The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website has some cool suggestions from its staff on which rail-trails have the best fall color.
Up here in the Pacific Northwest, the big-leaf maples are blazing right now, although recent rains have knocked down a lot of leaves. Here's a scene along the Lake Washington bicycle path earlier this week.
Not all of the trails on rails-to-trails list are accessible to bicycles. And I'm sure some of their suggestions from the northern tier have played out (the piece has been up for a month; unfortunately I just noticed it this week).
The website links to fall foliage forecasts in all the states mentioned. Here are some bike trails that might still be colorful:
Capital Crescent Trail in Maryland and Washington D.C. — The 11-mile trail sports good tree cover and several bridges. The primo season runs Oct. 15 through Nov. 5.
Pine Creek Trail in Pennsylvania — This 60-mile path runs through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Fall color was expected to peak in the first half of October.
Silver Comet Trail in Georgia — The 50-mile trail that heads west from Atlanta features sequoia, cedar, juniper and cypress trees. Expected to hit the peak in late October.
Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail in Virginia — Good leaf peeping is expected along this picturesque trail. Best through the end of October.
Other bike trails mentioned were:
Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin — early October; Missisquoi State Trail in Vermont — late September; Stratton Brook State Park Trail in Connecticut — mid October; Weiser River Trail in Idaho — late September to early October.
Some of these might be worth checking out. I know the western Washington suggestion (Coal Creek Park Trail is not accessible for bikes) was supposed to be best through the second week of October, but there's still plenty of color out there.
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