Fall foliage outings are always special, but when seen from the deck of a boat, the experience can be magical. You still have time to plan your escape, so grab your sailboat, fishing skiff, personal watercraft (PWC), and check out these fall boating destinations.
The Top 10 Fall Boating Destinations
1. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon/Washington
The Pacific Northwest is spectacular year-round, but in the fall, the abundant trees burst into vibrant color.
The Columbia River, which flows between Oregon and Washington, is center stage for foliage displays. The gorge is a canyon up to 4,000 feet deep, extending about 80 miles along the Columbia River. Peak leaf viewing typically lasts approximately two weeks, from late September to early October.
Read Next: Oregon Boating Guide
2. Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe is a busy area throughout the year, with winter skiing and summer boating activities. From September to late October, there's another reason to vacation here: the colors surrounding this freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Just 40 miles from Reno, Lake Tahoe is easily accessible and welcomes everyone to enjoy the scenery.
3. Dillon Reservoir, Colorado
Dillon Reservoir is only 45 minutes from Denver, yet its Rocky Mountain setting feels like another world.
The Dillon Yacht Club is the nation's highest sailing club, with an elevation of 9,017 feet above sea level. The marina offers pontoon rental boats, and the club organizes numerous sailing regattas. Aspen trees comprise much of the surrounding foliage, so the area brightens with vivid yellows and golds in the fall.
4. Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is situated on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan, luring visitors all summer long. But after many of the tourists have left, the 912-acre state park of Rock Island comes alive with fiery colors.
While there, you can also tour wineries and lighthouses and ride the trolley from eatery to eatery. Or, stay aboard your boat and cruise from Green Bay to Lake Michigan, a journey that can take a week or more.
Read Next: Wisconsin Boating Guide
5. Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island on Lake Huron is best known to boaters because of the Chicago Yacht Club-sponsored race that concludes there. Mackinac is almost entirely a state park where you can hike, visit Fort Mackinac, and relax at the luxurious Grand Hotel.
Enjoy time on your boat in Mackinac's waters, or take a ferry to the island for a long weekend. The island enjoys its leaf-changing peak in the first two weeks of October, a little later than the surrounding mainland.
6. Acadia National Park, Maine
The Maine coast is a boater's paradise, but autumn in the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island isn't to be missed. The coastal color peaks a little later than inland, so you may have more time to catch the change of birches, oaks, and maples. The entire Bar Harbor region glows with breathtaking hues.
For foodies, Portland is the place to dock. Rocky beaches, distant mountain peaks, and plenty of moose, bears, and whales will keep you occupied.
7. Hudson River Valley, New York
Gold, crimson, and purple colors will welcome you to the Hudson River Valley, which offers stunning river views. Bird watching is big here with bald eagles, herons, and egrets making the nearby marshlands their home. You can also rent a kayak and visit the river coves in perfect bliss.
Read Next: New York Boating Guide
8. Lake Nockamixon, Pennsylvania
This 5,286-acre Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County makes for a great fall boating trip to take in fall colors. The 1,450-acre lake is popular with anglers and sailors alike.
The park maintains a marina with boat rentals and three other boat-launch areas. There are plenty of opportunities to go boating and take in the stunning scenic views.
9. St. Michaels, Maryland
St. Michaels is a quintessential mid-Atlantic town where boating abounds. Home to one of the finest maritime museums, St. Michaels has something for everyone. After your boat trip, don't miss festive activities, including the annual fall festival.
10. Lake Norman, North Carolina
Lake Norman offers a mild climate, so the leaf transformation typically begins in October and continues into November.
Lake Norman was created between 1959 and 1964 and is the largest manufactured lake in the state. Boaters of all kinds flock here to ski, fish, sail, and even catch a stand-up paddleboarding yoga class.
Hoping to rent a boat near you for your fall foliage adventure?
