7 national parks for late fall visits & photoshoots
Every season is magical, but that magic often feels strongest in autumn. The transformation around us is a reminder that even in endings there is beauty and beginnings, as school starts, families come together, and we find light in the darker months of the year.
A perfect place to experience the gifts of this season is in one of our many national parks.
Across the U.S. there are 63, each preserving its own unique natural beauty, as well as showcasing the changing of the seasons. In late fall they are filled with brilliant colors, a deeper quiet, and breathtaking views.
Here are seven, from mega headliners to well-kept secrets, each offering a wondrous experience of this magical season as well as picture-perfect backdrops for an autumn photoshoot.
Use code FALLMEMORIES to get $25 off any photoshoot package!
Arches National Park
The sun takes on a different shade of gold in autumn and there might be no better place to experience it than amidst the red terrain, desert vistas, and enchanting rock formations of Arches in Utah. In October the weather is cooler and the crowds are fewer. There are all types of hikes, from easy out & backs, like Park Avenue past Three Gossips and the Courthouse Towers, to strenuous hikes like up to Delicate Arch, to ranger-led hikes like to Fiery Furnace. You’ll be mesmerized by the “hoodoos” of the Garden of Eden, marvel at Balanced Rock, and soak up views along the 19-mile Arches Scenic Drive. Let the autumn sun fill your days with golden hour photoshoots amidst this park’s more than 2,000 arches.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
This Ohio park is not as well known as her sister parks but with forests, wetlands, and historic sites, it is truly an autumn wonderland! The park is filled with acres of lush nature, but also offers wineries and music festivals. The last two weeks of October are a peak time for autumn colors and activities, with the Szalay’s farmers market every Saturday through the end of the month, featuring food stalls, artists and a 3-acre corn maze. There’s plenty of hiking and biking on the 87-mile Ohio and Erie Towpath along the canal and many whistle-stops on the 3.5-hour round trip Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Photo ops abound, especially at the charming Everett Covered Bridge or amidst the many waterfalls, like Bridal Veil, Brandywine, and Blue Hen Falls.
Everglades National Park
Even the swamp transforms in autumn when humidity and mosquitoes give way to cooler, more pleasant experiences. Come November, Florida’s Everglades enters its dry season, when the manatees play and the baby alligators hatch. Drive the 38 miles between the Ernest F. Coe and Flamingo Visitor Centers for easy walks, hiking trails, kayaking spots, and viewpoints. At Shark Valley Visitor Center the long drive is rewarded with an opportunity to experience the Everglades by airboat, an experience that truly immerses you in this vast wetlands and amongst the birds, turtles, and alligators. For unique autumn photos, consider a shoot along with one of the many boardwalk trails which span the marshes, like Anhinga Trail, Snake Bite Trail, or Mahogany Hammock Trail. You might even get photobombed by an alligator!
Photo by: Evan in Palm Springs
Grand Canyon National Park
There’s so much to love about the Grand Canyon in the autumn, but most especially the fact that there are fewer crowds. The North Rim closes in mid-October, leaving visitors in the know all the wonders of the South and West Rims to themselves. Whatever you’ve dreamed of doing in the Grand Canyon it will be better in the fall. Whether you’re taking a helicopter ride to the canyon floor, lazily floating down the Colorado River, or soaking up the incredible views from panoramic windows of the Yavapai Geology Museum, it’s all more accessible in the fall. And with the beauty of autumn sunrises and sunsets, the many layers of rock cliffs along the canyon glow all the colors of autumn, making an iconic and breathtaking backdrop for a fall photoshoot.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
In West Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is what wilderness is all about, with few amenities and lots of nature. Fall arrives mid-October through mid-November when most make their way to McKittrick Canyon to leaf-peep Texas-style and hike amidst a palette of reds, yellows, and oranges set against the arid desert. The trail is 15 miles roundtrip but offers various modifications. You might also choose to tackle the dramatic Devil’s Hall Trail or make friends with lizards, mule deer, and javelinas along Smith Spring Trail or just sit amidst the ruins of Old Pinery Station where the Butterfield Overland Mail Route stopped. A fall photoshoot is perfect here, with the maples of McKittrick Canyon, historic Frijole Ranch, and El Capitan towering in the background.
Yellowstone National Park
The beautiful, vast park that resides in three states becomes swathed in yellow and orange grasses, punctuated by evergreens, and less crowded in fall. If autumn for you is about getting closer to wildlife, you are sure to feel in your seasonal element here, as bison begin their migration to winter feeding grounds and elk begin their breeding season, becoming more visible and audible as the males seek out females. And since much of Yellowstone is actually a volcano, there is no end to hot springs to warm the crisp autumn air. While the best way to see the colors of fall is in the backcountry, beautiful spots with Yellowstone’s own distinctive fall colors can be found in Lamar Valley, along Lewis River, and even in Mammoth Hot Springs.
Photo by: April in Denver
Zion National Park
Zion National Park in Utah is stunning year-round but come autumn you can enjoy its beauty with fewer crowds. October and November bring fall foliage and fewer bodies for hikes on well-known trails, like Angels Landing, while those who explore lesser known trails, like Watchman Trail, will feel like they have the park to themselves. Also consider Hidden Canyon, The Narrows, and Riverside Walk. If a thermos of coffee and good music in the car is more your style of exploring, take the 54-mile Zion Park Scenic Drive, where there are lots of opportunities to stop at viewpoints and soak up the season. For magical autumn, photoshoot consider the bridge below the Court of Patriarchs, a spot amidst the unique slot canyons off of Route 9, or anywhere the red rocks of this wondrous park stir your autumn spirit!