12 Scenic Fall Hikes That Will Make You Put Down the Hot Chocolate and Go Outside

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The best hikes in the world for fall offer travelers a unique perspective of some of the Earth’s most fascinating destinations. Beautiful hiking trails come to life with an explosion of fall foliage, offering a quieter experience, crisp air, and atmospheric misty mornings. Better yet, many paths are more peaceful than in the peak tourist season.

However, with so many epic destinations, deciding where to hike in the fall isn’t easy. Luckily, though, we’re here to help. To help you find the perfect fall hike, here are 12 epic hiking trails worldwide that offer abundant fall foliage, breathtaking landscape views, and unique experiences.

West Highland Way, Scotland

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The West Highland Way is a 96-mile (154-kilometer) hiking trail in Scotland from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. The trail’s diverse scenery makes it one of the top autumn trails around the world for fall foliage. The trail is split into smaller sections, so you don’t have to complete it in one go.

It has everything, from picturesque countryside parks covered in multicolored leaves and vast moorlands to steep mountains and powerful waterfalls. The route is usually completed from south to north because the easier earlier trails prepare you for the more challenging northern stages. Notable points of interest along the West Highland Way include Steall Waterfall, Drymen, Glen Falloch, and Buachaille Etive Mòr.

Almannagjá Trail, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

Best Hikes in the World for Fall Almannagjá Trail, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland — © Rixie / Adobe Stock

The Almannagjá Trail is only 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) long, making it one of the best autumn hikes worldwide if you want to experience mind-blowing landscapes without exerting too much effort. This scenic loop trail is located within Thingvellir National Park and offers incredible views of Iceland’s lush scenery.

This trail changes color in the fall, displaying a magnificent display of golden, brown, and orange leaves. The Almannagjá Trail starts at parking lot P2 in the national park and leads you along the Öxará River. Eventually, you’ll end up at the Mid-Atlantic rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, another of Iceland’s iconic attractions.

The Beaver Ponds Trail, Yellowstone National Park, United States

Fall Hikes Around the World The Beaver Ponds Trail — © kavram / Shutterstock

Starting at Mammoth Hot Springs, the Beaver Ponds Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a 5.4-mile (8.7-kilometer) looped hiking trail that offers walkers a marvelous insight into Yellowstone’s fall appearance. It’s also one of the top fall hiking destinations across the globe especially if you love wildlife watching.

It’s common to spot beavers, bears, and various bird species along the route. The Beaver Ponds Trail takes between two and five hours to complete. It passes through breathtaking parts of the national park, including Douglas Fir Forest, which looks especially beautiful in the fall. You’ll also pass several pristine ponds and glimpse the national park’s tall mountains in the distance. What’s not to like?

Queen Charlotte Track, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Queen Charlotte Track is one of the greatest fall walks in the world if you dream of vibrant foliage and crisp mornings, but it’s only April. That’s because New Zealand experiences the fall between March and May instead of September, October, and November. However, you’re in for a serious challenge at 44 miles (70.8 kilometers) long.

Having said that, the hard work is well worth the mesmerizing views of lush landscapes, clear blue waters, tall mountains, and dense forests. You could complete this trail in three days, but we recommend allowing six or seven so you can truly enjoy everything it offers. Significant points of interest include Queen Charlotte Sound, Endeavour Inlet, and Mistletoe Bay.

Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail may only be 26 miles (41.8 kilometers) long, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the top hiking paths around the world for autumn if you’re seeking a serious challenge. Like New Zealand, Peru experiences the fall in March, so the Inca Trail allows fall’s biggest fans to get their fix earlier in the year.

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This epic four-day hiking trail starts at km.82 outside Ollantaytambo and finishes at Machu Picchu, one of the World’s New Seven Wonders. During the hike, you’ll walk through the Andean Mountains, passing impressive landscapes covered in fall foliage. At the trail’s highest section, you’ll reach an altitude of 13,776 feet (4,198 meters).

The King’s Trail, Kungsleden, Sweden

The King’s Trail is a 286-mile (460-kilometer) hiking trail in the sub-artic landscape of Swedish Lapland. The perfect hike for experienced adventurers, this monumental trail takes you to the far north of Sweden through stunning mountains and the scenic beauty of the four national parks of Laponia. You might even glimpse the Northern Lights.

Easily one of the greatest fall walks in the world, it will take you approximately a month to complete the entire route. Therefore, you’ll likely want to choose one of the smaller sections. The 65-mile (104-kilometer) stretch from Abisko to Nikkaluokta is a solid choice. This section features beautiful birch forests, lush meadows, glacial valleys, and rugged mountain passes.

Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, United States

At almost 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometers) long, the Appalachian Trail is the world’s longest hiking-only footpath. As such, it’s unsurprising to find a section of the trail on our list of the ultimate autumn hiking spots around the world. The 107-mile (173-kilometer) section of the trail in Shenandoah National Park is a quintessential fall hike.

Considered a generally challenging route, this scenic trail offers rolling hills covered in fall-foliage-colored forests, panoramic landscape vistas, and exciting wildlife-watching opportunities. You might spot white-tailed deer, bobcats, and black bears during your walk. It’s also worth noting that the Appalachian Trail runs parallel to Skyline Drive, a scenic road that runs the entire length of the national park.

Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy, Switzerland

If you enjoy ticking countries off your bucket list and hiking, the Tour du Mont Blanc hiking trail in central Europe is perfect. This stunning 103-mile (165-kilometer) trail is one of Europe’s most popular hiking routes. The legendary route takes you through three countries–France, Italy, and Switzerland–while offering spectacular alpine scenery.

This is one of the best fall treks across the globe for several reasons. For starters, the scenery is outstanding. You’ll witness rugged snow-capped mountains, vibrant alpine forests, lush meadows, and more. Second, the trail passes many small alpine towns and villages with much to see and do. Finally, the route is much quieter in the fall, so you can enjoy a more intimate experience.

Montepulciano to Siena, Tuscany, Italy

In the fall, Tuscany’s breathtaking Val d’Orcia region offers travelers a neverending landscape of picturesque wineries, scenic rolling hills, and multi-colored fields, making it a dream hiking destination for many enthusiasts. The cypress trees, vineyards, and rolling hills smothered in orange and golden foliage are a joy to behold.

You can enjoy everything the region offers in the fall by tackling the multi-day hiking trail from Montepulciano to Siena. This trail allows travelers to explore Tuscany’s most scenic destinations at their own pace. You’ll pass charming Tuscan towns, picture-perfect hills, beautiful vineyards, and colorful meadows. The entire route is approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) long. Allow five to eight days to complete it.

Wales Coast Path, Wales

You might call me biased because I live in Wales, but Wales is home to one of the best fall hikes in the world. The Wales Coast Path, known locally as Llwybr Arfordir Cymru, is an 870-mile (1,400-kilometer) hiking trail around the entire Welsh coast. This unbroken path makes Wales the world’s only country with a continuous path around its coastline.

You can’t complete the trail in one go for obvious reasons, but you can cut it into smaller, more manageable sections. Noteworthy places of interest along the trail include Caernarfon, Llandudno, and Anglesey. The Wales Coast Path looks fantastic year-round, but it’s especially beautiful when the scenery takes on fall colors.

Healy Pass Trail, Banff, Canada

12 Best Small Towns for Fall Foliage Banff, Alberta, Canada — © Mumemories / Adobe Stock

By hiking the Healy Pass Trail, you can enjoy Banff’s stunning scenery away from the large crowds that congregate around the more famous tourist attractions, such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Better yet, in the fall, this 11.1-mile (17.6-kilometer) trail explodes with a kaleidoscope of fall foliage.

This moderately difficult trail starts at Sunshine Village and enters the forest immediately. Before returning to Sunshine Village, you’ll explore a vast natural landscape that features towering snowy mountains, scenic lakes, serene fields, and colorful forests. If you want to extend the hike, you can continue to Egypt Lake or return via the Simpson Pass. Either way, you’re in for a real treat.

Fjordruta, Norway

Easily one of the best hikes in the world for fall, Fjordruta, which stands for the ‘fjord route,’ is a 100-mile (160-kilometer) horseshoe trail that circumnavigates the awe-inspiring Vinjefjorden in Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag counties, Norway. The route begins 200 miles (321.8 kilometers) north of Bergen and features a boat trip.

If you want to complete the entire trail, you’ll want to stay in one of the 13 self-serviced huts. The wild scenery on offer along the Fjordruta trail is out-of-this-world. When you’re not admiring the colorful display of fall foliage and breathtaking hills, you’ll likely enjoy some quiet time and something to eat alongside the water.