The 10 Best Fall Foliage Hikes, According to Photographers

There are scores of places to spot gorgeous color this fall, but some offer better image opportunities than others. We asked a handful of professional photographers from around the country where they’ve seen the best fall color. Gina Danza, a landscape photographer based in Tuscon, Arizona, recommends hiking up Mount Jo in the Adirondacks of New York. "You're able to see a majority of all the high peaks and foliage up there," she says.

Jovell Rennie calls Alaska's Eklutna Lake the ultimate fall scenery, with stunning views of the mountains of Chugach State Park. “Since the lake is made up of glacier runoff, the icy blue tones offset fall’s typical warm tones to make for really unique color patterns,” he says. Rennie is a professional photographer with an Anchorage art gallery, where he’s also a creative strategist for a public relations company that works with travel companies and destinations across Alaska. Bonus: He says this is a great place for Northern Lights spotting, and the season has already begun.

Danza says you should hit the Hudson Valley’s Breakneck Ridge early in the morning. It’s a steep but rewarding hike that offers views of the Hudson River, New York City and Storm King Mountain. “To have a special moment, pace it out early in the morning in the fall when there’s fog,” she says. On top of the amazing colors, “you can see the fog cut right through the top of the mountain.”

James Kaiser, whose work has been published on the cover of National Geographic, recommends Zion National Park’s Pa’rus Trail, which is lined with Freemont cottonwood trees. “They’re a symbol of life in the desert, and when their leaves turn yellow, it’s a glorious reminder of the natural rhythms of the desert,” he says. The Pa’rus Trail is one of the park’s most accessible and is also wheelchair-friendly.