With fall looming just ahead, this is the perfect time to plan a sweet ride through the countryside with a breathtaking tour of fall foliage. Here are the 5 awe-inspiring drives that you can’t miss this fall:
NORTHWEST: Columbia River Gorge Road, Oregon
This highway travels as high as 900 feet above the Columbia River Great Gorge, which is 80 miles long and 4000 feet deep. The highway was designed to support one of the earliest cars (a Model T) and was created to with drivers in mind. Drive up 600 feet above sea level to Crown Point, then drive backs down to experience miles of waterfalls, capped by the 4th tallest waterfall in the country, Multnomah Falls. Visit the Columbia River plateau, the Bonneville dam, and the Lewis and Clark Trail.
WEST COAST: Feather River Scenic Byway
Located in California, between Reno and Sacramento, this byway allows you to take in both fall foliage and a desert canyon. This part of the Sierra Nevadas is the only Sierra pass to remain open all winter because of its lower elevation. The Feather River feeds Lake Oroville, one of the largest in California. This route’s history includes the building of the Western Pacific Railroads at one end and the gold rush at the other end in Plumas-Eureka State Park, where $25 million was mined in the 1800’s. Take in granite cliffs, tour the Oroville Dam, photograph the awe-inspiring Pacific Crest, and wrap up your trip in beautiful Lake Tahoe. You may never want to go back home!
MIDWEST: Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The Brockway Mountain Drive climbs to over 1000 feet above sea level and over 700 feet above Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. Featuring hundreds of waterfalls in all sizes, only 200 of which are even named, this is one drive where you’ll want to get out of your car and hike. Along the way, visit farmer’s market and roadside stands. And if you have a jeep or off road vehicle, take the challenge and drive through Sandy Korners. Get to this region early in the season, though, before the colors are gone!
NORTHEAST: Route 100, Vermont
No fall foliage tour would be complete without a visit to the lush forests of the Northeast and Vermont is the perfect place to start. This route runs mostly along the Green Mountain National Forest and breaks off into idyllic New England towns, complete with pumpkin patches, hayrides and charming B&B’s. Stop in Wilmington, with its old time attractions and the Lakes Region featuring Camp Plymouth State Park. Or take a gondola up The Killington for spectacular views from this wintertime ski mountain. Don’t forget to bring home a bottle of the nation’s finest maple syrup either!
THE SOUTH: Blue Ridge Parkway
Over 250 miles of road, this parkway lines the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in both North Carolina and Virginia. A must-see stop on this trip is the Linn Cove Viaduct, a concrete segmental bridge spanning over 1200 feet, and curving around Grandfather Mountain. Walk over the Mile High Swinging Bridge, if you dare. Take an elevator up 1200 feet to get a jaw-dropping view of Lake Lure, 1200 feet above the valley at Chimney Rock State Park. In Virginia, visit the Skyline Drive in Shenanadoah Park, or explore out the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina.
These can’t miss drives make a great fall getaway for anyone who lives in those areas, and make the perfect vacation stops for anyone who wants to enjoy the grandeur of autumn.
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