7 Fall Views You’ll Want to See From Above

Don’t be afraid of heights! With high altitude can come big adventure. From stargazing to hot air balloon flights, uplifting activities beckon travelers to higher ground at these mile-high destinations.

Stargazing in the Lone Star State (Fort Davis, Texas)

The best way to see the stars? Atop the peak of Mount Locke in Texas.

Located in the highest county in Texas, this sparsely populated, high altitude area of West Texas is ideal for stargazing with minimal light pollution and some of the darkest night skies in the U.S. The lofty, arid Davis Mountains also contribute to the ideal conditions for the observatory’s astronomical research. The area is home to the McDonald Observatory of The University of Texas at Austin. Here, daytime visitors can learn about astronomy during tours and solar viewings. In the evenings, the center hosts Star Parties where visitors can gaze through some of the world’s largest telescopes. Visiting in the fall means you'll bypass the spring break crowds in March and get your stargazing in before winter— when there's the possibility of snow and ice. Just make sure to wear warm clothes because temperatures are lower due to the higher elevation.

Hot air ballooning in the desert (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Albuquerque’s cool fall mornings and “the box”—predictable winds that balloons can easily navigate—make this high altitude desert area ideal for the sport of ballooning. The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in October and draws nearly one million visitors. The nine-day festival is the largest hot air balloon event in the U.S. Started in 1972, the inaugural fiesta included just 13 hot air balloons, and today more than 500 compete in special events, like Mass Ascension (all balloons are launched in two waves, filling the sky) or balloon glows (balloons are illuminated in the evening by propane burners).

A scenic ride (Flagstaff, Arizona)

See brightly colored Aspen trees and other fall foliage near Flagstaff, Arizona.

A 30-minute drive north of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona Snowbowl ski resort is nestled in the San Francisco peaks. While it boasts the longest ski season in Arizona, it also offers up breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon from its slopes. Before the snow falls, visitors can enjoy the fall colors with a ride on the Scenic Chairlift, which runs through mid-October. After the ride, enjoy a walk through the quaint downtown to browse local shops and greab a bite to eat.

Hiking heavenly rock formations (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Located along a natural fault line, Colorado’s Front Range is a focal point of geologic activity with breathtaking rock formations. At Colorado Springs’ National Natural Landmark Garden of the Gods, jagged 300-foot sandstone pillars tower above the park’s tree line. In the sprawling 1,367-acre habitat, visitors can enjoy an array of outdoor activities from hiking and horseback riding along nature trails to rock climbing on the high altitude, red sandstone formations. And indoors, gallery exhibitions at the nature center speak to the history of the area’s geology, wildlife and people.

Following the yellow brick road (Beech Mountain, North Carolina)

Don’t forget your ruby slippers on your walk through The (high altitude) Land of Oz in North Carolina.

For high altitude family fun, head to the whimsical The Land of Oz, a quick 10-minute drive from downtown Beech Mountain and just under two hours from Asheville. Located in the highest town on the East Coast, this Blue Ridge Mountain theme park was revived in the 1990s after being closed for nearly 10 years. The park is on private property, so be sure to check The Land of Oz website for a schedule of its public events or call to inquire about a private tour. One of the most popular yearly events is when Dorothy leads Oz fans along a yellow brick road (made of 44,000 bricks!) to the top of Beech Mountain.

Red-rocking to music (Morrison, Colorado)

Just 10 miles west of Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a natural arena that took more than 200 million years to form, hosts performances in the massive disc-shaped rock. Dating back to 1906, the high altitude music venue is the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world. It’s drawn famous bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead and U2 to perform. Red Rocks is also home to occasional movie screenings, scenic nature trails and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Fort Davis, Flagstaff, Colorado Springs, Beech Mountain, Morrison.