10 Forests With The Most Colourful Autumn Canopies

OT Staff & Waquar Habib

New England’s White Mountains

New England’s White Mountains explode with maples, birches and oaks each autumn. Scenic drives, classic covered bridges and summit viewpoints reward leaf peepers seeking quintessential, fiery-coloured New England fall panoramas.

Autumn at New England’s White Mountains | ryanresatka/instagram

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers misty, lush ridgelines cloaked in red, orange and gold. Accessible trails, historic cabins and panoramic overlooks create unforgettable autumn vistas for photographers and ramblers.

Autumn at Great Smoky Mountains National Park | moonguides/instagram

Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada

Algonquin Provincial Park’s canoe routes traverse shimmering lakes bordered by birch and maple. In October, the forest canopy erupts in warm hues, ideal for paddlers and wildlife photographers seeking solitude.

Autumn wonderland that is Algonquin Provincial Park | kurt.wang/instagram

Black Forest, Germany

Germany’s Black Forest blends dense firs with beech and maple, producing layered autumn colour. Scenic drives, fairy-tale villages and hillside trails reveal coppery slopes and misty valleys in autumn annually.

Fall at Black Forest, Germany | germany.explores/instagram

Jiuzhaigou Valley, China

Jiuzhaigou Valley in Sichuan showcases crystalline lakes framed by larch and maple forests. Autumn intensifies reflections and colours, transforming waterfalls and alpine meadows into a kaleidoscope of hues and light.

Autumn at Jiuzhaigou Valley, China | dotzsoh/instagram

Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido

Daisetsuzan National Park on Hokkaido peaks later with vivid alpine colours. Larches and dwarf birch paint slopes in yellow and crimson; early snowfall combines with fall tones for dramatic scenery.

Autumn as seen at Daisetsuzan National Park | hokkaidolove.id/instagram

Nikko National Park, Japan

Nikko National Park’s cedar forests and maple avenues glow in autumn light. Temple precincts, mountain lakes and scenic roads offer Japanese koyo experiences where crimson maples contrast with wooden shrines.

Autumn at Nikko National Park | nationalpark_japan/instagram

Seoraksan National Park, South Korea

Seoraksan National Park’s rocky peaks and mixed forests become a patchwork of crimson and gold in October. Cable cars, ridgeline hikes and temple vistas provide accessible viewpoints for spectacular foliage.

Fall foliage at Seoraksan National Park, South Korea | saccharin_style/instagram

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park pairs cascading lakes with beech and maple woodlands that blaze in autumn. Wooden boardwalks and waterfalls mirror fiery colours, creating cinematic landscapes for nature lovers.

Autumn at Plitvice Lakes National Park | photos/instagram

Killarney National Park, Ireland

Killarney National Park’s oak and birch woodlands frame lakes and mountains in Ireland’s west. Autumn cloaks valleys in russet, offering peaceful walks, historic sites and misty mornings for contemplative travellers.

Killarney National Park in autumn | killarneyoutfitters/instagram

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Vibrant autumn hues against the backdrop of Mount Fuji | en.kawaguchiko.net/website
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