Tired of heat and storms? Visit these places to enjoy fall’s beauty

There’s no time like October when it comes to leaf-peeping.

Each day beyond the autumn equinox ushers in darker days and cooler temperatures — the cues for leaves to change color. Across the country, trees and shrubs shut down the production of their energy-making chlorophyll, the pigment behind their lush greens, leaving behind vivid forests of yellows, oranges and reds.

This year, lingering warmth could disrupt or shorten the fall foliage window for large portions of the country. During El Niño years, the Pacific jet stream shifts south, which means hiking conditions in the Northeast could be warmer and drier than usual, while treks in parts of the southern US could be wetter.

So, CNN’s Weather and Travel teams partnered to identify North American destinations most likely to experience a picture-perfect autumn this year, based on their weather and climate history. These are five places we think you’ll still find the best mix of classic fall conditions and plenty to do.

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The tradition of leaf-peeping in Vermont goes back decades, but the Upper Green Mountains area, a perennial favorite for fall foliage, and other regions of the state continue to offer visitors new ways to take in the changing colors, including ziplining and visits to cideries.

For tourists who love to hike, it would be difficult to exhaust all the options — the state is known for the Green Mountains, after all, and the 272-mile Long Trail. Cyclists who visit the Upper Green Mountains in the fall also have lots of options , including trails at the nearby von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort in Stowe, which is owned by descendants of the Austrian family made famous in the 1965 Hollywood musical, “The Sound of Music.” Visitors can also combine two New England institutions by taking a covered bridge tour to view fall foliage; in Montgomery, there are five remaining bridges, the most of any town in Vermont.

Beyond enjoying Vermont’s unique outdoorsy culture, visitors can take home local goodies such as maple syrup. One place that many tourists visit on their way to the Upper Green Mountains is Dakin Farm, whose large farm store in Ferrisburgh in the Champlain Valley is bursting with samples, especially of Vermont cheese.

“We’re extremely busy,” Sam Cutting, the company’s CEO, told CNN Travel, adding that the last two weekends of September were busier than last year. “Now is a great time to come.”

Vermont is one of the prime destinations for fall foliage in the Northeast. While the state is home to just 640,000 people, a whopping 4 million visitors travel to Vermont each fall, accounting for $1 billion in economic impact, according to state officials. Consult the foliage tracker that Vermont keeps in September and October for tips on where to see the most vivid displays of fall color.

The weather to expect: High temperatures drop from the 50s to the 40s Fahrenheit (15 to 4 degrees Celsius) in October at higher elevations, while the valleys stay a bit milder. This year, temperatures aren’t expected to stray far from that norm through at least mid-October, possibly longer.

Peak color has already arrived in the mountains, and colors are starting to change in lower elevations too, ahead of their mid-October peak, according to ExploreFall.com , a website that tracks fall foliage across the United States.

Sadie Culberson/The Biltmore Company

In the Southeast, Asheville stands out all year round but it’s especially spectacular in the fall.

One of the best places to enjoy the foliage in the Asheville area is the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile marvel through Appalachia that can often seem like one long scenic drive . In 2025, 16.5 million people visited the park, which courses through North Carolina and Virginia, including 2 million visitors in the month of October alone, according to the National Park Service.

The region has weathered, quite literally, some difficult times in the past few years, after Hurricane Helene blew through in 2024 and devastated parts of the Asheville area, including Historic Biltmore Village.

But since going full force on recovery, the region has seen a return of tourists. And the mountain scenery that has long drawn visitors remains as enchanting as ever. The sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway closest to Asheville are completely open, according to the Blue Ridge Parkway external affairs office. There are still intermittent closures and construction connected to recovery projects, and the park service recommends consulting the road status section of its website when traveling to the region.

Since there are significant elevation variations in the Asheville area, parts of the region will see peak fall color at different times, tourism officials say. Among the highlights are Pisgah National Forest for traditional leaf-peeping activities, and artistic craft centers such as the Folk Art Center for shopping.

Beyond the parkway and downtown Asheville, which is a cultural hotspot with one-of-a-kind mountain charm, other popular stops in the area include Biltmore Estate, the 250-room Vanderbilt mansion, which was largely spared hurricane damage. The property offers a rooftop tour, which provides a unique vantage point on the leaves. But a visit there isn’t just a house tour; it’s an opportunity to hike and bike the historic, 8,000-acre property. There are walking trails along the French Broad River and 20 miles of biking trails as well. Visitors can take horse-drawn carriage rides.

The weather to expect: High temperatures fall from the lower 70s in early October to the 50s by mid - November (22 to 10 C) but expect it to be cooler in the mountains. Fall is usually a drier period, but this year, odds are leaning toward above-average rainfall.

“The Asheville area has experienced periods of dry and rainy weather this summer but is largely drought-free compared to surrounding regions,” said Bill Quade, Biltmore’s director of horticulture. “This supports a healthier and more vibrant leaf display.”

Low to moderate color is already dotting trees in the area, according to ExploreFall.com . Peak color is usually mid - to - late October in the mountains and early November in valleys.

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Foliage tourists in Nova Scotia can soak up autumn’s glory across the Canadian province. Many visitors make a beeline for Cape Breton in the eastern corner of the province, a wild island offering a variety of outdoor activities for viewing the changing leaves.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is especially popular with visitors who enjoy the Skyline Trail on the western section of the property, which overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence where whales are often seen. (Moose are also spotted in the park – but a lot closer). There’s also a series of breathtaking waterfalls in the park.

Toward the province’s other end, visitors can take a boat tour or kayak along the coast of the Bay of Fundy, located between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They can also enjoy the changing leaves while on whale watching excursions.

The Annapolis Valley, northwest of the city of Halifax, is home to picturesque vineyards that offer tastings. The region’s wineries provide a sample of what Nova Scotia produces — not just wine, but also local food including can’t-miss lobster, oysters and scallops. At Benjamin Bridge winery, for example, visitors can enjoy a glass of Riesling and a meal on an open-air patio while enjoying foliage views . Other wineries include Bent Ridge Winery, which is also home to Bent Nail Brewery.

Beyond traditional leaf-peeping hikes, visitors can also play golf, which draws visitors to Nova Scotia year-round. Among the top-rated courses available are Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish, and Bell Bay Golf Club, which overlooks Baddeck Bay. Visitors can also stay overnight at golf resorts in stunning locations, including Digby Pines in Digby and The Lakes Golf Club & Resort in Ben Eoin.

The weather to expect: Highs in the 50s are typical in October (15 C), and this year isn’t expected to stray too far from that, according to Environment Canada, the country’s weather and climate agency. Fall color is best through mid-October in the Cape Breton area .

Fall foliage visits to the Santa Fe area offer typical leaf-peeping activities not unlike what you find in East Coast destinations but with a flair particular to the Southwest. That’s because, for starters, the tree canopy in Sante Fe is dominated by aspens, which turn a golden yellow hue in the fall, rather than the sugar maples and beech trees you find in New England and along the East Coast.

Exploring the Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway will provide visitors with opportunities for biking, camping and picnicking amid the changing leaves. At Hyde Memorial State Park , visitors can even opt to camp in yurts.

And for a one-of-a-kind experience, the Ski Santa Fe resort offers chairlift rides in the fall that allow visitors to glimpse the aspens from up high. The festive atmosphere includes a beer garden and live music.

New Mexico offers a longer window to enjoy fall foliage and one signature event that provides a unique complement to the season takes place in Taos, about an hour north of Sante Fe. It’s called the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, and it’s scheduled for October 24 and 25. In addition to ballooning, the event includes a parade and a grand ball.

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, which links the towns of Taos, Red River and Angel Fire, begins in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the state’s signature aspens are mixed with evergreens.

The weather to expect: Highs fall from the 60s to the 50s in October and November in Santa Fe (20 to 10 C). Prepare for cooler highs in the mountains, which generally range in the 40s and 50s in October (4 to 15 C). It’s been a wetter than usual start to fall thanks indirectly to El Niño, which has upped the number of Pacific storms that eventually funneled moisture into the region. But there are equal chances that the trend flips in the next month of the season.

The mountains are already seeing high to peak color, according to ExploreFall.com , which is right on time.

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West Coast leaf-peepers flock to Vancouver Island in Canada’s British Columbia province. The region has a mild climate , and its beaches and lakes offer a host of opportunities for water activities during the fall, including whale watching, kayaking and paddleboarding.

One place close to the city of Victoria, which is at the island’s southern tip, is The Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada and a place whose blooms inspire photographers. The Japanese Garden, featuring maple trees and a pair of copper beeches that frame the Torii Gate, is especially beautiful in autumn.

Not far away, Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford is home to what tourism officials call Niagara Falls of the West Coast, in addition to big-leaf maples, red alders that turn golden, along with 600-year-old Douglas fir trees. In the fall, there’s an annual salmon run there, and it’s also a good spot for viewing eagles.

For visitors ready for a road trip, there are small coastal towns to explore on Vancouver Island, including Campbell River. About three hours north of Victoria, it’s known as the Salmon Fishing Capital of the World. Nearby, the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge provides a stunning viewing platform of a gushing waterfall below. Port Hardy, on the northern tip of the island about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Victoria , is home to Great Bear Lodge , where in addition to viewing fall foliage, visitors can take a tour to spot grizzly bears.

The weather to expect: Highs in the 50s are the norm in October in Victoria (10 to 15 C). This year could be a bit warmer at times since warmer-than-average temperatures are expected in October, according to Environment Canada. It’s also the start of the wet season, so that means there’s a greater chance of rain and cloud cover.

The best autumn colors appear in October, according to The Butchart Gardens’ website , but exactly when in the month is weather-dependent. Seasonably mild days and mix of sun and clouds plus cool nights are expected through mid-October. Those ideal fall conditions could help foliage really pop, especially the reds.

说到赏秋叶，没有比十月更好的时节了。

秋分过后，每一天都迎来更短的白昼和更凉爽的气温——这是树叶变色的信号。在全国各地，树木和灌木停止产生叶绿素，叶绿素是它们翠绿的色素，留下了色彩斑斓的黄色、橙色和红色森林。

今年，持续的暖流可能会影响或缩短美国大部分地区的秋季赏叶期。在厄尔尼诺现象发生期间，太平洋急流会南移，这意味着美国东北部的徒步旅行条件可能会比往年更温暖干燥，而美国南部部分地区的徒步旅行条件则可能会更潮湿。

因此，CNN的天气和旅游团队合作，根据北美各地的历史天气和气候数据，评选出今年最有可能迎来完美秋季的目的地。以下五个地方，我们认为您依然可以体验到经典的秋季风光，并享受丰富多彩的活动。

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佛蒙特州的赏叶传统可以追溯到几十年前，但作为秋季赏叶胜地的上绿山地区以及该州的其他地区，不断为游客提供欣赏秋色变化的新方式，包括滑索和参观苹果酒厂。

对于热爱徒步的游客来说，要穷尽所有选择恐怕并非易事——毕竟，佛蒙特州以绿山山脉和全长272英里的长途步道而闻名。秋季到访上绿山的骑行爱好者也有很多选择，例如位于斯托镇附近的冯·特拉普家族旅馆及度假村 (von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort) 内的骑行路线。该度假村由因1965年好莱坞歌舞片《音乐之声》而闻名的奥地利冯·特拉普家族的后裔经营。游客还可以将新英格兰的两大特色结合起来：乘坐廊桥游览，欣赏秋叶美景；蒙哥马利镇至今仍保留着五座廊桥，是佛蒙特州拥有廊桥最多的城镇。

除了体验佛蒙特州独特的户外文化，游客还可以带回当地特产，例如枫糖浆。许多游客在前往上绿山地区的途中都会顺道参观达金农场，其位于尚普兰山谷费里斯堡的大型农产品商店里摆满了各种样品，尤其是佛蒙特州奶酪。

“我们非常忙，”该公司首席执行官萨姆·卡廷告诉CNN旅游频道，并补充说，9月的最后两个周末比去年还要繁忙。“现在正是来的好时机。”

佛蒙特州是美国东北部赏秋叶的最佳目的地之一。虽然该州人口仅有64万，但据州政府官员称，每年秋季却有高达400万游客涌入佛蒙特州，为当地带来10亿美元的经济效益。佛蒙特州在9月和10月会发布赏秋叶指南，您可以参考指南，找到观赏秋色最绚丽的地点。

预计天气：10月份，高海拔地区气温将从华氏50多度（摄氏15度）降至40多度（摄氏4度），而山谷地区的气温则较为温和。今年，至少到10月中旬，气温预计不会偏离这一正常水平太远，甚至可能持续更长时间。

据追踪美国各地秋叶情况的网站 ExploreFall.com 称，山区的秋色已经达到顶峰，低海拔地区的秋色也开始变化，预计将在 10 月中旬达到顶峰。

萨迪·库尔伯森/比尔特莫尔公司

在东南部，阿什维尔一年四季都很出众，但秋季的景色尤其壮观。

在阿什维尔地区欣赏秋叶的最佳地点之一是蓝岭公路，这条绵延469英里的壮丽公路穿越阿巴拉契亚山脉，沿途风光旖旎，令人流连忘返。据美国国家公园管理局统计，2025年，这条横跨北卡罗来纳州和弗吉尼亚州的公路共接待了1650万游客，仅10月份就接待了200万游客。

过去几年，该地区确实经历了一些艰难时期，2024 年飓风海伦席卷而来，摧毁了阿什维尔地区的部分地区，包括历史悠久的比尔特莫尔村。

但自从全力投入灾后重建以来，该地区的游客数量已经回升。长期以来吸引游客的山景依然迷人如初。据蓝岭公路对外事务办公室称，靠近阿什维尔的蓝岭公路路段已完全开放。不过，由于灾后重建项目，部分路段仍会间歇性封闭或进行施工。公园管理处建议游客在前往该地区之前，查阅其网站上的道路状况信息。

旅游官员表示，由于阿什维尔地区海拔落差较大，因此该地区不同区域的秋色最佳观赏时间也会有所不同。其中，皮斯加国家森林公园是体验传统赏叶活动的理想场所，而民间艺术中心等艺术工艺品中心则是购物的好去处。

除了公园大道和拥有独特山地风情的文化热点阿什维尔市中心之外，该地区其他热门景点还包括比尔特莫庄园，这座拥有250个房间的范德比尔特家族豪宅在飓风中基本幸免于难。庄园提供屋顶参观，让游客可以从独特的视角欣赏秋叶美景。但参观比尔特莫庄园不仅仅是参观房屋；您还可以徒步或骑行探索这片占地8000英亩的历史悠久的庄园。庄园内有沿着法兰西布罗德河的步行道和20英里的自行车道。游客还可以乘坐马车游览。

天气预报：10月初最高气温在70华氏度左右（约22至10摄氏度），到11月中旬降至50华氏度左右（约10至22摄氏度），但山区气温会更低。秋季通常较为干燥，但今年降雨量可能高于平均水平。

“阿什维尔地区今年夏天经历了干旱和降雨交替的天气，但与周边地区相比，基本没有干旱，”比尔特莫庄园园艺总监比尔·奎德说。“这有利于植物生长得更健康、更茂盛。”

据 ExploreFall.com 网站报道，该地区的树木已经开始呈现出淡淡的秋色。山区通常在十月中下旬达到最佳赏秋时间，而山谷地区则在十一月初。

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在加拿大新斯科舍省赏秋的游客可以尽情领略秋日美景。许多游客直奔位于该省东部的布雷顿角，这座原始岛屿提供各种户外活动，是观赏秋叶变幻的绝佳去处。

布雷顿角高地国家公园尤其受到游客的欢迎，他们喜欢沿着公园西侧的天际线步道漫步，这条步道可以俯瞰圣劳伦斯湾，那里经常可以看到鲸鱼。（公园里也能看到驼鹿，但距离更近）。公园里还有一系列令人叹为观止的瀑布。

在省的另一端，游客可以乘船游览或划皮划艇沿着芬迪湾海岸线游览，芬迪湾位于新不伦瑞克省和新斯科舍省之间。他们还可以参加观鲸之旅，欣赏秋叶变色的美景。

位于哈利法克斯市西北部的安纳波利斯谷拥有风景如画的葡萄园，并提供品酒活动。该地区的酒庄不仅展示了新斯科舍省的特色，还提供了当地美食，包括不容错过的龙虾、牡蛎和扇贝。例如，在Benjamin Bridge酒庄，游客可以在露天庭院一边欣赏秋色，一边品尝雷司令葡萄酒和美食。其他酒庄还包括Bent Ridge酒庄，该酒庄同时也是Bent Nail啤酒厂的所在地。

除了传统的赏秋徒步之外，游客还可以打高尔夫球，这使得高尔夫成为新斯科舍省一年四季都吸引游客的热门活动。其中，备受好评的高尔夫球场包括位于英戈尼什的布雷顿角高地林克斯球场（Cape Breton Highlands Links）和俯瞰巴德克湾的贝尔湾高尔夫俱乐部（Bell Bay Golf Club）。游客还可以选择入住风景优美的高尔夫度假村，例如位于迪格比的迪格比松林度假村（Digby Pines）和位于本·欧文的湖畔高尔夫俱乐部及度假村（The Lakes Golf Club & Resort）。

天气预报：10 月份最高气温通常在 50 多华氏度（15 摄氏度）左右，加拿大环境部（该国的气象和气候机构）预计今年的气温不会偏离这个范围太远。布雷顿角地区的秋色最佳观赏期持续到 10 月中旬。

秋季前往圣达菲地区赏叶，可以体验到与东海岸类似的典型赏叶活动，但又带有西南地区的独特风情。首先，圣达菲的树冠以白杨为主，它们在秋季会变成金黄色，而不是像新英格兰和东海岸那样以糖枫和山毛榉为主。

探索圣达菲国家森林风景道，游客可以在秋叶变幻的美景中骑自行车、露营和野餐。在海德纪念州立公园，游客甚至可以选择住在蒙古包里。

想要体验独一无二的滑雪之旅，圣达菲滑雪度假村在秋季提供缆车服务，让游客从高处俯瞰白杨树。节日气氛浓厚，还有啤酒花园和现场音乐表演。

新墨西哥州拥有更长的赏秋时间，而陶斯（位于圣达菲以北约一小时车程处）举办的陶斯山热气球节更是为这个季节增添了一抹独特的色彩。该活动定于10月24日和25日举行。除了热气球表演外，活动还包括游行和盛大的舞会。

连接陶斯、红河和天使之火三个城镇的魔法环线风景道，始于圣克里斯托山脉，那里生长着该州标志性的白杨树和常绿树。

预计天气：圣达菲10月和11月最高气温将降至50多华氏度（20至10摄氏度）。山区气温较低，10月通常在40至50多华氏度（4至15摄氏度）之间。由于厄尔尼诺现象间接影响，今年秋季的降雨量比往年偏多，太平洋风暴数量增加，最终将水汽输送到该地区。但下个月降雨趋势也有可能发生变化。

据 ExploreFall.com 报道，山区的秋色已经达到顶峰，这真是恰逢其时。

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西海岸的赏秋游客蜂拥至加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省的温哥华岛。该地区气候温和，其海滩和湖泊在秋季提供了丰富的水上活动机会，包括观鲸、皮划艇和桨板运动。

维多利亚市位于温哥华岛南端，附近有一处名为布查特花园（Butchart Gardens）的地方，它是加拿大国家历史遗址，园内繁花似锦，是摄影爱好者的天堂。花园中的日式花园尤其在秋季景色迷人，枫树和两棵紫叶山毛榉环绕着鸟居，构成了一幅美丽的画卷。

不远处的兰福德的戈尔德斯特里姆省立公园，拥有被旅游官员誉为“西海岸尼亚加拉大瀑布”的壮丽景色，此外还有大叶枫树、秋色金黄的红桤木，以及树龄高达600年的花旗松。每年秋季，这里都会迎来鲑鱼洄游，同时也是观赏老鹰的绝佳地点。

对于准备自驾游的游客来说，温哥华岛上有许多值得探索的沿海小镇，例如坎贝尔河。坎贝尔河位于维多利亚以北约三小时车程处，素有“世界鲑鱼垂钓之都”的美誉。附近的麋鹿瀑布吊桥提供了一个绝佳的观景平台，可以俯瞰下方奔腾的瀑布。位于温哥华岛北端的哈迪港距离维多利亚约五个半小时车程，岛上坐落着大熊旅馆（Great Bear Lodge）。除了欣赏秋叶美景，游客还可以参加观赏灰熊的旅行团。

天气预报：维多利亚十月份的最高气温通常在 50 多华氏度（10 至 15 摄氏度）左右。加拿大环境部预测，今年十月份气温将高于往年平均水平，因此部分时段可能会更热。同时，十月份也标志着雨季的开始，这意味着降雨和云量增多的可能性也会增加。

根据布查特花园网站的说法，秋季最佳观赏期在十月，但具体时间取决于天气。预计十月中旬之前，天气将保持季节性温和，晴间多云，夜晚凉爽。这些理想的秋季气候条件有助于树叶呈现出更加鲜艳的色彩，尤其是红色。