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Flying Into Fall: Five Destinations for Leaf Peepers

Though the fall colors of the Northeast are famous, pilots across the U.S. can view the changing leaves from the air. [Credit: Adobe Stock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Flying offers a unique and often more stunning perspective for experiencing autumn's vibrant fall foliage compared to ground-level viewing.
  • The article recommends specific U.S. airports as prime destinations for fall foliage flights, including Aspen (CO), Great Barrington (MA), Mammoth Yosemite (CA), Glacier Park (MT), and Jackson County (NC).
  • Many featured airports are high-elevation fields requiring careful planning regarding density altitude and terrain, but they provide access to breathtaking scenery and various outdoor activities.
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Flying in the fall as changing foliage marks the advancing seasons is a treat in part because pilots can almost always find more stunning views than folks on the ground. There is also the simple joy of descending onto runways lined with colorful trees on the way to fun family outings.

As my kids often tell me, looking at leaves is not that exciting. But their splash of color adds one more lovely element to the outdoor pursuits we enjoy in the fall because the conditions tend to be just right. Besides, aren’t we always trying to cram in as much fair-weather fun as possible before the snow flies? Whether you are out for lunch, hiking, visiting historic sites, or picking pumpkins, autumn’s colors make the occasion more memorable. Following are some of the fall foliage hotspots we hope to visit soon.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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