Fall Trails Showcase Routes Across Five States

Oklahoma City offers nearly 100 miles of multiuse trails, including the hilly Stanley Draper loops, the nearly 10-mile Lake Hefner circuit and flatter park routes suited to fall walks. In Connecticut, Lake Wintergreen’s easy waterside loop provides autumn color without a strenuous climb, with steeper West Rock Ridge trails available for hikers seeking more challenge. A short loop high in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge can show fall color early, with vivid foliage, open shrubland and waterfalls; peak timing varies by year. Chicago’s 2.7-mile Bloomingdale Trail grew from a neighborhood campaign to turn an abandoned elevated rail line into an accessible public path. A flat, paved California bayfront trail also offers a quiet setting for walking, jogging or running beside a lagoon.