These Gorgeous Fall Hiking Trails Offer the Best Views of Autumn Leaves Across the U.S. and Canada

As temperatures drop across the U.S. and Canada, the trees become an autumnal mix of red, yellow, and orange hues. Sure, you could appreciate the scenery from a car window, but to fully immerse yourself in the riot of color, lace up those hiking boots and hit one of the best fall trails from Upstate New York to British Columbia.

Be it a stroll through Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park or sightseeing in Vermont’s bucolic backyard, some of the best leaf-peeping in North America can be experienced on foot. Get ready for mountaintop vistas, glass lakes, and roaring waterfalls on the 10 best hikes for spotting fall foliage.

Springwater on the Willamette in Portland, Oregon

If you’re looking for a taste of the wilderness in Portland, Oregon, you needn’t commit to trekking the full 21-mile Springwater Corridor. The three-mile, north–south Springwater on the Willamette segment, completed in 2005, is a far more manageable alternative. The easy route takes visitors along a disused rail line for a gentle jaunt in one of the Pacific Northwest’s loveliest regions.

Oak Rim Trail in Rodman, New York

In the Adirondacks, you’ll find this scenic out-and-back trail in Tug Hill State Forest, home of the glorious Rainbow Falls. Just 2.2 miles long, this moderate but straightforward trail is popular with runners. The route follows the deep ravine of Inman Gulf, so you can get a good top-down look at the fall canopy at the height of autumn’s spectacle.

Lighthouse Loop in Ucluelet, British Columbia

British Columbia is known as a terrific place for the outdoorsy, and this hike on Vancouver Island’s west coast fits that reputation. Roughly a five-hour drive from downtown Vancouver, the Lighthouse Loop is arguably the most scenic section of the larger Wild Pacific Trail system. While it can be combined with the longer Bog Interpretive Loop and Spring Cove mudflats, you can just walk this 1.6-mile portion for glorious views of the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, which is particularly mesmerizing at sunset or sunrise. It’s an easy and approachable hike for all levels and is accessible to those in wheelchairs and strollers.

Tom’s Thumb Trail in Scottsdale, Arizona

Located on the northern side of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Tom’s Thumb is a dramatic rock formation that resembles a raised thumb, surrounded by desert. The trek to the summit is a little over two miles, and the phenomenal views make this one of the best places to hike in Scottsdale. Be warned, though, that the steep inclines and seemingly endless switchbacks can be seriously challenging. Since the city is a top spa destination, any post-hike activity worth its salt ought to involve a massage at one of the area’s premier resorts.

Dismal Trail Loop in Cleveland, South Carolina

Instead of hiking in South Carolina’s summer heat, visit Caesars Head State Park in the fall and spot wildlife against a backdrop of stunning foliage. Located in the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the park is about an hour’s drive north of Greenville, which can be used as a base for exploring the region. The Dismal Trail Loop is a little over eight miles and has some challenging terrain, making it a formidable option for advanced hikers. The suspension bridge over Matthews Creek gives you a great view of Raven Cliff Falls and stable ground to pause and rest your legs between all the switchbacks and steep climbs.

Haystack Mountain Trail in Wilmington, Vermont

There’s no danger of running out of hiking options in the Green Mountain State, but while the 272-mile Long Trail tends to get all the attention, Haystack Mountain’s 4.8-mile, out-and-back trail is worth a day hike. While the “mud season” that follows ski resort closures in the spring slowly gives way to lush summer greenery and wildflowers galore, anyone who’s witnessed Vermont’s vibrant foliage would agree that the best time of year to visit is in the fall. A trek up to Haystack’s summit at this time of year rewards you with pops of burnished reds, oranges, and yellows.

Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Nearly a two-hour drive from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park is perhaps most popular for spring hiking due to the sprawling wildflower fields. That said, it puts on another colorful show come fall. Along the Skyline Trail, you can enjoy the shifting shades of huckleberry bushes in addition to stunning views of nearby Mount Rainier and Oregon’s Mount Hood in the distance. The trail is a 5.5-mile loop that climbs to the top of Panorama Point in the Paradise area of the park.

Laramie Peak in Garrett, Wyoming

Summiting Laramie Peak, located in southeast Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest, requires a rigorous 4.2-mile hike. In exchange for your labor, you get copious chances for wildlife sightings, including black bears, deer, and mountain lions. Laramie’s base is a bit out of the way on a rough-and-tumble gravel road, but its true off-the-beaten-path location offers seclusion and mountain zen in spades. The majority of the hike is tree-covered, so fall visitors are pretty much guaranteed colorful scenery.

Virginia Creeper Trail in Southwest Virginia

Situated in the southwestern part of the state, the Virginia Creeper Trail has top billing among cyclists, but it’s also an inviting trek for hikers. Its strange name originates from the nickname for the slow-moving Virginia-Carolina Railway that once operated along this route. Stunning vistas, wooden bridges, rushing streams, charming towns, and miles upon miles of surrounding farmland are in store for hikers. Hop on the trail in Abingdon, one of the best small towns in Virginia, and kill an hour or make a day of it. The whole trail is just over 34 miles long. Note, however, that the portion from Damascus to Whitetop was sadly destroyed during Hurricane Helene in 2024 and remains closed to the public.

The Track and Tower Trail in Ontario, Canada

This moderately challenging hike in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park offers a welcome change of scenery. The Track and Tower Trail is a 4.6-mile loop suitable for families and on-leash dogs. Instead of grand mountains on the horizon, you’re blessed with views of shimmery Grant Lake. You’ll also be rewarded with myriad sightings of streams and gushing waterfalls set amid fall foliage.