| Suddenly, there's a nip in the air... and, in most parts of | | | | popularity. The French Lick Scenic Railway, at French |
| the country, one needn't travel far to catch a glimpse | | | | Lick's Indiana Railway Museum, treats foliage fans to a |
| of fall's annual pageant of colorful foliage. For those | | | | colorful run through the Hoosier National Forest. In |
| seeking more than a glimpse, some satisfaction will | | | | Missouri's Ozarks, the Branson Scenic Railway adds |
| certainly be gained from a city park stroll or a | | | | extra trains to accommodate the increased demand. |
| countryside car trip. But, for those most dedicated of | | | | Down in Dixie |
| leaf peepers among us, there can only be one suitable | | | | Appalachian ranges give rise to impressive autumn |
| course: a woodland rail safari through autumn's | | | | forest canopies across much of the South. With its |
| color-drenched hills and glens. | | | | mountain-climbing steam train, West Virginia's Cass |
| Trains are a natural choice for fall color lovers. Narrow | | | | Mountain Railway State Park annually thrills thousands |
| rail beds cut discrete and scenic pathways through | | | | to sweeping vistas of red and gold wilderness and |
| sometimes remote and, often, otherwise inaccessible | | | | occasional sightings of moose or eagle. North |
| wilderness. The general absence of typical roadside | | | | Carolina's Great Smoky Mountain Railway transports |
| distractions, like fast food joints, billboards and gas | | | | visitors along a colorful route through its namesake |
| stations, heightens possibilities for viewing foliage and | | | | Appalachian range. |
| wildlife alike! And, eco-friendly trains leave greener | | | | Known for their famous horse farms, the bucolic blue |
| footprints than their roadway counterparts. | | | | hills of Kentucky provide perfect fodder for seasonal |
| Onboard, panoramic windows offer sweeping forest | | | | passengers to enjoy fall color excursions hosted by |
| views and many trains feature extras ranging from | | | | the Bluegrass Scenic Railway & Museum. |
| snack-bars and photo ops to dome seating, fine dining, | | | | Back East |
| bar services and tour guides. A number of excursions | | | | Of course, for autumn's richest golds, deepest ambers |
| incorporate off-train opportunities for hand picking one's | | | | and most vivid reds, all tracks lead to -- or through -- |
| own pumpkin straight from the field! | | | | the Northeast. The world's oldest steam-driven rack |
| Tracking down a foliage train may be easier than you | | | | railway, the Mount Washington Cog Railway, scales |
| think. Scenic and heritage railways offering leaf-peeper | | | | New England's loftiest mountain, offering stunning |
| expeditions can be found in dozens of states. A | | | | autumn panoramas along the way. Back on earth, |
| surprising roster of mainline Amtrak routes also offer | | | | dozens of tourist trains ferry foliage followers on |
| opportunities to catch autumn's brilliant array. | | | | unique woodland journeys. The Berkshire Scenic |
| Out West | | | | Railway in Massachusetts, Green Mountain Railroad in |
| Among the most unlikely destinations for the dedicated | | | | Vermont, New York's Catskill Mountain Railroad and |
| leaf-ophile, the Western US is full of foliage surprises. | | | | Delaware's Wilmington & Western Railroad are |
| Thanks to its vast native stands of Aspen, the state | | | | among the best. |
| of Colorado hosts a unique seasonal color change | | | | Thanks to Amtrak, even city dwellers can join the leaf |
| known locally as the "Gold Rush." Outside Colorado | | | | peep party. The Adirondack, Ethan Allen Express and |
| Springs, changing climatic zones turn tree-spotting into | | | | The Vermonter are among the trains that give New |
| a high-altitude adventure aboard the Pike's Peak Cog | | | | Yorkers a genuine sampling of autumn's palette. |
| Railway. For Denverites, Amtrak's California Zephyr | | | | Philadelphians and Pittsburghers hop aboard The |
| provides a unique chance to commune with autumn's | | | | Pennsylvanian for a colorful cruise through Amish |
| colorful bounty. | | | | Country and the Allegheny Mountains. |
| In the Pacific Northwest, the Mount Rainier Scenic | | | | Ready to Go |
| Railway's always-memorable roll through the famous | | | | Leaves change earliest in the country's north and |
| mountain's foothills is made all the more spectacular | | | | mid-section, generally between late September and |
| when its leafy route is ablaze with seasonal color. | | | | mid October. In more southerly locales, leaves change |
| Just Off the Prairie | | | | later with some color often lingering into early |
| Despite its close association with unending flatlands of | | | | November. |
| cattle, corn and grain, America's heartland is gifted with | | | | Temperature and precipitation directly impact the |
| an abundance of vibrant foliage. On Michigan's Upper | | | | quality and duration of peak color periods. Media |
| Peninsula, the Toonerville Trolley Train and Riverboat | | | | resources like The Weather Channel provide updated |
| host a Tahquamenon Falls Wilderness Excursion that | | | | information regarding local foliage view-ability. In any |
| ranks high on any foliage follower's list. | | | | event, remember to dress appropriately: much of the |
| When fall's colors splash across the Midwest's best | | | | best fall color is found in higher elevations where colder |
| known resort towns, local tourist railway trips rise in | | | | temperatures prevail. |