Harper's Ferry, West Virginia - Sean McLeod writes:"We went out there from Washington, DC on Oct. 16th on an absolutely beautiful drive on Leesburg Pike past rolling farmland and mountain views. Only about 25% of the leaves had turned by then, but I'll bet the weekend of Oct. 24th will be stunning. Most people come to this National Historic Park to explore Harper's Ferry's role leading up to the Civil War, but there's an excellent four-hour circuit hike above the town of Harper's Ferry with sweeping vistas of the Potomac and Shenandoah River valleys. Thomas Jefferson was particularly impressed with the views there."

Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania - Ed Houk writes:"In south central Pennsylvania, the Youghiogheny River is noted for its class I-IV whitewater. The river can also be navigated in a more relaxed manner using a raft, canoe or kayak. The river's falls usually attracts a crowd year-round. Twenty-eight miles of the former Western Maryland Railway right-of-way has been converted into an easy Bike/Hike trail from Confluence to Connellsville, PA. The active CSX railroad shares the opposite river bank with the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. 41 miles of day hiking trails are also contained in the park. If you are quiet during your hikes, you will probably see numerous deer. A separate 9.4 mile mountain bike/equestrian trail is also available. The 237 site campground has showers, flush toilets and a dump station. For you railfans, you can enjoy the sound of CSX trains passing through the gorge and blowing for the grade crossing in town during most a 24-hour period. The leaves and the river are spectacular during the Fall, no matter how you choose to enjoy them."

Montreal, Maine, and Vermont - "The 350-mile drive from Montreal to Midcoast Maine provides a rolling panorama of gorgeous autumn scenery at this time of year," says Blanche Gelber. "The central section across the middle of Vermont is a belt of golden leaf variations. The easterly reaches into Maine peak a week or so later and are still predominantly green - but about to burst into hot coloring."

Youghiogheny River in Autumn Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania<
Photo courtesy of Ed Houk

She also recommends a Vermont drive in the rain."Vermont's Route 100 skirting east of Mount Mansfield is a knockout drive. A special treat lies just west of Stowe on Route 108. On a cold wet windy day there, the erratic boulders along Smugglers Notch were punctuated by overflowing brooks and seemingly spontaneous waterfalls all over the place. The multiplicity of yellow through golden red hues surround those massive strewn rocks with dramatic contrasts. The hardtop road is excellent, with convenient pullout spots; but it twists, turns and climbs, and must be handled slowly in low gear. Short in length but tall in breathtaking sights, a wondrous site!"

Southern New Jersey - Richard Uberti of Pomona, NJ, writes, "The Pine Barrens are my favorite place to see fall colors. The pitch pines are surrounded by plenty of red maple, swamp maple, oak, and black gum trees that have a dazzling array of colors, set against the green pine trees and Atlantic white cedar. The area is near both New York City and Philadelphia, yet is rarely crowded. Canoeing on the tea-colored rivers during fall is unlike any other experience in NJ. Most people think it's all pines down here, but that "leaves" less crowds for me!"

Rocky Knob, Virginia - Ed Houk writes,"The fall colors are at their best around mid-October on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Both areas offer an enjoyable day. The speed limits are 45 mph or less so you can just take a leisurely fall drive. The photo is Mabry Mill near Rocky Knob in Virginia around Milepost 176 on the Blueridge. It boasts of being the most photographed mill in the country.

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania - Fred Brock recommends Lackawanna State Park, which he says will be at its best the second week of October. "Great tree variety dam and waterway at far end of last parking lot. Approx. 7 miles north of Clarks Summit, PA, on Abington Road. Lake exit 58 off of I-81, follow signs to Abington Road or take exit 60 off of I-81 and follow signs west to the park. Lovely lake and picnic areas. Camping grounds for campers."

Indiana - Melinda Mathes says, "Check out Indiana! Brown County State Park and Pokagen State Park have beautiful color!

Chinook Pass, Washington - Jolene Johnson says that Mather Memorial Parkway is a great fall drive and an escape from the wet and cold of the Western Washington to the warm climate east of the mountains. "There are a couple of good viewpoints up at the top. After you pass the entrance to Mt. Rainier NP at Sunrise, keep your eyes open for a terrific viewpoint of the mountain! If you haven't gone from a cloudy to sunny day yet, you should see sun-breaks soon after you start your descent down from the pass."

Upstate New York - Richie, who describes himself as "happy in Amenia, NY," says, "NY has more trees than the rest of the Northeast combined, yet so little is ever mentioned about NY. But that's good for me I can enjoy the high Adirondack peaks, higher than anything in Vermont or Michigan, all to myself this fall."

Chama, New Mexico - Photographer Alex Adams recommends a 64-mile trip back in time, on a coal-burning train that runs from Chama in northern New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado."Bursts of yellow and green lined both sides of the track and a perfect blue sky rolled over hillsides as far as the eye could see." This area is peaking the first week of October. For the whole story and more photos, see his personal website, Traveling Through Time.

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia - "A great autumn hike is Old Rag Mountain, in Shenandoah National Park," says Julie Seiler. "The 7-mile circuit includes a fun rock scramble up the top third of the mountain both kids and adults love it! It's a strenuous hike, an elevation gain of about 2100 feet in 3 miles. You can take the fire road back down. Spectacular fall color in mid- to late-October. Good day trip from Washington, DC. Go early on the weekends the parking lots fill up. Or play hookey, and go during the week!"

Michigan, Upper Peninsula - Janis Cramer suggests a drive up a hill overlooking the town of Copper Harbour on the Keweenaw Peninsula. "Take Hwy 41 north to Copper Harbor. Once in town, take the circle tour along the shoreline of Lake Superior, Hwy. 26. The mountain (well, a very large hill) looks over the whole area. Entrance to the drive is one mile out of town, going east on Hwy 26. The end of the tour puts you right back on Hwy. 41 to leave the peninsula. Can't get lost. Spectacular colors."

North Carolina - P. Bonsavage says to hit the Tsali Trails in Nantahala National Forest in early November. "On the Right and Left Loop, lookouts will show you spectacular color in the Smoky Mountains National Park." (Note: these trails are rated "most difficult.")

Norwell, Massachusetts - Bob Wetzel says to check out the Norris Foundation Reservation along the North River here. "Mostly oak and pines along the trails in the park, great views of maple and other hardwoods along the edge of the saltmarsh. The parking lot's just off River Street near Norwell Center."

Redmond, Washington - "Don't laugh," says Shawn, "but you can see the mountains from the bike path through the Microsoft campus, and as the color turns, there's vine maple and alder and Oregon grape. And of course you can mountain-bike down the waterfall at Red West. (Just kidding, ha ha.)"

Claremont, California - Jennifer Chavez likes hiking the trails that start at the foot of the ski slopes on Mt. Baldy. "It's 20 minutes from the Claremont colleges. You get up there and it's fall, real fall, whatever's going on in the valley. There are aspens and pines, it smells great—instant vacation."