Fall Foliage 2017: Best Time To See Leaves Change In Maryland

Watching the leaves change color is one of the best ways to enjoy fall. It's a fall activity right up there with apple picking, pumpkin carving and Thanksgiving feasting. But if you don't plan ahead and know the peak times to see the best fall colors, you could miss out. Favorite places to get out and leaf peep in Maryland include Patapsco State Park, the Billy Goat Trail and Swallow Falls State Park.

Depending on the state, green leaves transform into a stunning explosion of crimson, orange, gold and even purple in certain places. By taking a quick road trip in your favorite state, or maybe just around the corner, you can enjoy it all, free of charge.

So when is the best time to catch the fall foliage in your area? (For more events and local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Annapolis Patch, and click here to find your local Maryland Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Every region differs when it comes to prime leaf-changing times. Plus, some areas have super short foliage seasons, leaving you with just a week or so to take in all the natural splendor.

The Foliage Network says that leaves didn't change much in the past week because of the hot temperatures. But with more fall like temps settling in, we should see some color changes in the coming week.

»Find the online fall foliage predictor here.

In other words, if you want to ensure you catch the gorgeous leaves before they fall, you need to make a game plan. Luckily, TripSavvy rounded up the best times to catch the best foliage in Maryland and neighboring states, as well as which colors you can expect to see.

Yellows and reds will dominate the tree color change this year in Maryland. The best time to see the autumn kaleidoscope is coming up, according to TripSavvy. “In southern and central Maryland, peak colors are on display in late October and early November. If you can only visit during early October, visit parks around Garrett County," it said.

If you’re thinking about a get-away to Western Maryland, cabins are still available for the season in state parks. Reserve one by calling the Maryland Park Service’s Reservation Line at 1-888-432-CAMP (2267). In general, the farther south you go, the later leaves turn; also the windy coast will shed its leaves faster than the rest of the state. Trees at higher elevations hold on to their leaves longer. The state has a foliage hotline: 800-LEAVES-1.

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Scenic walks and drives in Maryland suggested by Visit Maryland:

• The C&O Canal National Historic Park offers numerous hiking options, such as the strenuous Billy Goat Trail for advanced hikers. The trail rewards hikers with vistas of the surging Potomac River flanked by forests bursting with color.
• Elk Neck State Park located on a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River combines colorful forests with sandy beaches for great viewing. From the Turkey Point parking lot off Route 272 South, it’s an easy one-mile walk to the historic 1833 Turkey Point Lighthouse atop a 100-foot bluff at the southern tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula. Climb 35 feet to its top for a spectacular view of the Bay waters and brilliant fall foliage.
• Patapsco Valley State Park, covering 32 miles of the Patapsco River in Howard County, offers great fall foliage views from the comfort of your car if that's a better fit for you. Drive to Valley Overlook in the Hollofield area right off Route 40. From there you can venture into Ellicott City’s Main Street, which has shops and restaurants open even as it recovers from fatal August floods.
• In the heart of Baltimore County’s horse country, Oregon Ridge Park near Cockeysville has hiking trails that showcase a tree-scape of yellow, orange and red.
• Swallow Falls State Park in Garrett County is located nine miles north of Oakland and contains part of the Youghiogheny River, which flows along the park's borders, passing through shaded rocky gorges and creating rippling rapids, and Muddy Creek Falls, a 53-foot waterfall. The 1 1/4 mile trail through Swallow Falls guides hikers to Western Maryland's breath-taking scenery.
• Other areas to visit close to the Baltimore-Washington metro area: Gwynnbrook Wildlife Management Area in Owings Mills, Baltimore County; Sugar Loaf Mountain Natural Resource Area in southern Frederick County; Seneca Creek State Park just southwest of Gaithersburg; and Dierssen Wildlife Management Area situated between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River in Montgomery County, offering first-rate opportunities for waterfowl watching and quiet interludes for strollers along the Canal Tow Path.

Original article by Patch Editor Rosie Purdy
Photo via Pixabay