The arrival of fall doesn’t just mean that we’re one step closer to finally skiing. The arrival of fall means that it’s prime National Park season. National Parks are obviously glorious destinations any time of the year, but there are numerous reasons why fall is easily the best time to visit our National Parks.
Less Crowds
Anyone who’s visited a famous National Park during the summer knows the drill: packed parking lots, shuttle buses, crowded trails, and a constant battle to find a quiet viewpoint. Fall doesn’t eliminate crowds, but once summer vacation season winds down, many parks become noticeably more peaceful.
Moderate Temperatures
Summers in many National Parks can be miserably hot, and winters in many National Parks can be brutally cold. You can’t really appreciate sweeping vistas when you’re focused on keeping your fingers intact or desperately trying to find the closest shade. Fall finds the perfect balance between the two extremes in temperatures.
Fall Foliage
No explanation needed. Colorful fall foliage is typically associated with the East Coast, and rightfully so, but in the opinion of the author, there’s almost nothing prettier than an Aspen tree turning gold. Fall foliage can be found anywhere, not just the East Coast.
So now that we have established why now — the question turns to where. Without further ado, here are five of the best National Parks to visit during this glorious time of the year.
#5 Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Aspen trees alone make visiting this park worth it. The Quaking Aspen tree is easily one of the prettiest trees in the world, and each season offers its own unique beauty. In the summer, the rustling leaves will create a mesmerizing effect. In winter, the white bark pairs perfectly with freshly fallen snow. But in fall, the tree will develop vibrant colors that compete with anything New England has to offer. Walking through a cluster of yellow Aspens is the epitome of experiencing fall. Besides the trees, Rocky Mountain National Park offers views of snow-draped mountains and a convenient location in proximity to early-season skiing.
#4 Grand Teton National Park, WY
The Grand Tetons of Wyoming offer neck-craning views regardless of the season. Seeing the massive peaks abruptly rise out the plains creates a feeling that you’re in Alaska rather than the mainland United States. There’s a good argument to be made that the park is prettiest during Winter due to the glittering snow draping the range, but winter brings about sub-zero temperatures and deep snow. Fall will grant you the same views of snow-covered peaks, but without the inconveniences of biting temperatures and cloud-obstructed views. The Snake River provides one of the best photographic opportunities in the country.
#3 Acadia National Park, ME
This is a list about fall, so of course New England has to be listed. Tucked away in the country’s top corner, Maine’s Acadia National Park is hard to get to, but worth the trip. If you are driving up, vehicle reservations are required to drive Cadillac Summit Road from mid-May to mid-October, so book ahead. Featuring miles of coastline, lakes, rolling mountains, and authentic Maine charm, Acadia is one of the hidden gems in America’s National Park system. Hiking the various jutting granite peaks around the National Park provide some of the best coastal views on the East Coast, especially when paired with vistas of yellowing Birches. Acadia is one of the smaller National Parks in America, but exploring the rocky Maine shoreline with a backdrop of vibrant foliage is an authentic experience that can’t really be matched anywhere else. For those who are willing to wake up early, the park is so far East that hiking Cadillac Mountain before 6 a.m. will reward you with views of the very first sunlight to hit the continental United States.
#2 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN/NC
Many people are surprised to find out that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most-visited National Park, nearly doubling the visitation numbers of the Grand Canyon. This is in part due to the fact that Great Smoky is in close proximity to the major population centers of the East/South, making it much easier to access than more remote National Parks in the west. But it isn’t just close proximity that makes the park so popular, it’s truly one of the best places in the country to view fall colors. Due to this fact, visitation peaks in the fall, specifically October. But regardless of the crowds, the park is large enough to find solitary. The vibrant fall foliage stretches in every direction, creating views that can’t be found anywhere out west.
#1 Death Valley National Park, CA
Summer is pretty much a no-go in Death Valley. Death Valley is literally the hottest place on earth and holds the World Meteorological Organization-recognized record for the highest reliably measured air temperature on Earth: 134°F (56.7°C), recorded at Furnace Creek in 1913. It’s called Death Valley for a reason. But the NPS offers guided tours from late October and fall really opens up the park. Temperatures in November rarely get above 80°F (27°C), and since it’s a desert, it can even get quite chilly at night. One of the cooler things to do in Death Valley is to visit the Mesquite Flat Dunes. The dunes reach up to 100 feet in height and wandering around the dunes truly give you an other-worldly experience. You’ve probably already seen the dunes, they were featured in the Star Wars movie franchise. Since Death Valley is flanked by mountain ranges that reach up to 11,000 feet, it’s not uncommon for visitors in the Fall to experience the trippy sight of snow in the backdrop of sand dunes.
Fall is also one of the few times of year when you can experience two seasons in a single day. At lower elevations, aspens can be glowing yellow while snow is already accumulating on the surrounding peaks. By October, some high-elevation roads and trails may be receiving their first winter storms while valleys remain relatively mild. For skiers, it’s the perfect appetizer for the season ahead.
I think the mountains pictured for Rocky Mountain National Park is actually the Dallas Divide in the San Juans, which is on the opposite side of the state.