Where To See Fall Leaves Change Color In Las Vegas

The sign that fall has arrived is undoubtedly bright green leaves transforming into red and golden colors covering trees. If you're a Vegas transplant then you may miss this experience. However, there are many places to see fall leaves change color in Las Vegas.

According to the Smithsonian, dropping temperatures and less direct sunlight during fall help break down chlorophyll in tree leaves. Less chlorophyll in the leaves "reveals" yellow and orange pigments in the leaves.

"Darker red leaves are the result of a chemical change: Sugars that can get trapped in the leaves produce new pigments (called anthocyanins) that weren’t part of the leaf in the growing season," The Smithsonian states.

In Las Vegas, we may not see the extent of fall foliage as in other cities. But there are a few places that are a drive away and make stunning day trips if you're a Vegas local. Here are five places to see fall leaves change color in Las Vegas.

1.Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

Located at Mt. Charleston, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a beautiful and mountainous landscape. Trees cover this area, and the landscape transforms into a field of bright golden and burnt orange-colored leaves. It's about a 35-minute drive away from Las Vegas, and it's truly a haven that transports you from the craziness of Las Vegas into a serene forest of beauty.

2. Peccole Ranch Trail

This is another hidden gem for the Vegas locals. The Peccole Ranch Walking Trail snakes in between a few neighborhoods in Summerlin. The reviews on Yelp constantly rave about the greenery and the plethora of outdoor activities and walking trails.

The address is 2000 S Hualapai Ave Las Vegas, NV 89135, and it's located right in the heart of Summerlin. During fall, the green trees flip to become warm-colored, and it's simply stunning to walk through this trail.

3. Lamoille Canyon

This natural wonder is located far from Las Vegas. It's about a six-hour drive, but it's completely worth it if you're looking to see beautiful topography. Lamoille Canyon is located just outside of Elko, and it's also known as the "Swiss Alps of Nevada."

It's great for those who like winter sports. But before it gets bitter cold, the canyon becomes a beautiful spectacle for autumn leaves. The Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway is a gorgeous drive that then leads you into the Ruby Mountains wilderness. It's ideal to visit this area in September and October -- which makes it perfect to see fall leaves change color.

4. Rainbow Canyon Scenic Drive

This is a great day trip for anyone who wants to drive, relax and see the fall leaves. The Rainbow Canyon Scenic Drive is paved in Rainbow Canyon in Mt. Charleston. Cottonwood trees snake across this road, making the entire drive a beautiful experience in the fall.

This is another great spot to see fall leaves change color in Las Vegas because it's close enough to make a one-day trip out of this activity.

5.  Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a hidden gem that's located about an hour and 40 minutes from Las Vegas. According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a unique ecosystem because it's truly a desert oasis. It's one of the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave desert.

Along with the sheer unique characteristics of this ecosystem, there are many Ash Trees in this wetland. The wetland was named after the plethora of Ash Trees that surround the environment. The U.S.S Fish & Wildlife Service also states that the spring systems are fed by fossil water from the last ice age, and there are four endangered fish species and eight threatened or endangered plant species in this wetland. This is truly a jaw-dropping environment that's located right in Las Vegas' backyard.

If you've never been to Lake Tahoe before, you're really missing out. Whether on the Nevada or California side, Tahoe is one of the most beautiful lakes in North America. And you don't have to take our word for it. Just look for #LakeTahoe on Instagram and the results will speak for themselves.

Lake Tahoe is a hot spot for vacationers, and is one of the most sought-after places in the western United States for honeymooners. You can rent a cabin right on the water, take a jet-ski ride across the lake, or just hang out and do some gaming in the casinos. Tahoe is not big. It has fewer than 100,000 residents, according to TahoeOpenData.org. But this little city has a lot to offer.

Another thing that Tahoe offers in abundance is amazing views. Which is why the area kills the competition when it comes to getting attention on Instagram. In fact, a study by a vacation rental platform called Lake.com recently confirmed this. By analyzing Instagram posts that contained hashtags relating to major lakes, they found out which lakes in the country had the most posts.

Lake Tahoe took the lead by over 200,000 posts. The data analysts counted 3,053,173 total posts that included a #LakeTahoe hashtag. The second most went to Lake Michigan, which had 2,831,512 posts. Followed by Lake Superior, with 1,187,896 posts, Lake Ontario, with 1,025,574 posts, and Lake Eerie, with 1,011,490 posts.

It's pretty cool to have the most picturesque lake in North America in our state. That definitely gives us bragging rights. And we had another nearby body of water in the top ten most popular lakes on Instagram. Lake Havasu in Arizona was number nine in the study. It collected a total of 587,434 hashtags.

Lake Powell was also on the list at number eleven, with 463,919 Instagram posts. And Nevada's Lake Mead came in at number sixteen, with 254,577 posts. Surprisingly, Lake Mojave, located just south of the Hoover Dam in Arizona, didn't make the list. However, that might be because many people refer to that area as the Colorado River rather than its proper name. But, as someone who paddleboards in that area often, I can tell you it's also incredibly picturesque.

Related: Great Basin National Park Is Nevada's Best Kept Secret

So what makes Lake Tahoe so amazing? Well, lots of things. First off, there's a reason people see "Keep Tahoe Blue" on signs and license plates everywhere. The lake is known for it's crystal blue water. KeepTahoeBlue.org attributes this quality to the cleanliness of the water and the air. Furthermore, it states that "water as crystal clear as Tahoe’s absorbs red light, leaving the rich blue color that we all see."

Anyone who has ever been to Lake Tahoe has looked at the water in amazement. It is so clear that in some places you can see down as far as 70 feet, according to KeepTahoeBlue.org. This is due to the marshes that the lake water flows through, which acts as a natural filtration system that weeds out some particles before the water reaches the lake.

Beyond the clarity of the water in Lake Tahoe, the surrounding mountains and wildlife also make it a beautiful place to be. Here are ten of our favorite photos that show why Tahoe earns the title of most picturesque lake in North America.

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