Fall is arguably the best window of the year for outdoor trips: cooler air, thinner crowds, fewer bugs and scenery that photographs itself. A recent roundup of autumn adventure ideas highlights four easy ways to fill your weekends, plus a note that open enrollment for Verizon Mobile Protect runs until November 1 for anyone worried about their phone meeting an early grave on the trail.
For hikers, foliage season delivers across the US — aspens in the West, cottonwoods in canyon country, maples in the East. A standout pick is Mount Greylock in Massachusetts' Berkshires, the state's highest point, where clear-day views stretch the fall colours up to 90 miles. If the climb sounds like too much effort, there's a scenic drive to the summit instead.
Paddlers get a quieter, more reflective version of the season: crisp mornings, empty boat ramps and gold-and-red shorelines mirrored in calm water. The Adirondacks in upstate New York are hard to beat — Adirondack Park covers roughly 6 million acres with 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 3,000 lakes. The practical advice here is simple: check conditions before launching, since autumn winds can turn a mellow paddle into a workout, and keep your phone in a tethered drybag.
Cyclists wanting maximum scenery per mile are pointed toward Gunnison County, Colorado, which mixes gravel roads, singletrack and pavement under golden aspens. And for campers, late October into early November is flagged as prime time for Zion National Park in Utah — the park is tent-friendly year-round, but late fall brings peak colour with cooler nights that suit campfires and stargazing.
Beyond the destinations, the piece leans on a few apps worth having: Gaia for trail navigation, Trailforks for finding bike routes, and any stargazing app for those clear autumn nights. And if your phone does take a tumble on the trail, Verizon's protection plan promises unlimited screen and back-glass repairs on most lines for about $19 a month, with enrollment closing November 1.
Why it matters: none of these trips require serious planning, specialist gear or long-haul flights. They're classic shoulder-season getaways — a Berkshire day hike, an Adirondack lake loop, a Gunnison gravel ride, a Zion campground booking — that work just as well for a long weekend as for a dedicated trip. Book campsites ahead where reservations are required, keep an eye on water and wind conditions, and pack layers; autumn weather swings fast in the mountains.
Original source: Backpacker
