BOSTON, Massachusetts ??” The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is making it easy this fall to explore beyond the scenic byways in search of foliage views. Mountain summits, cascading waterfalls beneath forested color canopies, and pristine mountain lakes and ponds all offer breathtaking foliage viewing, and AMC can help you get there. AMC, the oldest nonprofit conservation and outdoor recreation organization in the U.S., is offering outdoor adventure packages and activities for leaf peepers of all ability levels and interests. Even kids not so easily impressed by foliage alone will enjoy the scenery as a backdrop to hiking, biking, and paddling adventures.

There are plenty of options for weekend escapes within a 1??- to 3-hour drive from Boston and New York City to some of the most spectacular, off-the-beaten-path vistas in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.

For more details about all of the following activities and packages, plus AMC’s best foliage hike picks, visit AMC’s “Fall into Adventure Guide” at www.outdoors.org/lodging/fallguide.cfm.

Save 20% on Lodge-to-Hut Hiking in New England
For a taste of the backcountry in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, call AMC Highland Lodge or Joe Dodge Lodge base camp, and then hike to an AMC mountain hut for one night??”or link one or more huts together for the only full-service hut-to-hut hiking in New England. There are seven full-service mountain huts to choose from, all located at varying elevations along the Appalachian Trail. Save more than 20 percent Sunday through Friday nights, September 5 – October 13, with AMC’s “Fall for Adventure Lodge-to-Hut Hiking” package. It starts at $125 for adult members ($138 non-members) for one night at an AMC lodge plus one night at a full-service hut and includes AMC’s best-selling White Mountain Guide. Add more hut nights for just $67 per adult. The package starts at $72 for children. Lodge-to-hut hiking to these remote hostelries, located two to five miles from a roadside trailhead, puts leaf peepers in the thick of colorful maple, birch, or beech trees. Each night’s rate includes dinner, lodging, breakfast, and educational programs. AMC huts are popular with hikers who want to spend the night in the backcountry without having to carry heavy backpacks, cooking gear, or tents.

Bike & Stay at AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge
This fall, stay at AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and receive a free, one-day pass to Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center with every mountain bike rental??”plus get an additional $5 rental discount to sweeten the deal. This adds up to a savings of as much as 40 percent per guest to enjoy Great Glen’s network of rolling carriage roads and more challenging terrain for hardcore mountain bikers. Soak in spectacular views of the northern Presidentials and White Mountain National Forest, and then head back to Joe Dodge Lodge for a four-course, family-style dinner and relax by the fire in the library or livingroom. The next day, take advantage of the lodge’s proximity to a wide variety of area trailheads, including the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for a summit hike up Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet. All-inclusive bike and stay packages at Joe Dodge Lodge include dinner, comfortable bunkroom accommodations, and a full buffet breakfast. Best of all, there are no blackout periods on this great deal. Member adult rates start at just $57 per person/night ($62 non-members) and $36 per child/night ($39 non-members). Family rooms are also available.

Active 60+ Travelers Save 30% This Fall
Outdoor enthusiasts interested in a highly accessible, easy-adventure experience complete with all the amenities can take advantage of AMC’s “60+ Active Traveler Fall Getaway” package for guests 60 and older. Enjoy spectacular foliage and 30 percent savings this fall on a midweek vacation to AMC’s Highland Lodge. Double occupancy packages start at just $82 per person per night ($98 non-members) for a private room. Guests have the flexibility to participate in guided, walk-on activities led by AMC’s expert staff, including short day hikes and tours of local historic sites. Or take full control of the daily itinerary??”just steps from the lodge, independently explore a range of shorter hikes to scenic overlooks and waterfalls, or take an around-the-lake nature walk. In the evening, enjoy the daily evening program, relax with a book in the library, or take an audio tour of the lodge’s mountain photography exhibit by Bradford Washburn. Rates include a private room and a four-course dinner, buffet breakfast, buffet or trail lunch, daily programs and activities, and complimentary use of equipment from the L.L. Bean gear room. Valid September 4 – October 20, Sunday through Thursday nights only, excluding Columbus Day Weekend.

Fall Volunteer Trail Crews and “Citizen-Scientist” Hikes
Each year, AMC depends on more than 2,500 trail volunteers who contribute their time, energy, and enthusiasm through participation in trail programs. Make a meaningful contribution in a beautiful location this fall by helping to maintain trails in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Moosehead Lake Region of Maine, and Delaware Water Gap in New Jersey. Volunteer with AMC on weekend-long trail crews and gain a deeper appreciation for trail upkeep while learning new skills. Fall programs are available for all levels and abilities, including beginners and families, at AMC’s Cardigan Lodge, Little Lyford Pond Camps, and Mohican Outdoor Center. The fully tax-deductible program fee, which ranges from $6 per weekend to $20 per night depending on the location, helps defray the cost of food, shelter, and leadership for the volunteer crews.

AMC’s Mountain Watch “citizen-scientist” program offers another opportunity to volunteer as a family while enjoying a foliage hike in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Visitors to AMC’s Highland Lodge at Crawford Notch, Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch, and select White Mountain huts can participate in easy to moderate hikes and contribute to long-term research examining indicators of climate change. Using a field guide, Mountain Watch participants hike out to tagged trees and track their observations about the timing of fall color change and leaf drop.

Themed Fall Weekends in the Delaware Water Gap
AMC’s Mohican Outdoor Center, located only 1?? hours from New York City and 2 hours from Philadelphia, is offering a series of volunteer-led “Weekend Getaways” this fall. These rustic weekends for outdoor enthusiasts in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area of New Jersey feature hiking on the Appalachian Trail, biking, and paddling on picturesque Catfish Pond. Some weekends will also feature specific themes, such as Irish dancing or an introduction to backpacking for women. The weekends start at $85 for adult members ($95 non-members) and include bunkroom lodging, two breakfasts, and Saturday dinner. For another local fall highlight, take a hike from the lodge to view red-tails and other hawks as they migrate southward.

Rates and Reservations:
For rates and reservations, call (603) 466-2727 or visit www.outdoors.org. Space is subject to availability for all packages. All AMC programs and destinations are open to AMC members and non-members, with additional discounts available to members. Membership is $75 for families and $50 for individuals. For a limited time, purchase an AMC membership online and receive a 20 percent discount.