The South's Best Fall Colors

Photo: Art Meripol

Ellijay, GA

About 80 miles north of Atlanta, the small town of Ellijay sits on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Renowned as the "Apple Capitol of Georgia," Ellijay and surrounding Gilmer County are home to 10 pick-your-own apple orchards and the annual Georgia Apple Festival.

gilmerchamber.com or 706/635-7400.

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY

The Bernheim Arboretum in Clermont, (about 30 miles south of Louisville) includes 14,000 acres of fields and forests, as well as 35 miles of hiking trails and a bike route that winds along the fall-color-filled Long Lick Creek.

bernheim.org or 502/955-8512.

Photo: Art Meripol

Caddo Lake, Karnack, TX

Located about 25 miles from Shreveport (and spreading into Texas), Caddo Lake is one of the South's largest natural lakes. Its 26,800 acres of freshwaters and cypress swamp are home to largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. The best place to drop a line, and enjoy the fall colors, is from Caddo State Park in Karnack.

tpwd.state.tx.us or 903/679-3351.

Photo: Gary Clark

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, NC

With mountaintops rising more than 2,500 feet, this state park about 30 miles north of Winston-Salem boasts some of North Carolina's brightest fall colors. Cascading waterfalls and more than 18 miles of trails lined with oak trees make the 7,024-acre park a popular place for an autumn outdoor adventure.

ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/haro/main.php or 336/593-8480

Photo: Cary Jobe

Lover's Leap Loop Trail, Hot Springs, NC

A 1.6-mile section of the Appalachian Trail brings hikers to this scenic view of the French Broad River and town of Hot Springs. The Lover's Leap Loop Trail overlooks 500 feet above the river, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the French Broad River Bridge and Blue Ridge Mountain area.

visitmadisoncounty.com or 828/680-9031

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Harpers Ferry, WV

This historic town about an hour northwest of Washington D.C. was the site of abolitionist John Brown's infamous raid in 1859. Now it's better known as the "psychological half-way point" of the Appalachian Trail, where weary hikers can spend a day exploring the mountain town's shops, restaurants, and inns.

historicharpersferry.com or 304/535-6955.

Photo: Laurey Glenn

Mount Cheaha, AL

The highest point in Alabama, the top of Mount Cheaha sits 2,407 feet above sea level. Called "Chaha" (or high place) by the Creek Indians, the mountaintop is now home to Cheaha State Park, a resort park complete with a hotel, restaurant, cabins, and campgrounds.

alapark.com/cheaharesort.com or 256/488-5115.

Photo: Allen Rokach

Baltimore County, MD

The rolling fields and hardwood forests north of Baltimore are filled with fall color. One of the best places to check out autumn leaves is Oregon Ridge Park. Located about two miles west of I-83, the 1,034-acre Baltimore County park features the Oregon Ridge Nature Center and hiking trails lined with flame-colored trees.

oregonridge.org or 410/887-1815.

Photo: Mary Margaret Chambliss

Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg, TN

Spreading across 800 square miles of southern Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, the nation's most visited national park offers acres of fall color. One of the most popular places to see the leaves and wildlife (including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and black bears) is Cades Cove, a broad valley at the northwestern corner of the park near Townsend, Tennessee.

nps.gov/grsm or 865/436-1200.

Photo: Art Meripol

Natchez Trace Parkway, TN

Running through Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway connects the cities of Nashville, Tennessee and Natchez, Mississippi. The Tennessee section of the Parkway, which stretches for about 100 miles in the state, passes small towns such as Leipers Fork, and historic spots such as the Meriwether Lewis Site (where Lewis of the “Lewis and Clark Expedition” is buried).

nps.gov/natr or 800/305-7417.