Fall is the best time to visit America's National Parks and wild spaces. The crowds have cleared out, airfare and hotels are cheaper, and the leaves put on a fabulous show of red, orange and yellow. Peak foliage is one of the most beautiful times of year to get out on the trails, but it can be fleeting, which is why a Smoky Mountain travel company has designed an online tool to help you monitor foliage across the US.
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry explains that changes in daylight and temperature in autumn cause the leaves to stop their food-making process. As they become dormant, the green chlorophyll breaks down to reveal red, yellow and orange pigments before the leaves fall off. This process takes several weeks and its timing ultimately depends on the weather and location. There is typically a 'peak' to the season, lasting a week or two, when the colors are at their most brilliant.
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