Crisp, cool & refreshing. This might best be the best way to describe an adult beverage in the summer sun...but since we're now in the season of Fall, we feel that there's no better way to describe the perfect weather for a day out on the trail. We passed a few notes around the office, sent out an email or two to our Everyday Adventurers and came back with a list of a (few) of our favorite fall hikes.
Lace up the boots, grab your sunglasses (& Croakies!) and head up to the trailhead and enjoy!
South Cottonwood Trail
Where: Southwest of Bozeman, MT
When: Anytime!
Who: The best partners for this hike is my friend (Croakies ambassador Alix 😉) along with our dogs Casey, Cubby and Goldie.
This trail follows South Cottonwood Creek through a dense old-growth forest with lush riparian areas and meadows, criss-crossing the creek along the way. The trail offers a nice mellow hike and you can go as far or close as you like. The trail is great for dog as it offers many possibilities to play and refresh in the creek.
Where to find South Cottonwood TrailheadBears Den Trail
Where: Bluemont, VA
When: Fall
Who: Everyone
There is an abundance of different places one can venture out to to find the colors of fall changing. One of my favorite places is Bears Den Trail (18393 Blue Ridge Mountain Rd. Bluemont, VA 20135) This location is a collection of boulders, rocks, trees and beautiful landscape that overlooks the Shenandoah Valley. The easiest way to get there is to drive up to the top near the trail center to park, then hike the rest of the way to this outstanding overlook. The best times to view this amazing location is in fall as the colors around the valley are starting to pop full of vibrant and beautiful colors. The sunsets/sunrises are unforgettable as the light of day sinks behind the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once you have visited, you are certain to return to enjoy all of nature’s beauty around us. Several friends and family have joined me on my adventures here. It’s a great place to take people who love scenic views and the great outdoors.
Where to find Bears Den TrailLava Lake Trail
Where: Gallatin Canyon (Between Bozeman & Big Sky, MT)
When: Summer - Fall
Who: Everyone
It’s a 6 mile round trip hike with a scenic mountain lake waiting as a reward on top. It follows Cascade Creek through a thick evergreen forest, continuing past a few waterfalls to a forest-lined lake surrounded by rock walls and treeless mountaintops.
Where to find Lava Lake TrailheadFranconia Notch State Park
Where: Franconia Notch, NH
When: Anytime!
Who: My husband and beagle-mix Roux
Franconia Notch in NH is the perfect place for a fall hike! Located off Interstate 93 in the White Mountains area, the autumn leaves turn vibrant shades of fiery hues in October and the air feels crisp and clean. I compare it to being inside a kaleidoscope when a breeze whips through the trees – the color is unlike anywhere else! It is always crowded but never feels that way. Everyone is outgoing and seems happy to be in the outdoors! It cleanses the spirit after the oppressive heat of a summer in a non-air conditioned house. My husband and I bring our rust-colored beagle mix, Roux, for some much needed exercise and we meet other friendly pets along the way. I always bring along a pumpkin spice coffee! This hike is the thing I look forward to most every autumn!
Where to find Franconia Notch Trail