We Asked 5 Experts the Best U.S. National Parks for the Fall—and They Picked These 2 Spots

With pumpkin spice lattes flowing, jack-o-lanterns lit, and foliage gently floating from the tree branches down to Earth, the signs are all here: we’re firmly in fall. And there’s no better place to experience the magic of the season than America’s national parks.

There’s just one problem. America has more than 60 national parks to choose from, and they’re all lovely in their own ways. But rather than leave you hanging on the top spots to visit this season, we went to experts in the travel industry for their recommendations on which national parks offer that something special this fall. And it turns out, people are divided over two fantastic parks. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park, located about an hour outside of Boulder, Colorado, offers visitors more than 400 square miles to roam, including everything from meadow to challenging mountain terrain across more than 300 miles of hiking trails. And that’s just the start. 

Fiorella Yriberry, a travel expert at RVshare, couldn’t agree more, noting that the Aspen trees offer a particular beauty this season: “The aspen trees turn brilliant gold, the air is crisp, and the crowds have thinned out for the season.”

But, as Yriberry added, the leaves are not the only special thing about fall in the park. “Fall in the Rocky Mountain National Park means elk rut season. A unique and special time of the year when elk bugle across the valley. For your best chance at witnessing this bucket list wildlife moment, head to the meadows of Morain Park around sunset or sunrise.”

Ash Nudd, a hiking concierge for WorldMark by Wyndham and a former national parks ranger, agreed with all of the above but also advised it’s key to look for smaller critters, too. Nudd challenges all visitors to try to spot the “adorable pika in the rock piles or bighorn sheep in the meadows. It’s the perfect time to really experience the park’s scenery and wildlife up close.”

Need some specifics on what to see here? Alex Alioto, the co-founder of Whimstay, noted that the “Bear Lake area has trails through aspen trees,” while the Trail Ridge Road “offers high mountain views,” and cited Emerald Lake Trail as the ideal “moderate hike with gold trees and lakes.”

Acadia National Park 

Scenic view of Acadia National Park in Maine during the fall.

Teresa Kopec/Getty Images

Naturally, New England’s only national park got plenty of shoutouts. After all, it is where the foliage season really shines, and where guests can hike through more than 150 miles of trails to find it.

“The rustle of leaves in concert with some of the most expansive pallets of fall colors will both amaze and delight,” Fredericks said, waxing poetic about the Maine park. “Vast carpets of crimson, emerald, raw umbers, burnt oranges, rich siennas, and mossy greens reveal the tints and shades of the season in spectacular array.” His must-see foliage viewing spot is at the top of 

Cadillac Mountain, where you can take in the “vastness of Maine’s geography,” according to Fredericks, who called it a photographer’s dream.

Steve Schwab, the CEO of the home rental website Casago, also said Acadia is his personal favorite national park to visit in the fall for all those colors. “The fall colors in that entire region are unmatched. If I’m visiting a national park in the fall, I want to go somewhere where I can appreciate those colors, and Acadia National Park does that,” he told T+L. “I would definitely recommend checking out the carriage roads if you go.”

Gabe and Rocio Rivero, THOR Industries brand ambassadors, noted that, while there are some resorts that close early in the fall, there are still “plenty of boondocking spots along the way to Acadia National Park” for those who are OK with roughing it. “Acadia also has Bar Harbor, which is the quintessential Maine town with all the charm, tourist shops, and lobster fair you could hope for.'”

Alioto offered even more must-see spots, including, like Fredericks, Cadillac Mountain for sunrise views, along with Jordan Pond Path for “an easy walk with good views, and Precipice Trail for experienced hikers who want coastal views.” Alioto also said that for those just looking to get the view from the car, Park Loop is the way to go.