Now that she’s seen her first “Cheetos tree” of the season, my daughter is itching to find more. It won’t be long before all the trees in our area are painted with fluorescent orange, crimson red and mustard yellow.
If you are looking for prime leaf peeping areas to take your family on a fun-filled outdoor adventure, then consider these fall hot spots:
VERMONT: Leaf peeping experts have called Route 100 in Vermont the “most scenic in New England.” The stretch of road connects Mount Snow, Killington, Sugarbush, and Stowe, and during autumn, the hills come alive with spectacular fall colors.
IDAHO: Old Mission State Park in Cataldo in northern Idaho hosts thousands of leaf peepers each fall. The area is home to Idaho’s oldest building, the Mission of the Sacred Heart, which was built in the 1850s by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The mission is framed by hundreds of maple trees that turn vibrant shades of orange, gold and red, and serve as a stunning backdrop to the historic church.
UTAH: While in Utah don’t miss the Alpine Loop, a 20-mile road through American Fork Canyon in the state’s Wasatch Mountain range. It is located 15 miles from Provo and boasts an impressive palette of fall colors. In addition to the fiery red maples and golden aspens, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen, including turkeys, elk and bighorn sheep.
MONTANA: “Big Sky Country” is home to cottonwoods, aspens and tamaracks that morph into full-fledged fall color displays. One of the best ways to view the scenery is to drive east along Highway 200 from Missoula, along the Blackfoot River. There you’ll find moose and elk wandering amidst the golden tamaracks toward their winter home in the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area. If you turn left at Clearwater Junction and head north on Highway 83 to the Seeley-Swan Valley, you’ll find the Seeley Lake Giant, the largest known tamarack tree in the country.
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