Tag Archives: trails

Now that it’s fall, here’s where to hike

Summer officially cedes to fall on Saturday (at 2:50 a.m.). So where’s a  good place to take your first fall hike? We have 10 thoughts on the subject,  based on two things:

  1. The temperature. Hike in the mountains and you could be starting out in temperatures in the 40s!
  2. Fall color. Hike in the mountains, and high enough in the mountains (above 5,500 feet), and you could see the start of some pretty good color.

Based on those two criteria, most of our recommendations are all in the mountains. Enjoy! read more

5 Mountain Hikes Accessible in Winter

Winter hikes in the mountains intimidate us. Not so much the hiking itself — who doesn’t love tromping through a forest carpeted with snow? Rather, it’s simply getting to the trailhead. The prospect of icy mountain roads, of road closures, of other drivers who don’t know how to drive on icy roads. Why run the risk? read more

6 Hikes for Early Fall Color

As soon as Labor Day passes, we’re eager for Fall hiking: for great color, cool temps, that special Fall feel. 

Trouble is, it doesn’t happen immediately — in fact, Summer doesn’t officially pass the torch to Fall until Sept. 23. But there are a handful of places where you can get a feel for fall hiking early on. Today, we share some of our favorites. Most make the list because they’re along water, where Fall color tends to first become evident. Some make the list because they have plenty of edge forest, where color also tends to pop early. All but one is in the piedmont — and the one that isn’t is pretty darn close.  read more

Fall Starts Wednesday! Avoid the Masses on These 10 Hikes

Editor’s note: This post originally ran at the start of last fall. We’ve tweaked it, and will continue to run a version of it at the start of every fall hiking season to help you avoid crowded trails in the most popular hiking season. 

Officially, fall starts tomorrow, Sept. 21, officially at 3:21 p.m. EST. Appropriately, a rainy front is ushering in cold air about the same time that will drop temperatures about 15 degrees, into the low 70s initially. By the weekend, expect highs in the upper 70s, lows around 50. read more