The summer heat relents, and with the first light frost you can say good-bye to bugs for the year. Hardwood trees burst into their variegated fall color. Raptors and geese migrate overhead; elk bugle; huckleberries ripen. And though leaf-peepers may crowd the roadways, B&Bs, and standard tourist attractions, humanity is much less present on the trails, in the campgrounds, anywhere out there beyond the reach of heating oil, down comforters, and other civilized signs that the season is changing.

Colors along the Kancamagus Highway,
in White Mountain National Forest.

This story is about seeing the change of seasons play out on nature's grandest stages. We've picked out our ten favorite national forests to celebrate autumn's coming, and included a few specific hikes, trail rides, and crowd-free scenic drives with each. And now the ball's in your court; don't let the deep freeze creep up on you — seize this best of seasons, and get out there!

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Autumn Adventures Explore all the autumnal adventures North America has to offer, from coastal Maine to the Canadian Rockies. Top Fall Destinations New England Mid-Atlantic Far West Southwest Canada

RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP: U.S. National Forests
GORP: The Best of Autumn
GORPtravel: Fall Trips