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A traveler who’s been to 35 national parks shares her favorite 5 for fall leaf-peeping

October 28, 20240
Autumn sunrise at Whatcom Pass, North Cascades National Park, Washington.

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Blodgett said not enough people talk about this 684,000-acre park, which is a three-hour scenic drive from Seattle.

And yet, its larch-lined valleys and pristine glacial lakes make it a must-visit spot.

“I think that’s a very underrated national park,” Blodgett told Business Insider. “The reason is that many of the most beautiful places are deep in the backcountry.”

“Because of that, it’s a really great place for hikers, and it’s still a beautiful park for anyone to visit because there are a ton of beautiful things that you don’t necessarily have to hike super deep to get to,” she added.

What stands out are the towering larch trees, bursting in shades of gold, as you pass by the Maple Pass Loop or Blue Lake. En route, there’s also the Diablo Lake Overpass, which overlooks Diablo Lake with jagged peaks known as the American Alps as a backdrop.

Peak fall period: Leaves along the byway leading to the park begin changing color in late September, with some spots peaking by mid-October.

Tree types: There are yellow Aspen, multi-colored Mountain Ash, golden larches, and red oaks, to name a few.

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The Pinnacles trail in Crater Lake National Park.

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Picture this: 21 square miles of pristine blue water set against the backdrop of Cascade cliffs and some of the cleanest air in the country. America’s deepest lake is a sight for all seasons, but especially worthy of a visit in the fall.

Blodgett recommends spending at least two full days.

“There’s one drive throughout the park, Rim drive, that would definitely take up a whole day or more depending on how much time you want to spend on it, and then another day to explore some of the other little ad hoc areas like the Rim village and the Pinnacles,” she said.

She said it’s another park that doesn’t get as much attention, although it is well-trafficked throughout the year.

“It’s unique,” she said. “There’s a ton of history behind [the lake], and it’s just super beautiful.”

Blodgett believes many people think of the park as a summer or fall travel destination, but it is just as, if not more, beautiful in the wintertime.

“They get so much snow that it’s mind-blowing to see that much snow in one spot,” she said. “I love that about Crater Lake.”

Peak fall period: In Oregon, trees are bursting with color in mid-October, but leaves start to turn golden in the first few weeks of September.

Tree types: Expect to see the three maples native to Oregon — the big leaf maple, the vine maple, and the Rocky Mountain maple — as well as dogwood, birch, and oak.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota
Blodgett shared that the Badlands National Park is among the most underrated yet unique fall destinations.

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This isn’t your typical fall foliage experience, given that most of the badlands are primarily home to grasslands. Still, the towering red sandstone buttes more than make up for forest views.

Blodgett told BI she thinks Badlands National Park is another “beautiful yet underrated park.”

She recommends spending two days at the park which will give you ample time to spot some wildlife and stargaze at night.

Peak fall period: Grasslands begin changing color from green to golden yellow at the end of summer, in early September, and remain colorful until October.

Tree types: A large part of the park is covered in knee-high prairie grass but is also home to over 400 other plant varieties.