Best Ways to Experience Peak Foliage in a Run

Finding the perfect fall run can be one of the great running experiences. It’s the whole atmosphere, from the crisp fall air to the smells of cider donuts and fallen leaves. But perhaps the pinnacle of fall running is to hit a ‘peak foliage’ run, where the leaves are at their absolute peak. It’s the runner’s equivalent of a powder day! 

Finding that peak foliage run takes some work and research. But Great Runs is here to help, with our Fall Running Hub and peak foliage forecasts. In this article, we discuss area that are known for their spectacular autumn colors, when the leaves are likely to peak, and types of routes to enjoy peak foliage. 

Where Are the Colors Most Spectacular?

Maple trees, especially Sugar Maple a Japanese Maple, are celebrated for their beautiful fall colors. Other trees that can be beautiful in fall are Ginkgo, Dogwood, Black Gum, Sweetgum, and Quaking Aspen. Anywhere these trees grow will yield some lovely autumn color. These are some parts of the world that are most beautiful in fall. 

• Eastern Canada. Especially parts of Ontario, Quebec (to about 100 miles north of the U.S. border). Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are lovely. 
• New England. Probably the epicenter of fall foliage, starting in northern Vermont, then working down to Connecticut. 
• Mid-Atlantic. Mountain regions such as the Hudson Valley/Catskills, Poconos, and the hilly sections south to Virginia are beautiful. 
• Mountain West. Parts of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, & Montanaa are known for the yellows of the quaking aspens.
• Japan. Beautiful maple trees. Favorite areas are the northern island of Hokkaido, and parts of central Japan (Tokyo) and southern Japan (Kyoto).
• South Korea. Especially some of the mountain regions. 

 When Can You Find the Perfect Fall Run?

Doing a fall run to experience peak foliage takes some planning. In addition to thinking about where the colors will be beautiful, you have to think about when the colors will peak. Usually, peak foliage last for about ten days, with the approach being ‘near peak’. Variations from year-to-year for a particular region are generally within a 1-2 week range, depending on factors that year including temperature averages and precipitation. Generally, ‘peak’ times are trending a bit later due to warming temps associated with climate change. 

This handy-dandy foliage tracker is one of the best tools for planning for peak foliage, in a given year. You can see predictions of peak foliage for different areas of the United States by using the slider. 

Generally, latitude and altitude are the major factors. Area closer to the coast, where the ocean moderates temperatures have a bit later peak. Example: Boston peaks a week later than areas ten miles inland. 

What Are The Types of Perfect Fall Runs

At Great Runs, we have two favorite types of runs to experience peak foliage. One type of run is more open. Here, you want to find a run in an area where there are surrounding hills or mountains, so you can have a view of the rolling carpets of colors. This is why parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are especially popular in fall. Lakes and bodies of water are also pretty, to enjoy the reflection of the colors. 

The other favorite type of fall run is in the woods. There’s nothing like running through a tunnel of trees, surrounded by vivid colors, with leaves crunching underfoot!

To help you in your search for the perfect fall run, the Great Runs Fall Running Hub has several lists of the best fall running routes, for the most popular fall visitor destinations. There’s a list for each New England state, plus other fall ‘epicenters’. 

Another helpful tool is the Great Runs foliage category, which lists ALL our routes tagged as particularly pretty in autumn, sorted by location and region.

One final hint and note of caution: as the leaves start falling off the trees, be careful when it’s wet. The leaves can be slippery!