The Japanese cultural practice of “hunting leaves” known as momijigari is a tradition that dates back centuries. Today, in the United States, we might call it #leafpeeping, which has racked up almost 350,000 Instagram posts to date. Love the internet term or loathe it, appreciating the transient beauty of nature while its blazes a trail of orange, red and gold makes for an awesome fall getaway.
Depending on the state, peak color season usually spans late September through early November, and there are cool hotels in prime leaf-peeping territory that take full advantage of the moment. Like a new design-forward outpost in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and a retro Airstream glampsite in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Every hotel below is priced at $350 per night or less, and many offer outdoor excursions, like stargazing and bike tours, either in-house or through partnerships with local guides. If nature hikes, forest bathing among the changing leaves and board games beside the fire appeal to you, spend an autumnal weekend at one of these hotels and resorts.
AutoCamp | Catskills, N.Y.
Only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City, Autocamp Catskills is a 37-acre oasis in Hudson Valley. Most guests bookend days at the mod barn-inspired Clubhouse by grabbing coffee in the morning or kicking back beside the community fire pit in the evening. With the Catskills Mountains on your doorstep, opportunities for outdoor adventures are plentiful. Not so seasoned hikers can book a guided half-day hike through AutoCamp, but if you want something even lower key, try the Japanese art of Forest Bathing, also available through the hotel.
Evergreen Lodge | Yosemite, Calif.
This historic resort makes the ideal base camp for leaf-peeping hikes and drives in nearby Yosemite National Park, where elm, maple, dogwood and cottonwood trees line the Yosemite Valley floor. The cabins and tents are rustic, with plaid bed coverings and flourishes of wood details, and perfect for an autumn weekend in the Eastern Sierra. (For a bit more of a splurge, try Evergreen’s new sister property, Firefall Lodge, whose cabins start around $289 per night midweek.) The last week of October is often the best time for peak colors. Hike the Mirror Lake Trail around Bridalveil Falls or make the scenic Southside Drive into Yosemite Valley from the Arch Rock Entrance to get those fall foliage money shots.
Outbound | Stowe, Vt.
Go to Stowe for prime New England fall foliage without the crowds. The town takes autumn seriously and even hosts a three-day festival in its honor every October. Located just outside town, nature-centric Outbound Stowe sits in the middle of the changing leaves. Rates start at $197 with accommodation options ranging from cozy rooms and lofts to Scandi-chic cabins with kitchenettes. There’s a laidback on-site restaurant, Eastside Bar + Bites, too. When it comes to outdoor activities, the hotel has partnered with local outfitters to provide guest perks like bike rental discounts and a guided E-bike tour of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
The Ozarker Lodge | Branson, Mo.
Boutique hotels might not come to mind when considering the Ozarks, but this revamped lodge in Branson is big on vintage nostalgia and modern amenities. It opened last summer with approachable rates; rooms start at $116 for a single queen and breakfast is included, too. Located beside Branson’s historic Fall Creek, the lodge gives you access to “hikers dream” Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and fall foliage drives along the 165 Scenic Overlook. The creekside cedar soaking tubs are a no-brainer after spending the day outdoors, and although there’s a coffee and wine bar on-site, plus a mercantile for grab and go items, you’ll need to pre-order in-room treats like charcuterie boards pre-arrival.
Pampered Wilderness | Olympia, Wash.
Available seasonally from April 1 through October, the well-appointed glamping tents and cabins at Pampered Wilderness have king-sized beds and mini-fridges. It’s located within the campgrounds of Millersylvania State Park, an old-growth forest and under-the-radar destination with beautiful foliage, just 15 minutes from Washington state’s capital, Olympia. There’s a network of wide, mostly flat trails within the park, but if you only feel like tackling one, make it the 4.6-mile Millersylvania Northwest Loop.
The Porches Inn | North Adams, Mass.
You can pair art with leaf-peeping in the Berkshires at this boutique hotel, which sits across the street from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Rooms and suites, some of which have claw-foot tubs, are spread across a block of Victorian row houses, with a breakfast buffet included in the rate. For the best leaf peeping, drive part or all of the Mohawk Trail, which runs 63 miles from North Adams to Orange along Route 2, or head south on Route 8 to Mount Greylock, Massachusetts’ highest peak. Back at The Porches, make the most of its traditional Finnish-style sauna and outdoor hot tub before calling it a day.
Trailborn | Highlands, N.C.
Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Highlands, this just-opened boutique hotel is the third outpost from new hospitality brand Trailborn. Set on four and half acres of forest, everything is designed to immerse you in nature. The hotel’s guided experiences include a restorative Shinrin-Yoku-inspired forest bathing session and a half-day fly fishing trip, and Highlands downtown is within walking distance. However, with on-site workshops (on topics like pressed flower art to wildcrafted cocktails), the Highlands Supper Club, and a Nordic Spa with a sauna and cold plunge shower (both coming soon), actually heading out for the day could be a challenge.
The Vintages | Willamette Valley, Oreg.
Nearly half of Oregon is forested, with most of its fall favorite trees (maples, dogwoods, ash, and birch) found along western parts of the state. An hour’s drive south of Portland, you’ll find The Vintages in the Willamette Valley with its collection of restored trailers. The beginning of fall coincides with the last month of wine harvest in the valley, and mid to late October is the best time to catch autumnal hues. While you’re in the area, check out charming towns like McMinnville (home of the second largest UFO festival in the US) and try the region’s most famous wine varietal: pinot noir. For comped tastings and discounts at local wineries like Dundee and Björnson, reserve The Vintages complimentary tasting passport.
Wayfinder Bishop | Bishop, Calif.
Known as the Gateway to the Eastern Sierra, the town of Bishop is a popular destination for hikers headed to the Pacific Crest trail or a stopover for skiers on their way to Mammoth, but its namesake Bishops Creek Canyon is considered one of the most spectacular places for fall colors in California. Make reservations at the recently redone and rebranded Wayfinder Bishop, whose cozy guest rooms start at $198 midweek during September and October and include breakfast at on-site restaurant the Whistling Trout. It’s within walking distance of downtown (Schat’s Bakery is right next door) and driving distance of area must-sees like Wild Willy’s Hot Springs and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
The Wildset Hotel | Saint Michaels, Md.
At the town of Saint Michaels on Maryland’s eastern shore, a boat cruise on the Chesapeake Bay is the best way to see the changing leaves. An oysters toss from the waterfront on Talbot Street, The Wildset Hotel has 34 rooms and suites spread across its four restored nineteenth-century buildings. Borrow bikes and cruise to the Farmer’s Market, dine on dock-to-dish fresh local seafood at the hotel’s restaurant Ruse and make s’mores beside the firepit before rolling upstairs to bed. Pro tip: the annual harvest festival (October 18 through 20) dials the autumnal charm up to a 10.
The Wyman | Silverton, Colo.
Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, the mountain town of Silverton provides some of the most jaw-dropping fall foliage views in the San Juans. Its historic district is lined with Victorian-era buildings, including The Wyman, which once housed a gas station and mercantile. Today, it’s enjoying a second lease on life as a bougie 15-room hotel with Tesla charging stations, a cocktail-forward lobby bar and Aesop bath products. Carved into the mountainside with numerous pullouts for photo ops, The Million Dollar Highway (U.S. Route 550) that connects Silverton with Ouray, aka the “Switzerland of America,” is a must for overland adventurers looking for fall leaves. And when it comes to outdoor activities, you can take your pick from rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking.
