There are certain corners of the country synonymous with fiery foliage – think Vermont’s Green Mountains or Colorado’s Maroon Bells. But if you were to pinpoint the exact spots where autumn truly puts on a show with the most vibrant fall colors possible, where would they be?
That’s the question Travel Blog set out to answer. Surveying 3,012 respondents based on their personal experiences, the survey reveals the best vantage points to witness nature’s annual spectacle. The resulting rankings offer travelers an affordable guide to the most stunning fall scenes across America.
The top 10 were as follows:
Linn Cove Viaduct Overlooks, Blue Ridge Parkway
The series of pullouts along the Linn Cove Viaduct curve around Grandfather Mountain and give drivers and walkers alike a chance to look out over valleys that flare with autumn color in mid-October. From these overlooks, you can see sugar maples and sourwoods glowing red against the granite slopes, with waves of orange and yellow hardwoods running down toward the Piedmont. The viaduct itself, arcing through the forest, frames the seasonal change in one of the Parkway’s most photographed stretches.
Overlook Mountain, Catskills (Woodstock), New York
Overlook Mountain near Woodstock features a fire tower and cliffside viewpoints with expansive vistas of the Catskill Mountains. In October, the hardwood forests shift into vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows, while distant peaks fade into hazy blues. The trail to the summit passes through mixed forest, with colors changing dramatically over just a few hundred feet of elevation gain.
Newfound Gap Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, Newfound Gap offers a roadside overlook where travelers can take in sweeping views of the Smokies’ ridgelines. In autumn, the valleys below burst with color – scarlet dogwoods, bronze oaks, and bright yellow birches. The elevation shift is part of the appeal: you can watch the color change across different forest zones, from high-altitude evergreens to broadleaf hardwoods lower down. The stone terrace is also a place rich in history – Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park here in 1940 – but in October, it’s the natural pageantry that takes center stage.
Seneca Rocks Observation Platform, Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia
Seneca Rocks is famous for its sheer cliffs, and the observation platform – reached by a 1.3-mile hiking trail – provides a stunning perspective over the North Fork River valley. In October, the surrounding hardwoods blaze in shades of crimson, gold, and orange. From the platform, you can trace the ridgelines as they fold into the distance, punctuated by the jagged rock formation itself, creating a dramatic contrast between the vertical cliffs and rolling forested hills.
Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California
Standing at Glacier Point, you look straight at Half Dome’s granite face while the valley – carved by the Merced River – spreads below. In autumn, maples, oaks, and dogwoods often add streaks of yellow and red among the rocky slopes. At higher elevations, the Sierra peaks may receive early snow in October, bringing a cool edge to the view. The mix of warm foliage and early winter tones makes this one of Yosemite’s most layered seasonal panoramas.
Mount Mansfield Summit Overlook, Stowe, Vermont
At 4,395 feet, Mount Mansfield is Vermont’s highest peak, and its summit offers sweeping views of the Green Mountains. In mid-October, the hardwood forests below ignite in a mix of crimson maples, golden birches, and bronze oaks, while the ridgelines roll in successive layers toward the horizon. The summit’s open rock ledges let you see the full breadth of fall color, with valleys, farms, and lakes punctuating the forest canopy. Early morning mists often linger in the folds of the mountains, softening the view and making the seasonal palette even more vivid. By mid-October, the Auto Toll Road is closed, but for hikers, this becomes a rewarding trail ascent to Vermont’s highest point, with all the views still waiting at the top.
Stony Man Overlook, Skyline Drive (Shenandoah National Park), Virginia
Stony Man Overlook crowns a dramatic ridge along Skyline Drive, reached by a short 1.6-mile round-trip hike from its parking area. In October, the Shenandoah Valley below ripples with autumn color – oaks, maples, and hickories turning red, orange, and gold against the dark evergreens. From the stone terrace, the ridgeline stretches north and south, carrying the flow of color down into the valleys. The combination of elevation, sweeping perspective, and seasonal vibrancy captures the essence of the Blue Ridge Mountains in fall. Note: Skyline Drive is generally open year-round, but sections may close temporarily in October 2025 due to weather or maintenance.
Maroon Lake Overlook, Maroon Bells Scenic Area (Aspen), Colorado
At Maroon Lake, the water perfectly reflects the twin peaks of the Maroon Bells, creating a double image of stone and sky. Early in October, the surrounding aspen groves glow bright yellow, and as the month moves on, the leaves shift to bronze and copper. Snow often settles on the upper slopes by then, so the view layers autumn’s warmth at the lake with the cool whites of the summits above. It’s a spot where the transition of seasons plays out in full, the color change mirrored right back in the still surface of the lake.
Buzzard’s Roost Overlook, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee
Found in a more remote section of the Cherokee National Forest, this rugged overlook rewards hikers with sweeping views of the surrounding ridges and valleys. After a steep, challenging hike, a rocky outcrop offers a wide panorama of eastern Tennessee’s mountains. In autumn, the slopes below turn into a vivid patchwork of red, orange, and yellow hardwoods, contrasted by the deep green of evergreens. The combination of the difficult climb, dramatic perch, and seasonal color makes this a memorable, less-traveled fall hike.
Black Mountain Overlook, Black Mountain (Harlan County), Kentucky
From the summit of Black Mountain, the highest point in Kentucky, the surrounding Pine Mountain ridges roll in waves of color. Maples and oaks turn from orange to deep red, contrasting with patches of evergreen and the muted browns of higher elevations. While the summit itself is forested, nearby breaks in the ridgeline give a sense of scale to the region, showing how fall colors sweep across both mountains and hollows.
Leaf peepers aren’t just chasing picture-perfect Instagram shots. They want to experience moments that make time slow down.
