Peak Leaf Color Arrives In MD This Weekend: DNR

MARYLAND — Fall colors are at peak brilliance in a dozen Maryland counties this weekend — ranging from Cecil to Carroll and south to Prince George's and St. Mary's — the Department of Natural Resources said in its fall foliage report Oct. 24.

Allegany, Garrett, Washington, and Frederick counties are past the peak of fall colors, DNR staff said. The rest of the state is near the peak of the color change, so this is the weekend to get out for a hike or drive through nature.

In Western Maryland, the foliage season is coming to a close, while trees on the Eastern Shore are hitting a midpoint. Trees in Central Maryland are at peak, the DNR said.

“In Anne Arundel, the sun-splashed yellow hickory leaves are sprinkled through the forest canopy. The red black gum are prominent while sweet gum are reddening up,” said Francis Smith of the Maryland Forest Service.

“In the Hagerstown watershed forest, the sugar maple, sweet birch, and tulip poplar are positively glowing with the fine weather we’ve had,” Forester Bob Schwartz said. “These less developed areas with more extensive shallow groundwater flow seem to be avoiding the lackluster color predicted due to the drought this summer.”

Western Region

Forest Service Manager Melissa Nash said," This will likely be my last report from Garrett County for the year as things continue to wind down and the sun begins to set on our foliage season. The oaks are putting on the final show with golden to burgundy tones. If you’re wanting to see fall foliage in Garrett County – do it soon before it’s gone!"

• 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 is displaying 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.