11 Perfect Hikes You Can Take In Autumn
Bear Lake Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 45 feet
Where: Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
Difficulty: Easy
Bear Lake Trail is a very short and pleasant hike. The trail is only 0.8 miles, which makes it one of the most popular trails in the area. It starts at Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain in Rocky National Park. Bear Lake Trail is a very easy hike. The trail is excellent for the novice hiker who prefers to enjoy the seasonal change rather than work up a big sweat. You’ll have the opportunity to take in the smells of spruce, fir, lodgepole pine and aspen while staring at a crystal-clear lake. Start your hike early and missed the crowds.
Fiery Gizzard Trail
Distance: 12.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,131 feet
Where: South Cumberland Park (Tennessee)
Difficulty: Above Average
The Fiery Gizzard Trail traverses along the Fiery Gizzard Creek and then ascends to Raven Point. Raven point provides phenomenal panoramic views. Fiery Gizzard welcomes you with waterfalls, 200-year-old hemlock trees, cascading streams, mountain laurel, and much more fantastic flora and fauna. Fiery Gizzard Trail is a perennial hike in South Cumberland Park. The trail is considered moderately difficult because of its rocky and rugged terrain.
Franconia Ridge Trail
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,805 miles
Where: Franconia Notch State Park (New Hampshire)
Difficulty: Arduous
The Franconia Ridge is one of the majestic hikes in the White Mountains. Its striking views are worth the 8.5 miles and 3,805 feet of elevation change. The trail is only a two-hour drive from Boston. The Franconia Ridge Trail traverses through three gorgeous mountain; Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette. This trail provides little shade but compensates for it with magnificent views of its warm colored flora. Bring plenty of water, extra layers and snacks, this hike is tough and will demand your entire day. It’s worth it.
Mount Battie
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 662 feet
Where: Camden State Park (Maine)
Difficulty: Easy
Mount Battie Trail is a short, sweet and satisfying hike. You have the opportunity to take in the beautiful views of Penobscot Bay from the summit. The trail is an easy hike, but there are some steep slopes and scrambling involved. The front trail is off the beaten path, so it is less frequented.
Precipice Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 931 feet
Where: Acadia National Park (Maine)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Precipice Trail offers an entire hike of amazing views. It’s a simple scramble up to the top for the experienced hiker. This hike is dangerous for dogs and small kids; it offers steep climbs. The trail traverses through Champlain Mountain. Champlain Mountain is the sixth tallest mountain in the national park. Precipice ascends through a large boulder field. The views are amazing, but it is an acrophobic nightmare. The most remarkable time to capture its views is during the fall when the leaves radiate with warm colors.
Sentinel Dome
Distance: 2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Where: Yosemite National Park (California)
Difficulty: Easy
One of the most proper ways to take in the grandeur of Yosemite National Park is by hiking the Sentinel Dome. It’ a hike for just about everybody. With an elevation change of only 400 feet over 2.2 miles, it’s a great way to spend a few hours together with the family. Nothing this breathtaking should be easy. So, the very end gets quite steep, but it’s worth it. Once you reach the summit, you can view El Capitan and Yosemite Falls to the north, Nevada Falls and Clouds Rest mountain to the east and Yosemite Valley to the west. Sentinel Dome Trail is the perfect place to beef up your Instagram account, but use caution when capturing the natural splendor.
Sleeping Beauty Mountain and Lake George Trail
Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,038 feet
Where: Adirondack Mountains (New York)
Difficulty: Moderate
Sleeping Beauty rests on the east side of the Adirondack Mountains. The Sleeping Beauty Mountain and Lake George Trail offers the most elite views of upstate New York. Like any other East Coast hike in the fall, you can enjoy the color change of this tranquil area. The mountain provides enough switchbacks to make this hike feasible for the casual hiker. The best part of this trek is that it is a dog-friendly route.
Stony Man Trail
Distance: 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 340 feet
Where: Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
Difficulty: Easy
Stony Man Trail traverses within the Appalachian Trail. It is a lovely short hike with a fantastic reward at the end. You will be enthralled with the panoramic sights of the Shenandoah Valley. It’s the perfect Saturday morning jaunt before you put up Halloween decorations.
The Enchantments
Distance: 18 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet
Where: Alpine Lakes Wilderness (Washington)
Difficulty: Hard
Located in within the Cascade Range, The Enchantments is considered to be the crown jewel for Washington hiking. The fall is the best times to visit The Enchantments; you can catch goats in the wild and watch the colors change on the larch trees. You can challenge yourself throughout this hike as it gets steep, slippery and distracting since the views are captivating.
White Cross Trail
Distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,742 feet
Where: Mount Monadnock (New Hampshire)
Difficulty: Rigorous
White Cross Trail is located on Mount Monadnock. The prominent peak offers tremendous views while welcoming over 125,000 guests annually. The crowd weaving is worth the reward at the summit as it provides a panoramic view of multiple states. White Cross Trail is perfect for extreme scramblers.
Wildwood Trail
Distance: 30.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,077 feet
Where: Forest Park (Oregon)
Difficulty: Easy
Wildwood Trail is 30.2 miles and only a ten-minute drive from Portland, making it USA’s largest forest urban trail. Do not be intimidated or feel the need to hike the entire trail. Wildwood is frequently trafficked, and the trail is marked every quarter mile for easy reference. This is the perfect place to bring the family. Your kids can burn off all that energy from their Halloween candy.