, sandy shorelines, and lush forests, Elk Neck State Park delivers on the magic of the fall season. A bluff, which sits 100 feet above the Chesapeake Bay and Elk River, features gorgeous panoramic views of brilliantly colorful trees. Get even more height from climbing 35 feet in Turkey Point Lighthouse to the south. Nearby, look to the skies to catch a glimpse of local hawks and eagles.
Explore the shore, bluff, marshes, and forests to experience all the visually stunning settings located in this popular Maryland park. Need more time? Elk Neck offers 20 camp sites and 15 cabins. Plenty of options for water recreation are a short drive in Charlestown.
Staten Island Greenbelt and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, New York
Approximately 20 minutes and 45 minutes respectively from Fort Hamilton
Best time to visit: mid-October
Beneath those behemoth skyscrapers of the big city lie some beautiful natural treasures. Both the Staten Island Greenbelt and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens offer lovely fall escapes from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
From Fort Hamilton, take a quick trip over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the Staten Island Greenbelt, which Travel & Leisure says sits in one of New York’s most beautiful forests. The Greenbelt Conservatory boasts 2,800 acres of forests, parks, and trails that blaze red and orange in the fall. From a 1-mile loop around the nature center to more than 12 miles of moderate hiking to the highest peak of the park, visitors can choose the difficulty and distance that works for them. The greenbelt also houses a public golf course, children’s carousel, recreation center, wildlife refuge, and more.
Or, head the other direction to the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, known as the “greenest block in Brooklyn.” Its 15 different gardens include the Children’s Garden, Discovery Garden, Fragrance Garden, Herb Garden, and Shakespeare Garden. When fall foliage is at its peak, take in stunning colors and views at the Japanese-Hill-and-Pond Garden. The many maples feature a warm display of yellows, oranges, and reds. In the Native Flora Garden, view wildflowers, a deep red century-old sweet gum tree, multicolored sumacs, and feathery butterfly milkweeds.
Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Approximately 1 hour from Fort McCoy
Best time to go: late-September through October
The forested area along the Wisconsin River delivers a calm and colorful fall retreat. Nearby Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin, offers 10,000 acres with trails, beach, water recreation, bike paths, and more.
Depending on the timing of your visit, the fall colors fire up first with maples along the north shore of the lake, then flow down the east trails, east bluff, west bluff, and finally south bluff. To take in the best of the fall scene, the park crew suggests hiking the Johnson Moraine Trail or walking Grottos Trail. If you prefer to bike along the vivid fall backdrop, head to 400 State Bike Trail, just 20 minutes outside of the park. Or, be engulfed in golden leaves during a quick 4-mile drive down the park’s north shore entrance road.
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
Approximately 50 minutes from Carlisle Barracks
Best time to go: mid- to late-October
Get in a gorgeous fall excursion plus a trip to one of the country’s most notable military parks! Autumn is a perfect time to visit Gettysburg National Military Park. Cool temperatures and warm colors create a striking backdrop for the 6,000-acre park and its 1,400 monuments.
The orchards of Adams County are ripe with a variety of apples while oaks, hickory, and poplar trees are a visual delight. Travel the battlefield by foot, bike, car, or Segway. Or, try a guided tour on horseback and sneak in some special tucked away spots. Take in the view atop Little Roundtop where you can see the battlefield, farm fields, and the Pennsylvania Fruit Belt. On your way out of town, add in some time to stop at one of the many local orchards or produce stands to enjoy a taste of the season.
