One of my favorite things about autumn in Pennsylvania is seeing the trees change colors. (I’m sure I’m not alone!) When exactly is the right time to go on a leaf peeping expedition, though?
You may be able to find out by just going outside and looking around your neighborhood. But if you don’t have many deciduous trees on your block and you’re trying to set aside a time to bask in the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows, the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources has you covered.
Every year, PA DCNR releases weekly “fall foliage reports” starting in late September. These reports track leaf colors in each of the commonwealth’s 67 counties and give a sense of what to expect during the week ahead. Previous years’ reports have included maps indicating how close each county is to peak color, along with some recommendations of places to go for good views.
This year’s first report will come out next Thursday, Sept. 26, DCNR press secretary Wesley Robinson told Hey Philly.
I’ll warn you, though: Weather and its impact on changing leaves can be unpredictable, so it’s not always a sure bet to bide your time and wait for the reports to align with “best color” before you wander into the trees. Last year, for instance, Philly and its suburbs shifted from “approaching best color” on the DCNR map during the last week of October to “starting to fade” during the first week of November — skipping right over the “best color” categorization.
If you’re looking to plan your leaf peeping adventures further in advance (maybe you want to go on a Pennsylvania day trip or a Philly-area hike?), there are a couple tools that can help you figure out the best time to go:
- SmokyMountains.com has a slider tool that predicts when peak fall colors will hit each county in the country from week to week between early September and mid-November.
- The blog Uncovering PA analyzed the commonwealth’s weekly foliage reports from the last six years and created a map that shows when each Pennsylvania county typically hits peak fall foliage. (According to this map, our region usually hits its peak in late October/early November.)
💬 Now, I want to hear from you! What are your favorite spots — inside of the city or out — for seeing pretty fall colors? Fill out this survey and let me know!
