Chasing Autumn Out West

Moving out west this fall? It may feel like your move is interfering with enjoying your normal fall festivities (i.e. pumpkin carving, maple eating, and fall foliage peeping), but what if you could turn your cross-country move into an autumn adventure? We’ve put together the ultimate Western United States Fall Foliage Road Map to make your family’s long haul move a road trip for the books!

We start with a goodbye cruise through the Ozarks. Starting at your home, or Eureka Springs, make your way south to Ozark National Forest’s 1.2 million acres. Check out the Sylamore Scenic Byway if you never have. Be sure to drive along the Buffalo National River to catch a glimpse of Hawksbill Crag and the gorgeous displays of red, orange, and yellow leaves.

When you’re ready to say goodbye, cruise through Oklahoma and Texas. You won’t catch too much color through the middle of the country, but it will all be worth it once you arrive in Questa, NM and start driving the Enchanted Circle Byway toward Taos. You’ll catch breathtaking mountain views, mesas, sprawling valleys, and forests biologically unique to NM.  

From Taos you’ll head up highway 64 into Colorado toward Telluride. You have several scenic highway options, but taking the San Juan Scenic Byway up to Gunnison National Forest is our suggestion. While you’re in the area stop in Aspen to see the town’s namesake turn their brilliant yellow.

From Colorado set your compass north to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in Wyoming to see the large Cottonwoods, Aspens, and other deciduous trees as their leaves riot in an assortment of fall colors against towering jagged peaks. While you’re on that northern trajectory keep going all the way to Glacier National Park – which boasts two autumns. Lower elevations of the park will change first followed by the higher mountains as the Tamarack trees shift into a glowing gold that stand out against the parks snow capped peaks!

At this point you’ll have nearly traveled the country from bottom to top, so it’s time to get to the coast – the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State is your next stop. Heading west, you’ll be greeted by dense forests, rushing waterfalls, and staggering mountain peaks. The areas three distinct ecosystems (rain forest, alpine and coastal beach) means you’ll be treated with a variety of changing leaves.

After this you’ll have just two states left, Oregon and California. In Oregon you should head to the Columbia River Gorge – America’s largest National Scenic Area –to cruise along scenic overlooks of the forests of the Cascade Mountains before continuing on to Crater Lake.  At Crater Lake you can hop on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway all the way to Lassen Volcanic National Park in CA. The drive highlights unobstructed overlooks of volcanic geological formations spotted with the crimson and yellow blazes of fall.

You can finish off your move across county in two ways; head to Napa and watch the vineyards change, or stay in the Sierras all the way down to Kings Canyon National Park. The Sierras will treat you to the shocking vibrancy of orange and yellow aspens, crimson cottonwoods, and golden willows where as Napa will greet you with a glass of wine, yellow gingkoes, and the spotted display of red and orange grape vines.

As Roger’s professional movers, we know that long haul moves can seem overwhelming. But with each big move comes a unique opportunity. When else will you and your family have the chance to chase fall? Leave the packing, hauling, and unloading to us while you enjoy the autumn opportunity of a lifetime!