the best national parks for fall foliage

Wanderlust Wednesday-Week 33

Grad school is in full swing and I was in desperate need of a mental break the other day, so I did a little travel planning. But in particular, we were trying to decide which national parks we want to visit in the new year.

If you can't tell, we are big fans of the national park system, which is why we've already visited 9 national parks together this year. It's a balance of managing distance, timing, but also the best season for visiting each place, which got me thinking about what are the best national parks to visit for Fall Foliage? 

1.) Acadia National Park 
New England is an autumn lover's haven. So of course Acadia National Park in Maine falls on this list. We've only ever visited during the summer (blueberry picking season;), but Acadia offers dramatic sweeping views that are perfect for viewing the dramatic changes in foliage. 

2.) Shenandoah National Park 
If you've never driven the Blueway Parkway in the Fall, you're missing out. My in-laws live nearby, so I've been lucky enough to experience this place during every season, but Fall is by far my favorite. When you've experienced a place multiple times, it starts to lose its luster. But I never feel that way about during the Fall, because it's pure magic.  

3.) North Cascades National Park 
We just did a Fall trip through the Pacific Northwest and visited all three of Washington's national parks. The PNW screams Fall, but the moss carpets blanketing Olympic National Park keep things green year-round, while Mount Rainier national park greeted us with snow (in October!), but the North Cascades is Fall personified. I've never seen such bright hues of reds and yellow in nature. Seriously, I didn't know those colors could be so bright.  

If you're like me and looking to squeeze a little more out of autumn before winter sets in, then there is no better way than getting outside and enjoying it with a hike.