Fall Foliage

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The Midwest could offer fall’s most electric foliage but leaf peepers elsewhere won’t miss out

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fall is back, and bringing with it jack-o'-lanterns, football, pumpkin spice everything and — in some parts of the country — especially vibrant foliage.

https://apnews.com/article/fall-foliage-leaf-peeping-autumn-df5b4726079d08156bc819179c0a8567?

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? Mapped: Peak fall foliage

Data: smokymountains.com. Map: Axios Visuals Don't let those early brown leaves fool you: U.S. peak foliage is still ahead, ranging from late September to mid-November, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes. Warmer-than-average temperatures could delay foliage in much of the country, particularly in the South and West. Mountainous regions and areas with cooler-than-usual forecasts — like northern New England, the Adirondacks and the Poconos — could see peak colors on the early side. Keep reading.

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12 of the Best Fall Foliage Hikes in the U.S.—From Alaska to Tennessee

Fall is when nature puts on her best show, and these trails are your front row seat to it. The ultimate goal of leaf-peeping season is fairly simple: walk somewhere beautiful and stare at trees until your eyes water and your feet start to go numb. But the opportunities are endless. You’ll find jaw-dropping fall colors in places you’d never expect (yes, even the South), and those crowds that clogged up summer routes will have largely retreated to pumpkin patches and football games.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/travel/wanderlust/best-fall-foliage-hikes?

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? Why fall leaves may show up late

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Fall foliage may show up later than usual this year, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum reports. Warm evenings can delay the onset of leaves changing colors. And extreme weather during the year can cause leaves to turn brown and fall off, leading to a less colorful autumn. Go deeper.

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? Rising fall flavor

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

"Pecan" isn't just a pie flavor this fall. DoorDash named pecan 2025's top fall flavor, because orders of pecan-flavored items are up 28% year-over-year. That's after Snickers turned its special-edition pecan bar into a regular item, and as Starbucks brings back pecan beverages as a fall menu item, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum and Kelly Tyko report. The intrigue: The debate on how to say "pecan" is still nutty. Depending on which survey you point to, either "PEE-can" (preferred by Northeasterners) or "puh-KAWN" is the most popular way for Americans to say it.

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Drought has muted this year’s leaf-peeping season, but pockets of brilliant colors remain

Soaking in the fall foliage is an annual tradition in the New England states as well as areas such as the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Great Smoky Mountains of the mid-South and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But weeks of drought have muted this year’s autumn colors, and sent leaves fluttering to the ground earlier than usual.

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🍁 1 for the road: Peak fall

Data: Explore Fall. Graphic: Jim Sergent Fall color is expected across most of the country by mid-October, Axios' Jim Sergent writes. But weather could scramble the timetable: A strong El Niño could raise temperatures and delay some peak colors, according to the National Weather Service.