You don't have to live in the Northeast or Western states to appreciate fall's foliage. Autumn brings perfect trail running conditions to the Midwestern United States.

You also don't have to read this entire article to appreciate why I love autumn trail runs. I took all of the photos included in this article, so feel free to scroll through, skimming at your leisure. However you choose to dig into this post, I hope it inspires you to hit the trail this fall for a run among the trees.

Early Autumn Trail Running

As the calendar flips to October, the Midwest embraces the season's peak fall colors - a mix of maples, oaks, and other hardwoods create a vibrant canopy. The season's progression creates a carpet of fallen leaves, their crispness crunching beneath your feet.

As the canopy thins, the views expand. Summer hides the best vistas. Autumn trail running exposes the bluffs, valleys, and lookouts that the summer trees mask. That's one of the great things about trail running, finding unfamiliar views on otherwise familiar trails.

Autumn also brings perfect running temperatures - daytime highs in the 50s and 60s, ideal conditions that let you run comfortably without overheating. It's also not too cold, most runs don't require more than a long-sleeve shirt and, occasionally, a pair of gloves.

The air is drier - in a good way. The Midwest's summer humidity and dew point border on oppressive. Fall trail running makes all of the summer's sweaty sessions worthwhile.

The trails' undergrowth subsides with the cool air and waning sunlight. The bugs seemingly disappear. But the forest is still alive. All of the woodland animals prepare for the cold months ahead.

I've had a few quality animal encounters over the past few weeks in the woods. With the undergrowth fading, they're easier to spot on the autumn trails.

The most embarrassing autumn trail running encounter:

An opossum almost made me lose my cool on a recent fall trail run. We crossed paths, just a few feet from each other, while I was deep in the running "flow state." I was in my own world when this unsightly little creature brought me back to earth.

The most elusive:

I set out for a run in the late afternoon, while the sun set. I caught the silhouette of a fox further up the trail. They have an unmistakable gait, so I'm fairly confident it wasn't a coyote. I come across a few foxes and coyotes throughout the year, most often in the fall and winter months. It's always a treat to share the trail with a fox, even for a brief moment.

I'm still waiting to see a bear - they're much more elusive (especially in the Midwest).

The most mundane:

I'm most accustomed to bumping raccoons around trash cans and dumpsters. So, when I chased a raccoon up a tree in the woods, we were both startled. I don't mind coming across them in the woods - dumpsters bring out their more brazen behavior, bordering on threatening at times. Don't cross an angry raccoon!

My Favorite animal encounter this fall:

My favorite animal sighting in the past month has been a box turtle. They're readily camouflaged by the fallen autumn leaves, so I feel lucky when a shell catches my eye while running. I came across this turtle a few weeks ago, on one of my first autumn trail runs of the season.

Trail Running in Late Autumn

The exact start of "late fall" is hard to pin down in the Midwest. Some years, the wet and cold nights set in by Halloween. Other years, it's 62 degrees and sunny on Thanksgiving day.

Regardless of the start, trail running in late autumn brings unique challenges. It isn't all picture-esq leaves, crisp air, and wild four-legged friends. As autumn approaches winter, the days get dark and cold. The wind and rain force the remaining leaves to the ground. The trails become muddy.

Transitioning from "Daylight Savings" to "Standard Time" is one of late autumn's unique trail running challenges. Unless you're lucky enough to squeeze a solid run into your afternoon, setting the clock back brings cold mornings or post-work runs in the dark. Headlamps become mandatory. Navigation becomes interesting.

Try running alone in the woods at night. It can feel like you're being watched, even if no one else is around. Of course, running alone in the dark is ill-advised in many areas. It's a bit of a privilege to feel safe running alone at night anywhere.

For those of us unwilling to brave dark trails, we may only make it to a proper trail head once of twice a week. We're forced to find routes closer to civilization. Some of us are even forced to venture indoors for the season.

The time change isn't the only disadvantage for autumn trail enthusiasts.

The season brings tourists to the trails, requiring that you share your weekend trail loop with visitors from the general hiking population. I find it easy enough to seek out less traveled paths while the casual weekends enjoy the popular state parks around the area.

Anecdotal experience suggests that you're 3 times as likely to trip over a root hidden by fallen leaves. The risk grows exponentially, as the season progresses more leaves fall. A couple of weeks ago I rolled each ankle within for minutes of starting the run. It's a good reminder to stay "present" when trail running.

That's it - I can't think of any other downsides. As far as running seasons go, fall is perfect - and trail runs are my favorite way to enjoy it.

Happy fall running 🍂