It’s time to immerse yourself in the vivid foliage that autumn brings. Gas up the car and get ready to embark on leaf-peeping road trips in the Philadelphia-area:
What’s the Leaf-Peeping Forecast This Year? 👀
Starting Sept. 25, Pennsylvania and New Jersey trees are expected to start shifting from green to gorgeous hues of red, orange, and yellow. The arboreal display should peak in mid-October, and wrap up by the end of the month.
Where Should I Go to Leaf-Peep?
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- Allamuchy Mountain State Park in Hackettstown, New Jersey is an ideal spot for viewing foliage. Soak in miles of deciduous trees showing off warm colors like crimson and auburn. 🕣 [2 hrs, 3 min drive from Philly]
- Visit the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College to check out a wide variety of native and exotic non-native trees from sugar maples to scarlet oaks. Sign up for a guided foliage tour starting next month. 🕣 [32 min drive from Philly]
- Marvel at the glorious leaves on cherry, birch, oak, and beech trees at Promised Land State Park. Craving more? Stay overnight at a campsite or cabin. 🕣 [2 hrs, 28 min drive from Philly]
- Run, don’t walk to Tyler State Park for awe-inspiring views of trees ranging from Eastern red cedars to slippery elms. 🕣 [48 min drive from Philly]
How Do I Make the Most of My Trip? 🧡
- Bring your nicest camera (even if it’s just your smartphone!), and some binoculars to see foliage from afar. Don’t have any? Check if your local library carries “birding backpacks,” which come with a pair.
- Pack a snack. Depending on the length of your journey, you may get hungry!
- Download a tree identification app, so you can learn about the trees you’re admiring.
- Most importantly, tag us (@citycastphilly) in your leaf-peeping pics, and we’ll share them in our Instagram stories and potential future segments!
