Peak Fall Leaf Color Across MD Now: See Foliage Map

MARYLAND — No matter where you travel this weekend, you're likely to get a glimpse of vibrant fall colors throughout most of Maryland, the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

Eastern Shore foliage has hit its peak for the season, officials said in a news release, and leaf peepers should be able to spot oak trees still showing some color throughout the state with red oaks bringing some of the most dramatic colors.

“We have had a slow start but are now experiencing those vibrant Autumn colors of deep reds, oranges and yellows,” Park Ranger Joanna Trojanowski reported this week.

While Western Maryland is nearing the end of its season, there are still flourishes of color in some trees, officials said.

“While we are past peak, the woods remain wonderful,” forester Aaron Cook said in the latest update.

• RELATED: Fall Color Guide 2024: When Leaves Will Peak In MD

The USDA Forest Service says three primary factors influence autumn leaf color: leaf pigments, length of night, and weather.

Central Region

Park rangers said: Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, along with the Hollofield and McKeldin areas of Patapsco Valley State Park, have hit peak foliage.

Cecil County is at peak right now, with vibrant yellows, oranges and deep reds standing out against bright blue skies.

Eastern Region

The assistant park manager for Assateague State Park said:

While the lower Eastern Shore has been seeing a change in tree color for at least a week or two now, the trees that surround Assateague Island just recently got the message to start the show. The corridor that welcomes you to the island displays a variety of bold fall colors! Assateague State Park consists mainly of loblolly pines and low shrubs that do not give that fall feeling but we notice fall in other ways, whether it is the orange of the monarch butterfly, the bright yellow of the goldenrod or red-brown coats of the Assateague horses. The island has a unique and beautiful way of welcoming in the cooler temperatures and shorter days of fall!

The DNR weekly Fall Foliage Report is posted online and sent by email bulletin to subscribers.
Here are some suggested Maryland fall leaf-peeping road trips:

• Patapsco Valley State Park stretches 32 miles along the Patapsco River in Baltimore and Howard counties and offers some of the best autumn scenery in Maryland.
• Turkey Point Lighthouse Trail, North East: Set atop a 100-foot bluff, the lighthouse provides a 360-degree view of the Chesapeake Bay and all the fall colors. As you take the two-mile trek up to the lighthouse, you’ll get to experience the beauty of Elk Neck State Park located on a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River.
• Adkins Arborteum: Across its 400 acres, this garden features more than 600 species of plants, ranging from trees and shrubs to wildflowers and grasses near Ridgeley in Caroline County. Trek the five miles of paths through the grounds of the arboretum.
• Oregon Ridge Park near Cockeysville has hiking trails that showcase a tree-scape of yellow, orange and red.
• 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.