Top 6 Scenic Drives to See Fall Colors

Portland to Jackman (205 miles)

Nestled against the Canadian border in western Maine, the sprawling Hilton Family Forest boasts incredible fall colors and is a great place to enjoy a scenic road trip or a bit of hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The forest anchors the town of Jackman — supporting local jobs, outdoor recreation, and wildlife habitat. The Conservation Fund purchased the 44,000-acre forest in 2024 to ensure that it would continue supporting residents and visitors in western Maine. 

Middlebury to Killington (56 miles)

The Green Mountain National Forest is home to the Appalachian Trail, eight different wilderness areas, and some of the best fall colors in the country. And while we love a trip into the backcountry, you can also experience the best of Vermont’s fall foliage from the road. Out trip takes you through Chateauguay Four State Forest, where The Conservation Fund has worked for decades to prevent intact woodlands from being broken up and sold off — plus, it ends at Killington Mountain, where you can ride the gondola through changing fall colors. 

Walker to Lake Itsaca (42 miles)

Travel through Minnesota forests alive with fall colors to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, which starts as a trickle in Lake Itsaca State Park. Along the way, brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds provide a colorful backdrop to forests that were once owned by a single timber company, which began selling off disconnected tracts of land more than a decade ago. Now part of the Minnesota Heritage Forest, these lands were saved when The Conservation Fund stepped in to purchase tens of thousands of acres of forestland that could have otherwise been developed, benefitting millions of people, wildlife habitat, and the headwaters of America’s mightiest river.  

Madison to Devil’s Lake State Park (41 miles)

One of the Midwest’s most beloved summer destinations, Devil’s Lake State Park is also a local leaf aficionado’s dream come true. The park’s north shore lights up with color beginning in mid-September, with peak colors arriving in early October. And fall is a perfect time to explore this popular park, which sees more than 2.5 million annual visitors. Last year, The Conservation Fund acted quickly to purchase and protect one of the largest privately owned properties inside the park when it went up for auction, and this year we transferred the land to the state, ensuring that it will remain protected forever. 

Grand Junction to Captain Smith’s Cabin (41 miles)

While Colorado’s vibrant aspens soak up much of leaf peepers’ early-season attention, residents and visitors shouldn’t overlook the majestic cottonwood and its yellow leaves. And one of the best places in the state to spot their bright colors is Escalante Canyon, now part of western Colorado’s Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The Conservation Fund purchased and saved the property earlier this year, protecting more than 4,000 acres of red-rock cliffs, free-flowing rivers, rugged backcountry, and a historic cabin, where this journey ends. 

Fort Payne to Eberhart Point Overlook (20 miles)

For some of the year’s final changing colors, take a short trip from Fort Payne, Alabama, through Little River Canyon National Preserve, to Eberhart Point Overlook. The canyon — an unheralded hero of the Southeast — boasts sweeping forests, rushing waterfalls, and towering sandstone cliffs that call to hikers, paddlers, and rock climbers from across the region. But the area’s unique scenic beauty is also its greatest threat, as big-city residents look for new spots for second homes. That’s why The Conservation Fund has worked for years to protect this national treasure, buying more than 245 acres of at-risk land along the canyon rim to ensure that the land stays scenic forever.