Secrets to Successful Leaf-Peeping

Nobel Prize-winner Albert Camus observed, "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." (Yes, even moody existentialists rhapsodize about the joys of fall foliage fireworks.) Branson Entertainer Yakov Smirnoff quips, "Missouri is the 'Show Me' State, so everyone has to put on a show – Neal McCoy, Paul Revere, Tony Orlando, myself, and …even the trees."

While we often enjoy spur-of-the-moment trips, that doesn’t mean you should venture forth without some preparation to optimize your peeping pleasure. Let these tips be your guide to the perfect Technicolor trip.

For a round-up of the top spots for leaf-peeping, check out this list from Digital City.

The Early Shutterbug Catches the Best Shots

Fall foliage season draws shutterbugs en force. Before you grab your camera and go, consider some of these tips from famed photographer, Hubert Schreibal. According to Shreibal, the best time for photographing foliage is during the morning (before 11am)—during the afternoon the the sun is too high and it "washes the colors out" and makes the leaves "look rusty." For the best photographs, aim to head out just after a short rain. "As the sun comes back out, that's when the colors pop," Shriebal explains. Late afternoon, when the sun is no longer directly overhead, can also be a good time for vibrant photos. If you must snap away at high noon, polarizing filters will help reduce glare, but otherwise let Mother Nature do the painting. If you’re using "old-fashioned" cameras, most experts observe that slide film produces the most vivid hues, with Fuji’s green/blues exquisite and Kodachrome emphasizing warmer colors.

Added tip: Consider the composition, unless it’s an extreme close-up, and use random framing elements like hanging boughs or stone fences to provide landscape depth. Be imaginative, try different angles (like looking up into trees), and integrate iconic imagery (a New England covered bridge or country chapel, a Rockies snowcapped peak) to make the picture more than just "pretty."

Find Your Peak Experience

It’s notoriously difficult to pinpoint peak peeping times. New England's pyrotechnics usually dazzle then dim in early-mid October. Elsewhere leaf-peeping season runs longer than most people realize. In warmer climates and near sea level, fall colors can last well into November. Generally, color appears earliest in northern regions and higher elevations then creeps southward and toward valleys and the coast. But weather can gum up your travel plans, as well as affect the pigmentation (ideal are warm-ish days but cool evenings to stimulate the reds and oranges). Aspen and cottonwood are luminous in early October in the Rockies, while in coastal areas like Cape Cod, turning glasswort, cranberries and beech replace beach-time well into November.

Think of it as Nature putting on a different show every week, let alone year. As noted photographer Hubert Schriebl quips, “It sounds Zen, but it’s true: you’ll know the peak as soon as it passes.” Keep track of where the leaves are at their peak by checking out some of the great heatmaps out there on sites like Vermontvacation.com and Yankeefoliage.com (featured above). The Foliage Network also provides twice weekly updates of the eastern half of the U.S. into November, as well as lodging listings by state.

Consider Alternative Transport

Driving is the most common way to see the leaves as it allows you to take in the full panorama of colors from your car. Don't limit yourself to four wheels though. Julie Klein, the Director of Environmental Affairs with RockResorts, recommends guided Fall foliage tours. In her own words: “Fall foliage tours provide a perfect opportunity to go green, respect – and preserve – Nature at its finest. And depending on the activity, it’s great exercise too.”

Consider parking the car, then hiking or biking. Paddling a kayak or fly-fishing a mountain stream will float any leaf-peeper’s boat. For example, in Oregon’s dramatic rugged Columbia River Gorge you can hike up to one of the country’s highest cascades, the 620-foot Multnomah Falls. Canal and riverboats provide another way to appreciate Nature’s artistry. The Midwest gets an untrue rap for flat featureless terrain: in Northern Illinois take a picturesque historic ride aboard the LaSalle Canal Boat. Or soak in the mountain fall foliage from the Spirit of Ethan Allen III along Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont. You can even view the turning leaves the old-fashioned way, via railroad car. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers 100-mile train journeys called Autumn Leaf Specials throughout October and November, as does New Hampshire’s Conway Scenic Railroad.

Get High

One of the best ways to take in Fall's Technicolor displays are from above. Hot air balloon rides are one exciting way to appreciate nature's handiwork. Alternatively, go zip-lining down a mountain at a resort like Sugarbush or Bromley.

“Peak” experiences can also be found at famed local landmarks: atop Lookout Mountain in Rock City, Tennessee with panoramas of seven states or the top deck of the 230-foot-tall Inspiration Tower at Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and Outdoor Theatre in the Missouri Ozarks.

Drink in the Views: Literally

Fall foliage coincides with harvest time in most areas of the country, which means that orchards and wineries are open.You can go apple picking or sample the wineries’ latest releases throughout the lower 48. While you're at it, stop by farmers’ markets and roadside produce stands to pick up picnic fixings. As Chuck Devlin, owner of Idaho’s Chateau St. Chapelle vineyard enthuses, “Leaf peeping isn’t restricted to trees: The wineries themselves explode with color as vine leaves turn crimson and gold.” He adds that many wineries sell gourmet goodies and/or offer lovely picnic areas. In Ogden Valley, Utah, the farmer’s market even offers live music, antique/collectible shows, and interactive kids’ booths. Check out Georgia’s fourth-generation, family-owned Lane Southern Orchards for apple and peach picking. You can also wander their six-acre corn maze (one of 200 corn mazes across the U.S.).

Bone up on Botany

Before you set out on your leaf-peeping adventure, learn how to identify your leaves. One of the easiest ways to bone up on botany is to leaf through a foliage guide (or website). We recommend checking out Forestry.about.com.

For one thing, it never hurts to be able to tell a white oak from a poison oak, for another, each tree (like each region) has its own unique season, igniting at different times. As Stowe Mountain Resort Communications Director, Jeff Wise states: “Each tree species has a unique color associated with it as they begin the annual cycle of going into dormancy for the winter months ahead.” The earliest performers are the maples; generally their showy crimson fades by mid-October. Next, come standouts such as oak, aspen (nicknamed “quakies” in the Rockies for their shimmering golden glow), and cottonwood, followed by black gum, ashes, hickories, and dogwood. Note that many shrubs, native grasses, and vines also blush around this time.

Consider Ski Areas

It should come as no surprise that some of the finest fall foliage can be found in and around ski areas, most of which are located on state or national forest land. Ski areas, state tourist offices, National Park Service destinations, and more include leaf-peeping sections on their websites. You’ll find interactive maps showing foliage at its peak, quick botany lessons, continually updated reports (weather and color), fun fests you might encounter along the way, as well as a slew of their own tips for best routes. Missouri’s Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce website, for example, features a foliage meter and three suggested driving tours.

You’ll maximize your enjoyment if your itinerary includes varied terrain, Ski Vermont’s Jennifer Butson recommends: "Take your time and drive a range of elevations—it really varies from the villages on up to the peaks.” This is also true in Great Smoky National Park, where the show can last until Thanksgiving. The U.S. Forest Service links to fall color reports in all but a few states.

Take the Road Not Taken

In other words, “branch out” (pun intended). This may seem like counterintuitive advice, but it applies not only to lesser-trafficked routes in popular areas but also to “undiscovered” regions that don’t receive the rave reviews. Not to knock the scenic splendors of New England, but those homey historic inns often charge through the nose.

Libby Dowd, P.R. Director of The Canyons Resort in Utah’s Park City, notes "Many Western ski areas have crafted Fall Colors packages to extend their season and the deals are often incredible. Also, the contrast of turning leaves and early fresh snow as a backdrop on the mountains can be stunning." If you check the local websites, you’ll often find alternate "insider" routes, not to mention events like Oktoberfests in unlikely spots from Utah’s Snowbird to north Georgia’s Helen (whose Festhalle offers oom-pah-pah oomph from September 10 until November 1).

Check out this post from our friends at Gadling for more alternate leaf-peeping opportunities.

Be Prepared – and Flexible

In spite of Nature’s unpredictability, plan your trip ahead of time whenever possible. Reserve accommodations at least two weeks in advance, especially in popular areas like New England. If you’re driving, ensure you have plenty of gas before you set out—many rural areas in New England are miles from any gas station, which means that you being caught unprepared can also mean hitchhiking your way back to civilization (it also doesn't hurt to take a tire patch kit and extra gas just in case).

And don't forget the basics: cell phone, first-aid kit (that poison ivy sure is pretty), allergy medications, water for the trail if you're hiking, and blankets, which are good for bundling up when it's cold and spreading out picnic fare. ). If you’re taking an extended trip, let friends or relatives know your destination and if you’re camping, always check in with the ranger station (which also provides excellent trail maps). We also recommend dressing in layers, especially if you plan on hiking or biking or your route includes stops at different elevations. Oh yes, don’t forget the camera – even if it’s your cell phone (just don’t expect to get reception everywhere!).

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