The Best Fall Marathons to Enjoy Nature’s Prettiest Views

If you plan to run through the hot, humid days of summer, then why not reward yourself with a beautiful marathon through the changing foliage of autumn? With cooler temperatures, fall is the perfect season to conquer 26.2 miles. You get to enjoy the sound of crunching leaves underfoot, as well as crisp air and beautiful scenery.Of course, foliage peaks at different times in different locations, but to help you find a race to celebrate your training, Runner’s World curated a list of 15 fall marathons for the perfect on-foot autumn experience.Fidalgo Trail Run MarathonCourtesy Fidalgo MarathonA view along the Fidalgo Trail Run Marathon course.Date: September 26, 2026Location: Oak Harbor, WashingtonRegister HereThe Fidalgo Trail Run Marathon is certainly not the easiest race on this list—in fact, it just might be the hardest. The winding trails provide runners with few straightaways and the hills mean you’ve got to be calibrating your speed and stamina constantly. For those brave enough to partake, however, the course offers gorgeous views of not just changing leaves, but also beaches and mountains. And on one very high bridge, if you look at the trees instead of the ground, you’ll be golden.Boulder MarathonCourtesy Boulder MarathonBoulderthon has become a destination race series for many runners.Date: September 27, 2026Location: Boulder, ColoradoRegister HereThe Boulder Marathon, or Boulderthon, gives runners the chance to run near the Rocky Mountains without having to run up the Rocky Mountains. Tucked in a valley at the base of the massive peaks, runners start and end in Boulder with a loop course out into the countryside comprising most of the race. You might want to wait a day or two postrace, but the Boulder/Denver hiking is exquisite, and you’ll be able to see the changing leaves up close.New Hampshire MarathonDate: October 3, 2026Location: Bristol, New HampshireRegister HereWhen you list the best states to see fall foliage, New Hampshire certainly ranks near the top, perhaps only being bested by Vermont and all its maple cookies. Bristol, New Hampshire, offers up a small town marathon with spectacular views of foliage. Leaves change earlier the farther north you go, so even though the race takes place in early October, the leaves have often already changed by race day. The race also circles Newfound Lake, which offers a stunning scene as you make your way near the finish line.Sleeping Bear MarathonGary Ennis//Getty ImagesTraverse City, Michigan, during peak fall foliage.Date: October 3, 2026Location: Empire, MichiganRegister HereWhile the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan are not necessarily a fall colors destination (they are, after all, large piles of sand), the northern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula is a foliage wonderland. The out-and-back course does offer runners the opportunity to pass through more wooded areas, but if you take a drive around the Traverse City area (or even to the upper peninsula) you’ll get some of the most beautiful colors you’ve ever seen.Greenbriar River Trail MarathonDate: October 4, 2026Location: Marlinton, West VirginiaRegister HereThe Greenbriar Marathon is one of two wild and wonderful West Virginia races to make our list. It’s by far the easier of the two, and one of the few races in the area with a flat, net downhill course. The route, which follows an old railway path, crosses several scenic bridges on its way to the finish, and is a point-to-point course so you don’t have to see the same sights twice. You will, however, need someone to pick you up at the finish.Freedom’s Run MarathonDenisTangneyJr//Getty ImagesRun through Harper’s Ferry and cross the Potomac.Date: October 10, 2026Location: Shepherdstown, West VirginiaRegister HereThe Freedom’s Run Marathon starts and ends in West Virginia, but runners are in Maryland for most of the race. Starting in historic Harper’s Ferry, runners cross the Potomac River into Maryland and don’t recross until the marathon’s final miles. The course includes famous battlefields, historic parks, and a two-mile stint where you have to run on grass. Looking across the river to see the fall colors is well worth whatever soreness you have the next day.Amica Newport MarathonCourtesy Amica Newport MarathonThe houses, the oceans, the breezes....Date: October 11, 2026Location: Newport, Rhode IslandRegister HereInterestingly enough, there are two different Newport Marathons that are basically run on the same course: one in the spring and one in the fall. While the spring race offers plenty of sprouting flowers, the fall race lets runners ogle the vibrant northeastern foliage. The course mostly stays in residential areas, but the tree-lined streets are gorgeous as the leaves turn. Plus, you’ll have the Newport mansions to inspect as you run by the beach at the start and the end, and there are plenty of seafood restaurants to choose from postrace.Cape Cod MarathonCourtesy Cape Cod MarathonThis weekend includes a multi-race challenge.Date: October 11–12, 2026Location: Falmouth, MassachusettsRegister HereTwo of the most breathtaking sights in nature are the changing leaves in autumn and the ocean, and the Cape Cod Marathon says, “why not have both?” The race winds around the Cape sending runners on a course that zigzags along the ocean and plenty of tree-lined streets. Brave souls can sign up for the Clam Chowdah Challenge, which lets them run both the half and full marathons on consecutive days. You don’t have to eat clam chowder during either race, but it would be tasty after you’ve crossed the finish line.Arkansas MarathonDate: October 10, 2026Location: Booneville, ArkansasRegister HereWhen you think of changing colors, the American South may not be the first place that comes to mind. The Arkansas Marathon, however, spends much of its course with views of the forested hills of the Ozark Mountains, and if Mother Nature decides to change the leaves the right week, you could have some splendid views. The rural race isn’t crowded, touches two national forests, and runs by Mount Magazine, one of the tallest mountains in the region. Breathtaking.Whistle Stop MarathonCourtesy Whistle Stop MarathonA race for midwestern runners.Date: October 10, 2026Location: Ashland, WisconsinRegister HerePerhaps the most remote race on this list is the Whistle Stop Marathon on the northern coast of Wisconsin. North of Green Bay and Minneapolis, along the coast of Lake Superior, the Whistle Stop Marathon will most certainly be cold, even in October, but the drive to and from Ashland will give you plenty of time to peep the leaves in your car. If you’re really brave, you could even take a polar plunge in Superior postrace.Steamtown MarathonCourtesy Steamtown MarathonSmall town charm in the Poconos.Date: October 11, 2026Location: Scranton, PennsylvaniaRegister HerePennsylvania in the fall is bright with fall foliage, and the Steamtown Marathon showcases that in a setting that’s a bit larger and more urban than most of the races on this list. If you want to run a marathon on city streets with cheering fans while still spying the reds, oranges, and yellows in the background, this could be your marathon. After the race, head a bit south and get your autumn fill in the Pocono Mountains.Mount Desert Island MarathonKevin Morris / Courtesy Mount Desert Island MarathonRun through a national park!Date: October 18, 2026Location: Bar Harbor, MaineRegister HereMount Desert Island Marathon cuts right through Acadia National Park in Maine. Starting in Bar Harbor, the course spells an “s” as it traces down along the ocean’s edge and back around an inlet. You’ll get views of the ocean, the many trees towering over the road, and views of plenty of gorgeous boats in the harbor. To celebrate your achievement, you can eat a lobster roll and read a Stephen King novel.Trapp Lodge MarathonJoseph Viger / Courtesy Trapp MarathonThe hills are alive....Date: October 17, 2026Location: Stowe, VermontRegister HereOf all 50 states, the one most associated with the changing colors of fall is Vermont. The state is known for its maple syrup and maple leaves plastered everywhere. This marathon, in the quaint town of Stowe, is a fairly difficult trail marathon, so don’t sign up if you’re looking for something leisurely. It will, however, send you into the heart of Green Mountains and their changing forests. Stowe’s Oktoberfest celebrations also happen to be taking place at this time, so once you finish, you can drink a pint to celebrate.Columbia Gorge MarathonCourtesy Columbia River Gorge MarathonA full weekend of run events in Oregon!Date: October 17–18, 2026Location: Hood River, OregonRegister HereOregon’s Columbia Gorge Marathon is so tuned into the fall colors that it’s got a big ole’ orange leaf as a part of its logo. The race, which follows the Columbia River Highway State Trail, is basically an out-and-back that traces the Columbia River. If you’ve got a dog, you can also sign up for the Dog Leg Half Marathon, which provides both you and your pooch with timer chips and lets you finish the 13.1 miles together.Loco MarathonCourtesy Loco MarathonA back roads race among trees.Date: October 29, 2026Location: Newmarket, New HampshireRegister HereEnding our list with a New England race, the Loco Marathon (named after Loco Races, an organizer that is “crazy about running”), in New Hampshire, takes runners through four different quaint New Hampshire towns, and along those quintessential New England back roads that connect them. If the leaves are changing during the race (and they usually are), runners will get some pretty astonishing views.Matthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner's World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the co-host of “P.S. You're Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.