Gribskov

Denmark's second-largest forest, 8,000 hectares of beech and heath in Himmerland south of Aalborg. The gnarled, wind-bent beeches of Troldeskoven ("Trolls' Forest") are over 300 years old and turn deep copper through October, while the heather hills of neighboring Rebild Bakker redden alongside them.

Don’t miss: 300-year-old beeches in Troldeskoven · heather hills of Rebild Bakker · Jyske Skovhave arboretum nearby

Denmark's second national park, 180 square kilometers of moraine hills up to 137 meters near Ebeltoft on the Djursland peninsula. Old oak and beech in pockets like Tolløkke Wood turn through October above heath and pasture, with the ruined 14th-century Kalø Castle standing on its own tidal islet at the edge.

Don’t miss: oak and beech at Tolløkke Wood · views from 137m Agri Bavnehøj · Kalø Castle ruins on a tidal islet

An 11-square-kilometer royal hunting park north of Copenhagen, fenced by King Frederik III in 1669 and grazed today by some 2,100 red, fallow, and sika deer. Ancient oaks, a few reputedly over 1,000 years old, turn gold and rust through October around the Baroque lodge Eremitageslottet, timed with the rut.

Don’t miss: ancient oaks near Eremitageslottet · red deer rut in October · S-train ride from Copenhagen