A Drive through the Colors of Fall

Awesome day for driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway as the colors are bursting forth giving an array reds and oranges. by Jon Publik

The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park near Waynesboro, VA (Milepost 0) with Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, NC (Milepost 469). There are entrances and exits at all major federal and state highways and part of a Parkway experience is getting into the towns and communities of the region. Asheville and Boone, NC and Roanoke, VA are the largest cities along the way. In Virginia, Interstates 64, 81, and 77 all have directions for accessing the Parkway. The same is true for Interstates 40 and 26 in North Carolina.

Did you know?

The Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, and the Monacan, Saponi, and Tutelo Indians of western Virginia, were among the earliest inhabitants of the Blue Ridge, leaving artifacts and changes in the landscape as evidence of their existence.

Enjoyed Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, while experiencing the play of light through the woods he once walked during the fall season.

Carl Sandburg spent a lifetime exploring what it meant to be an American and asked the eternal questions, "Who am I, where am I going and where have I been?"

Lisa Standridge Campbell Bald river falls, Cherokee National Forest

The Cherokee Indians, a branch of the Iroquois nation, can trace their history in this region back more than a thousand years. Originally their society was based on hunting, trading, and agriculture. By the time European explorers and traders arrived, Cherokee lands covered a large part of what is now the southeastern United States.

Did you know?

The highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans off of I-70 from Idaho Springs. The Road climbs up to 14,258 Ft. above sea level.

What can you see in Cumberland Gap?

Scenic vistas, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests excite the senses and provide the opportunity to experience the Southern Appalachians up close. The forests and streams of the mountains provide habitat for numerous species of plants and animals.

85 miles of trails and numerous scenic areas provide the opportunity to explore the great outdoors!

The Towpath in Cuyahoga Valley National Park! by Jacob Lias

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Twenty-two miles of the Cuyahoga River wind and weave through the Cuyahoga Valley, forming the backbone of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Fall Colors in Denali National Park

Did you know?

Denali is well-known for its diversity of wildlife. There are 39 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish, and one species of amphibian known in Denali. There are no reptiles recorded in Denali. Animal life and activity in Denali is dictated by the seasons.

What a beautiful season Fall is in Denali!

Fall colors of the tundra at Denali National Park

Fall on Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park - Photo by Stephan Ferry

Did you know?

That Glacier National park has over 700 miles of trails!

They call it the hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude.

But I have to say it looks like a beautiful place to drive through in the fall too!

Fall on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Did you know?

The oldest human artifacts found in the Grand Canyon are nearly 12,000 years old and date to the Paleo-Indian period. There has been continuous use and occupation of the park since that time.

Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Did you know?

That in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that there is Towering above Lake Superior are, the multicolored sandstone cliffs for which the lakeshore is named.

Sunrise at Schwabacher's Landing, Grand Teton National Park 2011 by Patrick Oglesby

Grand Teton National Park

Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife.

Grand Teton National Park taken last week. Most of the Aspen trees were putting on a show. by Barbara King Abrams

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Bob Gloor

Great Smoky Mountains National Park on October 21, 2011. by Dawn Alicia

Grotto Falls; Great Smoky Mtn. National Park. The leaves are just beginning to change there! by Tiffany Brown Fuqua

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Fall 2010 by Matt Buckner

Colorful fall trees reflected in a calm area of Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Jennifer wrote that she calls this her "Mountain Monet".

Harpers Ferry National Park, November 2010 by Jim Floyd

Maroon Bells Aspen, CO Absolutely Breathtaking

Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde National Park by Gene Balzer

Fall colors of the Nantahala National Forest.

Autumn comes to Oak Creek Canyon is Sedona, Arizona

This is along the Sandy Creek Trail within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, Venango County, PA. by Deb Frawley

Photo by Brian Young who says Took a trip to Linville Falls Linville Gorge located within in the Pisgah National Forest over the weekend

The Rocky Mountain National Park has lush valleys filled with bright colors to tall craggy peaks, what an amazing visual experience it must be to visit it in the fall with the brightly lit foliage.

The grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, provides visitors with opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures.

San Juan National Forest, Aspens on fire with gold by Kit Frost

Mineral King, Sequoia National Park. September 2011. by Jennifer Hopper

Shenandoah National Park- Skyline Drive, on 10112011. In my opinion, this was the peak time along the Drive itself. by Larry Patterson

Patrick N. Oglesby Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone

Near Lower Emerald Pool, Zion NP by Charles Bame