6 Fall Hikes to Experience Autumn’s Beauty on Foot
As summer hiking adventures bow to autumn’s chill, outdoor explorations arrive in new colors. Welcome to leaf peeping season, where deciduous forests take center stage with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows collaging the landscape. Whether seeking a peaceful stroll through the woods or a multi-day backpacking trip, fall offers trail options for every type of hiker.
If you’re heading out this fall, make sure you’re prepared with the right gear. As one of the “shoulder” seasons, autumn can experience larger fluctuations in temperature and conditions from day to day and even from afternoon to evening. Bring the right clothing layers to keep warm and dry throughout your trip. We’re also big fans of using a pair of LT5 trekking poles for autumn hiking, as footing can get tricky when roots, rocks, and trails get blanketed in piles of crunchy leaves.
That said, if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next fall hiking trip, we’ve got you covered! After chatting with our brand ambassadors and staff, we’ve rounded up a diverse selection of some of the best fall hiking trails across the country. We hope these ideas help jumpstart your next adventure to catch the glory of the season.
1. Hoosier National Forest in Southern Indiana
Photo credit: Korrin Bishop
For a quieter neck of the woods to enjoy fall colors, set your compass toward southern Indiana. The state is home to the rolling hills, serene lakes, and winding streams of Hoosier National Forest, spanning 204,000 acres with more than 260 miles of hiking trails. With a variety of oak, beech, yellow-poplar, and sycamore trees across the park, the autumn color change is as pretty as it comes.
For a quick walk in the woods, check out the 1.3-mile trail through Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, an 88-acre old-growth oak and hickory forest that’s a designated Research Natural Area. The tract of land is the last original forest of its size in Indiana and protected so that only natural changes may occur within it. You’ll find the trail lined with fall wildflowers, such as low smartweed, American pokewood, and common blue wood aster, while golden-crowned kinglets, blue jays, and red-headed woodpeckers swoop and sing in the canopy.
For a longer autumn trek, hop on the Knobstone Hiking Trail, which runs about 60 miles from Deam Lake State Recreation Area in Clark County, Indiana, to Delaney Creek Park near Salem, Indiana. Located along the rugged Knobstone Escarpment, the trail is often used as a training hike for aspiring Appalachian Trail thru-hikers.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee
Photo credit: Korrin Bishop
One of the most popular places to catch fall colors is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which hugs the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. As one of the most biodiverse national parks in the country, the Smokies hosts a wide range of trees that turn beautiful colors in the fall, including oak, maple, hickory, tulip poplar, beech, birch, and more. Additionally, given its fluctuating elevations, peak leaf season lasts longer in the park, with the higher elevations being the first to change color and lower elevations following suit over the next several weeks.
For a shorter trek, start in the Elkmont area of the park and use the Little River and Cucumber Gap trails to make a 4.8-mile loop. Not only will you get to enjoy an easy stroll through towering autumn trees, but you’ll also follow the tranquil babbling of the adjacent scenic river.
If you’d like to take your time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this fall, grab a backcountry permit to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail through the Smokies, which offers several campsites along the roughly 72-mile stretch. Note that portions of the park were impacted by Hurricane Helene, so make sure to check with the backcountry office for the latest on trail conditions and closures.
3. North Cascades in Washington
Photo credit: Hope Martin
If you want a truly unique fall experience, then head to Washington State’s North Cascades for unexpected pops of color. This region is known for its larch trees, which are deciduous conifers that grow up to 150 feet tall and turn a brilliant gold color in the autumn. This time of year in the Pacific Northwest is known as “Larch Madness,” and is a sight to behold. The larch colors especially pop against the stark granite peaks and evergreen forests of the surrounding landscapes.
For an easier hike, take the Blue Lake Trail for a 4.4-mile roundtrip with absurdly beautiful views and about 1,000 feet in elevation gain. For something a little more rugged, hike Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail. This 10-mile roundtrip hike gains about 2,000 feet in elevation and reaches its highest point at 6,800 feet. Expect creek crossings, craggy mountain spires, and stunning fall larches.
4. Appalachian Trail in Northern Maine
Photo credit: Arlette Laan
While much of the Appalachian Trail boasts scenic fall views, our brand ambassador Arlette Laan is particularly fond of the northern Maine stretches of the trail during autumn, calling it “simply breathtaking.” This stretch of trail passes through Baxter State Park—where the famed Mount Katahdin is, Nahmakanta Public Reserved Land, and the Maine Highlands.
Explore the area by hopping onto a section as short or as long as you want on the Appalachian Trail. Make sure to research any permits you may need and plan accordingly for backcountry travel. There are also plenty of other trails in the region where you can go to appreciate the fall colors. Consider planning a trip on the Debsconeag Backcountry Trail in Nahmakanta Public Reserved Land, a 12-mile figure-eight path through rugged wilderness.
5. Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin
Photo credit: Stephanie Rockwood
Wisconsin is another excellent fall destination where you may be able to find some quieter stretches of colorful trail. The state is home to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a 1,200-mile hiking path that stretches from Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls in the west to Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay in the east. You’ll be able to find showy autumn colors along many stretches of the trail while checking off a visit to a national scenic trail from your bucket list.
Try the 13.5-mile point-to-point Wood Lake segment of the trail. This path meanders through primitive wilderness and offers first-come, first-served campsites at Wood Lake County Park at its midpoint next to a beautiful lake. You can also opt for the 12-mile Lumbercamp segment of the trail, which allows for primitive camping along the route, including near Baker Lake and the “Hillbilly Hilton,” a historic root cellar at the Norem Lumbercamp.
6. Channel Islands in California
Photo credit: Riley “Waldo” Ormiston
If you’re looking for a different kind of fall experience where you can escape the sometimes unpredictable weather of the mountains and deserts this time of year, our brand ambassador Riley “Waldo” Ormiston recommends a trip to Channel Islands National Park in California.
“My go-to for years has been low-elevation coastal hiking: Big Sur, Catalina, and the other California Channel Islands,” they shared. “Despite being dry chaparral and desert islands, respectively, the marine layer can keep water sources flowing much later than one would expect, the temperatures are relatively comfortable, crowds are sparse, and winter wildflower season is just around the corner.”
Riley recommends checking out the eastern edge of Santa Cruz Island: “It contains hidden beaches, dramatic ridgeline singletrack, remnants of old ranches, and an array of thriving wildlife. Though it’s smaller, Santa Rosa is my favorite for backpacking. The entirety of the island is in the national park, and open to hiking. Because there’s no amenities and only one source of potable water, it attracts very few visitors. Backcountry camping is allowed only on beaches to minimize impact. It feels completely wild.”
You can expect to see curious island foxes while on your fall trip, beaches covered in sea lions, and several bird species. While you won’t find the traditional colors of fall here, the underwater kelp forests around the islands become more vibrant in autumn, a sight worth the adventure.
“About half of the island is single track, and the other half is dirt roads,” said Riley. “I’m not telling you to go run the island circuit FKT I set up, but I’m not telling you not to do it, either.”
Island Packers runs the ferry out to the islands for easier visits, and you can find more information about potable water sources on this blog.
Enjoy the Best Fall Hiking Trails for Colors and Adventure
Autumn is a gorgeous time to go hiking and backpacking. Places across the country come alive with beautiful colors, whether in the larches of the Pacific Northwest, among the mighty oaks of the East, or even beside the kelp forests of coastal California. Wherever you adventure this fall, remember to bring your ten essentials and leave no trace.
Have a favorite fall hiking destination that’s not on our list? We’d love to hear about it! Share your autumn adventures with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and using the hashtag #takelessdomore.
Looking for more outdoor adventure inspiration? Check out some of our other articles on the Light Feet blog: