Where to See the Best Fall Colors This Week

There are still plenty of destinations where the fall foliage season is in full bloom. While some of the most northern reaches of the country have reached their peak colors, other areas are nearing their best conditions. Here is a look at where the viewing will be the best for the second weekend of October and into early next week.

Where to See the Best Fall Colors This Week in the U.S.

It has been a fast start to the leaf-peeping season thanks to the ongoing drought for much of the eastern U.S. The cooler temperatures that mark the month of October are pairing with fewer hours of daylight to accelerate the changing of the leaves. For instance, the reduction in daylight hours and the chillier temperatures send the signal to trees that now is the time to begin to store the chemical chlorophyll. This chemical gives leaves their distinctive green hue. However, once the leaves store the chlorophyll, they are left with the remaining chemicals that provide the red, orange, and purple colors.

Fall foliage tracking maps have demonstrated that the leaves have been changing in some areas of the U.S. since the middle of September. These maps are useful tools for leaf peepers hoping to time their outings for peak viewing conditions.