The Best Ways to Experience Fall: Essential gear, activities, locations, and more!

There’s nothing like a change in season to spark a new sense of adventure. The changing leaves we’ve come to associate with the feeling of fall are as beautiful as they are fleeting. Are you wondering when the best time is for you to experience the most vibrant fall leaves? Check out this Fall Foliage Prediction Map to find the best time to catch the fall colors in your local area. Regardless of where you live, you only have a few short months to soak in the quintessential fall experience. This fast-paced process is part of what makes fall so special. 

The Best Way to Take in Fall

Fall is the time of year that is most stunningly beautiful to those of us that appreciate the outdoors. At Cascade Mountain Tech, we think the best way to experience the season’s change is by getting out for a hike or weekend camping trip! 

Quintessential Fall Experiences in These Locations

 For North Easterners, the Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway is a highlight for stunning foliage. It runs 35 miles through small towns and mountains in Maine. Rangeley is a charming small town surrounded by the expansive Rangeley Lakes region. Visitors often get cozy in a cabin by the lake during the fall months to wake up to the stunning views of fall leaves mirrored in the water. 

Midwestern readers will want to check out Lake Geneva, where you can literally immerse yourself among their trees with their exciting zipline and ropes adventure course. Those looking to stay on the ground for their exploration can rent scooters from Lake Geneva Scooter Tours or simply take in the sights on foot. The lakes boast a 21-mile shore path. 

The Great Smoky Mountains are a prime fall location in the Southeast Region of the U.S. The extensive park is located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. If you want to turn your hiking excursion into a trip, there are opportunities for camping across the park! With so much nature to see, from ancient mountains to flowing waterfalls and dozens of winding trails, there’s a reason this park is the most visited in America, according to the National Park Service. 

Speaking of hiking through mountains, fall lovers in the North Central U.S. won’t want to miss Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Here, nature lovers can take a scenic drive on Trail Ridge and Bear Lake Road to witness the aspen leaves booming with gold, orange, and red colors. The Rockies are a “Land of Extremes” with 415 square miles (265,807 acres) to explore. In addition to some of the tallest mountains in the U.S., this park has alpine lakes, forested valleys and a wide range of plants and animals to see. 

Those out West also have ample leaf-viewing opportunities, like the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway in Utah or the Big Sur Coast Highway in California. You can drive while taking in the gorgeous fall view and decide where to stop for your autumnal hike. These designated scenic byways provide a unique viewing opportunity as you can view them via car, taking in miles of different tree-filled views along your trip before you see them up close. 

And if you’re in the south, don’t think you have to miss out on the fall goodness! There’s the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas, which has 1.2-million acres of forest, providing an enormous opportunity to check out some good leafage. Additionally, people can go horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking, boating, camping, picnicking, and four-wheeler riding while on their trip. 

If you’re going for a more minimal excursion, look for a top fall leaf location near you by heading to your closest national, state, or local park! Check out this resource to find a park in your state. 

Our Favorite Fall Essentials

Taking a fall hike can be as simple as walking out your front door. However, we do think one accessory can take your autumnal outing to the next level! Trekking poles, or hiking poles, are one of our favorite fall gear recommendations, as they are the perfect hiking accessory. Trekking poles provide support when hiking, alleviating pressure on your joints and reducing impact over time — that way, your fall hike will be more enjoyable. 

This is also the time of year when the sun begins to set earlier and you don’t want to be stuck outdoors without a way to see your surroundings! Make sure to pack a reliable light source like The Cascade Mountain Tech 1000-Lumen IPX8 Waterproof LED Flashlight.

At Cascade Mountain Tech, we believe that fall is for all and that the outdoors should be accessible to everyone. We hope you feel inspired to go out into nature before the leaves lay down for their long winter rest. In that spirit, we’re offering FREE SHIPPING  on all items for the remainder of the season!