Fall is the best time of year to get outside almost everywhere in the country. The heat breaks, the crowds thin out, and the ridges light up with color. Here's where we'd go this season, region by region, with a couple of maps to start planning each trip.
Jump to: Pacific West · Alaska · Hawaii · Desert Southwest · Rocky Mountains · Great Plains · Upper Midwest · Great Lakes · Ozarks & Lower Mississippi · Southeast · Appalachia · Mid-Atlantic · New England
CALIFORNIA · OREGON · WASHINGTON
Pacific West
Gold in the High Country
Larches turning gold in the Cascades, aspens blazing in the Eastern Sierra, and cool, clear days on the trail. October is a short, spectacular window on the West Coast. Here's where to go.
ALASKA
Alaska
The Last Frontier, Mapped
Termination dust on the peaks, moose in the willows, and the northern lights returning to the night sky. Whether you're out this fall or already planning next summer, a real map makes Alaska's big country manageable.
HAWAII
Hawaii
Island Trails, Mapped
Sea cliffs, rainforest valleys, and volcanic summits, often on the same island. Fall brings fewer crowds and great hiking weather. Here's how to see more of Hawaii on foot.
ARIZONA · NEW MEXICO · NEVADA · TEXAS
Desert Southwest
The Desert Southwest Is Calling
Cooler days, golden light, and empty trails. Fall is the best season of the year to explore canyon country. Here's how to plan it.
COLORADO · UTAH · WYOMING · MONTANA · IDAHO
Rocky Mountains
Golden Aspens. Big Country.
Golden aspens, bugling elk, and crisp alpine air. Fall is short and spectacular in the Rockies, so make every trip count.
NORTH DAKOTA · SOUTH DAKOTA · NEBRASKA · KANSAS · OKLAHOMA
Great Plains
Wide-Open Country
Golden grass to the horizon, bison on the move, and buttes glowing at sunset. Fall is the best time to explore the Plains, and the public land here is bigger than most people realize.
MINNESOTA · WISCONSIN · IOWA
Upper Midwest
North Woods Color
Maples blazing along Lake Superior, loons calling on quiet lakes, and bluffs lit up above the Mississippi. Fall in the Upper Midwest goes fast, so get out while it lasts.
MICHIGAN · OHIO · INDIANA · ILLINOIS
Great Lakes
Big Water. Big Woods.
Turquoise shorelines, sandstone gorges, and hardwood forests turning gold. Fall is the best time to explore the Great Lakes states. Here's where to start.
MISSOURI · ARKANSAS · LOUISIANA · MISSISSIPPI
Ozarks & Lower Mississippi
Bluffs, Bayous & Backwoods
Ozark hollows turning red and gold, cool mornings on the bayou, and deer season just around the corner. Fall is prime time across the Mid-South.
FLORIDA · GEORGIA · SOUTH CAROLINA · ALABAMA
Southeast
Cooler Days. Wilder Trails.
The heat has broken, the bugs are fading, and the Southeast's best season for hiking, paddling, and hunting is just getting started.
VIRGINIA · NORTH CAROLINA · TENNESSEE · KENTUCKY · WEST VIRGINIA
Appalachia
The Mountains Are Turning
Misty mornings, ridgelines lit up with color, and cool days made for climbing. October is peak season from the Shenandoah to the Smokies.
NEW YORK · PENNSYLVANIA · NEW JERSEY · DELAWARE · MARYLAND
Mid-Atlantic
Peak Color, Close to Home
Deep gorges, High Peaks, and quiet pine forests, all within a few hours of the biggest cities in the East. October is the best month of the year to get outside in the Mid-Atlantic.
MAINE · NEW HAMPSHIRE · VERMONT · MASSACHUSETTS · CONNECTICUT · RHODE ISLAND
New England
Chase the Color This October
Crisp mornings, blazing hillsides, and summit views that stretch for miles. October is prime time from the North Woods of Maine to the Cape. Here's how to make the most of it.
Map your own fall trip
Cabin, hunting unit, lake, or favorite trailhead: center a custom map exactly where you want it, from 18x24 to a massive 5'x8', in topo, aerial, or hybrid.
Start Your Custom Map →Questions? Call 877-587-9004 or email support@mytopo.com.