Ultimate Guide to Fall Foliage Hiking: When and Where to See Peak Colors

When is the best time to experience fall colors?

When is the best time to hike and take in the richness of the autumn foliage? There are several factors to consider. Fall leaf color depends largely on temperature and moisture. A succession of warm and sunny days followed by cool, crisp nights usually brings out the most vibrant leaf colors. Temperature and moisture however, are not the main ingredients in determining when peak leaf colors are.   

Where you are hiking largely determines the timing of peak colors. The location of the trees is the most important variable. The further north you are and the elevation of the trees is the largest determining factor, since higher longitudes mean shorter days and higher elevation means cooler temperatures.  This lack of daylight due to shorter days and cooler temperatures in higher longitudes means that photosynthesis comes to a halt earlier in the season, therefore turning the green leaves into vibrant fall hues due to concentrations of chlorophyll diminishing.

An Easy Way to Predict Peak Leaf Season

Yeah, yeah, we gave you all of the science (to the best of our ability as laymen) to determine when peak leaf season is, but you do not have to be a biology nerd to predict when to hike. We found a great tool for you!

There is a very useful website called Explore Fall (www.explorefall.com), that makes determining peak leaf colors in your area a simple task. Every year, the website is updated based on weather conditions to give you an accurate estimate of when the leaf colors are the most vibrant in your area. There is an easy to read map and legend, as well a slider that allows you to see in real time the color density of the leaves across North America.

Hop on over to Explore Fall to plan your next hike, and experience the vast beauty autumn has to offer!