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Fall Colors in the Eastern US

The eastern United States is known for its fall foliage. Therefore you will find maps that display the best areas for fall foliage. Based on the types of trees in each area, you can get an idea of the types of colors to expect in the fall. Visit different parts of the eastern U.S. depending on peak color as forecasted by agricultural extension departments and the US Forest Service.

Color
- Fall colors range from yellow to bright red, with a variety of color shades in between these two colors. The type of color that occurs will depend on the type of tree. The leaves of certain trees, such as birch, will all turn the same color, as birch leaves turn yellow. While leaves of other trees may be a range of colors on the same tree. Trees with spectacular fall colors include maples which turn shades of orange and red, aspen leaves which turn yellow, northern red oak leaves which turn deep red, ash leaves which turn yellow and sumac leaves which turn shades of orange and red.
Cause of Color
- The main cause of fall color in trees is due to less sunlight during the day. This causes chemical changes within the trees, starting on the longest day of the year, at the end of June, after which the daylight progressively decreases. The fall colors are always present in the tree leaves, the green color simply masks the yellow and red colors. Therefore when levels of green pigment, known as chlorophyll, decrease you can see the other colors.
Location
- You can see good fall color all along the eastern part of the United States. Some areas with spectacular color include Superior National Forest, White Mountain, Green Mountain, Shawnee National Park, Huron-Manistee areas, Hiawatha, Chippewa National Forest, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Adirondacks. Fall color can be seen from southern Appalachia all the way up to Canada. The more north you are the shorter the period when peak color occurs.
Fall Foliage Trips
- There are several trips or drives that are recommended by tourists as the best ffor viewing fall foliage color. The Moosehead Lake region in Maine offers gorgeous views of the Moose River Valley and you will drive under colorful tree canopies. Other recommended trips include Mad River Byways in Vermont, Lake Placid in New York, Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Cades Cove at the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.

Nature