The prettiest fall foliage bike rides in the U.S.

What is it? A ride through Kentucky’s famous bluegrass hills, stopping at distilleries along the way.

Why go? You’ll see country roads lined with golden trees, historic bourbon distilleries and thoroughbred horse farms by biking along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Build your own bourbon trail by jumping on wherever you like, but one place to start is Lexington, home to more than 450 historic horse farms and 17 of the state’s biggest distilleries. Some distilleries are close to each other, and some can be 100 miles apart, which means you can choose to bike the trail for a day—or a month. This popular trail started with just seven distilleries in 1999 and now has more than 60. Today, 2.5 million visitors a year engage in some part of the trail.

Time Out tip: Distilleries often book 6 ti 12 weeks out, so jump on it now!

What is it? A steep, half-dirt, half-pavement ride that gains 1,000 feet.

Why go? Aspens here grow in dense groves that shimmer with yellow and red in the autumn sun. Just outside Crested Butte, a winter resort town southwest of Denver, two bike trails weave through the changing trees from the heart of town to the mountain summit on a mix of paved and dirt roads. The round trip is 7 miles.

Time Out tip: For added alpine drama, take the junction at Kebler Pass to Lake Irwin (2.5 miles) where the views of nearby Mt. Emmons are unbeatable.

What is it? A lush trail ride that follows, in part, an old railroad corridor.

Why go? A top-notch bike trail is a welcome perk in most towns, but this one is truly the hub of its community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Running 28 miles along the Reedy River on an old railroad bed and through city parks, the paved Swamp Rabbit Trail brought the once sleepy town to life and continues to draw cyclists of all ages and skill levels to the stretch between Greenville and Travelers Rest. Chestnut oaks line the trail with orangey-yellow leaves in fall.

Time Out tip: Along the way, look for several parked boxcars from the old Swamp Rabbit Railroad (officially, the Greenville and Northern Railway).

What is it? A paved multi-use trail system that extends more than 100 miles.

Why go? Fort Worth's Trinity Trails follow the sinuous Trinity River, and at Marion Sansom Park thousands of trees erupt in color in mid-November. Along the way you'll find local attractions like the Panther Island Pavilion, the only waterfront stage in Texas, and Woodshed Smokehouse, the perfect stop for cold beer, live music, backyard games and amazing food.

Time Out tip: Word has it there are a lot of geocaches along the river.

What is it? A gorgeous 469 mile roadway (cyclists are welcome) through Virginia and North Carolina.

Why go? North Carolina is known for its long autumn season and spectacular kaleidoscope of orange, red, and yellow leaves along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway stretches between Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, lined with dogwood, sassafras and maple trees. Be aware that elevation can rise from 649 to 6,053 feet and weather can quickly change no matter the season.

Time Out tip: Love them or hate them, there are 25 tunnels in North Carolina and one in Virginia along this parkway.

What is it? A 26 mile one-way trail along an abandoned railroad grade.

Why go? You’re in for a treat on the Lehigh Gorge Trail in Lehigh Gorge State Park. Here in the Poconos, the trees don bright autumnal colors with October as the peak month. Pedal on vibrant tree-lined paths along the Lehigh River from Francis E. Walter Dam at the northern end to the quaint small town of Jim Thorpe (named for the Native American Olympian) at the southern end. Be on the lookout for the park's namesake—a steep-walled gorge—plus tons of waterfalls along the way.

Time Out tip: Here at Time Out we adore a good fall foliage train, and the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs a seasonal 45-minute Autumn Leaf excursion.

What is it? A short trail in an ecologically fascinating preserve.

Why go? The Middlefork Savanna, a 687 acre preserve, is home to a rare, globally-threatened tallgrass savanna. Here you can jump on 4.2 miles of bike trails that wind around oaks, sedge meadows, marshes and woodlands and enjoy the golds and reds of fall foliage. Just 40 minutes from Chicago, the small town of Lake Forest is filled with charming destinations and tons of other bike trails.

Time Out tip: Stay at the Deer Path Inn for a taste of British innkeeping in a half-timbered hotel.

What is it? A state park with 47 mountain biking trails.

Why go? Explore the vibrant lakeside foliage in Aurora, New York by heading to Long Point State Park, which looks like a long finger pointing into Chautauqua Lake (and yes, this is the area known as the Finger Lakes!). The park offers thickly-wooded stretches of beech, maple, spruce, poplar and oak trees for cyclists who pedal under a canopy of the season’s brightest hues. Bonus joy: the reflections off pristine Cayuga Lake. 

Time Out tip: You’re close to the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail—America’s first wine trail, they say—at this point, so why not indulge?

What is it? An award-winning trail in the Carson National Forest.

Why go? This ride is worth every minute of the 21-mile one-way stretch, with golden fall colors from aspens easy on the eye and worth every drop of sweat dripped. Sweat, you ask? Why, yes, because you’ll have to climb 1,600ft before descending 4,300ft. However, there are options to carve the ride up, dropping in at Garcia Park, for example. This ride is so popular that it earned the coveted IMBA Epics designation, a coveted crowd-sourced accolade for bike trails from the International Mountain Biking Association. One single track portion is so fantastic it’s called Heaven on Earth.

Time Out tip: While you’re in Taos, don’t miss the Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community that’s both a national historic landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The multi-storied adobe dwellings are incredible and historic.

What is it? An easy ride at high altitude past four lakes.

Why go: This route is for those who are more about the fire-colored fall foliage, rather than the physical challenge of the trail itself. That said, June Lake sits at an elevation of 7,600 feet, so make sure you’re fully acclimatized before you set out. The route takes you around June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake and Grant Lake, all located in the eastern part of Mammoth that's sometimes referred to as the “Switzerland of California.” It’s a 14-mile loop on a paved two-lane road—literally, Highway 158—so you might also want to explore other off-road trails in the area. To get the very best vistas of the autumn vegetation, you should aim for mid- to late September.

Time Out tip: Grab refreshment with a spectacular view from June Lake Brewery. 

What is it? An 8-mile climb through some seriously gorgeous landscape.

Why go? Who doesn’t want to ride to peaks the color of Cabernet sauvignon, shaped like bells? The Maroon Bells are said to be the most photographed peaks in the country—and in the fall, the golden aspens make them even more spectacular. You’ll share the road with cars and shuttles, but cars must have a reservation to enter and there’s limited parking, so it’s not as congested as it could be. You’ll need to be reasonably skilled on a bicycle since the road climbs 1,300 feet. In fact, many professional bikers incorporate time here in their annual training schedules.

Time Out tip: There’s no drinking water and restrooms are limited; bring your own water.

What is it? A ride through history.

Why go? Spanning more than 360 miles between Albany, New York and Buffalo, the Erie Canalway Trail is the mother of all bike trails and it follows the historic Erie Canal, which opened in 1825—celebrating 200 years this year! For those dedicated fall foliage followers, the 32-mile segment between Buffalo and Lockport is a popular favorite. Give yourself lots of time to stop at historic sites and pause to watch the locks fill with water. Make accommodation plans in advance; this place is busy. And while you’re at it, make sure to bring waterproof clothing.

Time Out tip: When your quads get sore, park the bike and jump onto a fall foliage cruise on the canal.

What is it? 150 miles of soul-brightening biking from Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Why go? Autumn's on display as you travel the rail trail through the Laurel Highlands. Trees like maples, ash, birch and pine contribute their own shades of fall as bikers wend their way through the passage. The route itself won mention from National Geographic as a great place to “bikepack.” Confused by the spelling variation of Allegany County versus the Great Allegheny Passage? Just use the nickname GAP and you won’t have to worry about how to spell it.

Time Out tip: Park your car in Cumberland, take the Amtrak to Pittsburgh and then ride for four days back to your car—otherwise, you’re on the hook to go round trip!