Beyond the Trail: Fresh Ways to See Fall Colors This Season
Fall foliage draws travelers who want to witness the changing leaves, but the classic hike or drive isn't the only option. Across the US, alternative experiences offer new perspectives on autumn color, from mountain gondolas to tree-house stays.
At Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont, the Gondola SkyRide carries visitors up Mount Mansfield, the state's highest peak, with rides running until mid-October and dropping passengers at the Cliff House Restaurant. In Colorado, Telluride's gondola provides views of golden aspens from 10,800 feet, while Minnesota's Lutsen Mountains offers the Summit Express with sightings of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior.
Train rides are another cozy option. The Napa Valley Wine Train runs through harvest season from September to November, when vineyards turn gold and orange. Amtrak's Pacific Northwest Fall Foliage train tours Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park from mid-September through October, and the Blue Ridge Railway offers dedicated foliage tours along the Toccoa River. For a more active twist, Rail Explorers provides pedal-powered bikes on rails in New York's Catskills and West Virginia's Elk River region.
In Fairbanks, Alaska, leaves change as early as mid-to-late August, and Last Frontier offers a dog mushing ride on UTVs, led by a former Yukon Quest racer who introduces guests to his team of dogs.
On the Hudson River, Circle Line runs two leaf-peeping cruises from Midtown Manhattan—an eight-hour trip to Bear Mountain State Park or a four-hour run toward Hook Mountain—with beer and Oktoberfest fare, plus chances to spot hawks, ospreys, and bald eagles.
For adrenaline seekers, Arkansas Valley Adventures runs zipline tours over golden aspens in Idaho Springs, Colorado, from mid-September to late October, while the Gorge Zipline Canopy Tour in Saluda, North Carolina, suspends riders above the Green River Gorge from mid-October through early November.
Unique stays include a tree house in Phoenicia, New York, with floor-to-ceiling windows and proximity to the Phoenicia Diner, plus houseboat accommodations at the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, on the Kennebunk River with private rooftop decks.
For a bird's-eye view, Liberty Balloon Company offers hot air balloon rides over Letchworth State Park in New York's Finger Lakes, showcasing a 600-foot gorge and three waterfalls. Wings Air Helicopters provides private Hudson Valley tours from Midtown Manhattan, soaring over the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, Bear Mountain, Lyndhurst Mansion, and Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate.