Best fall foliage accessible on wheels
Did you know that Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation — or anywhere in the world (DCNR). Shout out to my home state! In fact, by default, many of the best fall leaves are in my corner of the world because we’re one of the only regions with the right weather and the right kinds of trees. Fodor’s has a nice U.S. fall foliage list that includes places to stay and links to local travel guides. My accessible fall foliage list is just to sort out the best routes for accessibility.
When to Go
Columbus Day gives many families a long weekend to catch some fall foliage, but it’s only optimal if you’re hitting the right region. Here’s a fall foliage map of the nation. You can sort it by date to see the best place and/or week for your trip!
How to Get There
Drive. I mean, obviously if you’re coming from another coast, some flying may also be helpful. Once you hit the U.S. East Coast – drive. So many of the highways twist through mountains, parks, and forests – driving is half the beauty of the fall foliage. Actually, one of the accessible perks of fall foliage is that you can see a lot from the comfort of your car. If it weren’t for my young kids getting cranky on long drives, we could just drive around and take in plenty of accessible fall foliage.
What to Do
Drive. Walk (or roll, or scoot, or whatever transport you prefer). Explore. Fall foliage is a unique experience. It’s one of the only things that you can go to see, and find it everywhere! You can have a delightful experience just driving around. If weather permits, I strongly suggest you get out on an accessible trail and breathe in the autumn air. All of the places I list have nearby endearing towns. When you’ve had your fill of scenery, take in the local shops and eateries. These are all mountain towns and each has its own charm… and ice cream. Click the location links below for in-depth details on each area!
Where to Go
These are not listed in order, only because I haven’t seen them all at peak season, so I don’t feel it’s fair for me to rank them against each other. These are beautiful places with the right trees and the right seasonal changes to create magnificent accessible fall foliage.
PA Grand Canyon – Leonard Harrison State Park offers an accessible breathtaking vista over the canyon. There is also an accessible rail trail that runs through the gorge. It looks like this is where we’ll be heading for our foliage this year, and I can’t wait!
Finger Lakes, NY – The only thing that can make the vibrancy of fall even prettier is adding water. Just getting to the lakes is a scenic tour. Standing three stories higher than Niagara Falls, Taughannock Falls has an accessible path right up to the foot of the falls. You can drive up to the base of Buttermilk Falls.
Green Mountain Byway to Stowe, Vermont – And drive through the NY Catskills on your way! Holy foliage! With a wheelchair accessible boardwalk right through the woods, Rails-to-Trails paths, a gondola up the mountain, and loads of accessible trails, you can explore until you’re sick of leaves! (Is that a thing?)
Smoky Mountains, North Carolina and Tennessee – If you can’t hit the road until later this fall, or the south is more convenient for you, this is your stop. While there’s a bigger mix of Pine trees, they still have over 100 species of trees to create plenty of color mix in their fall foliage. They offer plenty of accessible trails, driving routes, a railroad, and you can find accessible cabins in the area. (Is it just me, or is it always hard to find accessible lodging anywhere other than a chain hotel??)
Adirondacks – This is a new favorite, owing the the extensive options for wheelchair users. There’s a wide variety of trails through forests, over forests, and around marshes and lakes. If you go early enough in the season, you can even spend the night in a fully accessible park. The mountain vibes are strong here. If camping isn’t your thing, stay in the accessible historic hotel, Hotel Saranac for a more luxurious tribute to mountain life.
All the Rest
Shenandoah National Park; Glacier National Park; Upper Peninsula, Michigan; Boston, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine… There are plenty of places to see awe-inspiring fall foliage, especially along the northeast coast. The places I listed above are exceptional in both beauty and accessibility. In fact, this will be my to-visit list for the next four falls.