Autumn’s greatest show, fall foliage, is on its way
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
The first colors of autumn peek out above green leaves in this photo, taken in Washington Tuesday. Fall foliage is beginning to slowly show its splendor, with the most stellar colors on display in mid-October.
This year鈥檚 autumn leaves won鈥檛 turn until mid-October, according to Ryan Reed, with the DCNR. Last year, fall colors emerged later in the season, but Reed expects a perfect mix of summer droughts and September rains will deliver fall splendor right on time.
Last year鈥檚 autumn colors appeared later in the season, with fall foliage peaking the fourth week of October. This year, expect leaves to turn shades of red, yellow and orange in mid-October. (Photos by Katherine Mansfield)
Trees in our region are expected to transition from green to fall colors within the next couple of weeks, with leaves reaching peak fall foliage in mid-October. (Photo by Katherine Mansfield)
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Pumpkin spice and the scent of bonfire hangs in the air, but the landscape isn鈥檛 yet dressed in the deep reds and burnt oranges of fall.
鈥淚 think you鈥檙e going to start seeing changes soon,鈥� said Ryan Reed, natural resource program specialist for the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. 鈥淵ou can always notice a little bit of the early changes in key species. A lot of those understory trees will start to change first. That indicates the season is underway.鈥�
Reed said dogwoods will turn a pretty purple before maples, poplars and birches don their fall attire, followed by the transition of oak tree leaves to a reddish-brown a couple weeks later.
鈥淭here鈥檚 kind of a process,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淚 would expect peak in (Southwestern Pennsylvania) in mid-October, maybe the third week, if I had to give you my best guess right now.鈥�
Since 2017, fall foliage has appeared later in the season, and though the northeast is reporting delayed autumn splendor, Reed expects colorful landscapes to arrive right on time in our region (last year鈥檚 colors peaked the week of Oct. 21).
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an interesting year. We had that six-week drought centered around the month of July. Then we got that really timely heavy rainfall in the early part of September. It seemed to really shut down some of the things that we take for granted in fall,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淣ow, it feels like the forests are in a state of suspended animation. We are definitely seeing the timing of fall foliage trending later. I would expect that this year鈥檚 droughty conditions will moderate that, to a degree. We鈥檒l almost have a more normal timing of fall foliage in Pennsylvania because of the drought.鈥�
Perfect timing is, according to the DCNR, the week of Oct. 17 鈥� a traditionally colorful week in our area.
While fall foliage will arrive just in time for weddings and family photo ops, a colorful season may this year be short.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel like (trees are) going to hold their leaves as long as they normally would,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淚 do think it鈥檒l cut it by a week or so, maybe even two weeks. The take-home message: Once it starts to happen 鈥� you鈥檒l want to get out there and experience it, because it will be short-lived.鈥�
The best way to plan your fall foliage road trip is to check for peak colors on the DCNR鈥檚 interactive map (go to https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/ForestsAndTrees/FallFoliageReports/Pages/default.aspx), and travel accordingly.
鈥淚f I had to go somewhere to see fall foliage, I鈥檇 go up on the Laurel Ridge,鈥� said Reed. 鈥淥hiopyle鈥檚 a destination. One of our most popular destinations is Mt. Davis. It鈥檚 a fantastic place to go to get that vista view of the area to really appreciate all the color.鈥�
For the third consecutive year, the Laurel Highlands has been named one of USA Today鈥檚 top 10 fall foliage destinations, and Eric Knopsnyder, public relations director for Go Laurel Highlands, is honored by the recognition.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e right up there,鈥� said Knopsnyder. 鈥淥hiopyle, everything down there is great. Kentuck Knob, Bachman Rock. The entire Laurel Highlands Scenic byway, which is (Interstate) 711 and (Route) 381, that鈥檚 just a great drive if you want to see the fall foliage. The Summit Inn is a great place to kind of see the whole valley.鈥�
While Fayette County boasts spectacular views, Greene County offers some sensational fall foliage sights, too.
鈥淚n Carmichaels, the Jessop Boat Club, that trail, you would be able to see the fall foliage reflecting in the Mon River. It鈥檚 a different view of fall foliage, but it鈥檚 a really pretty walk,鈥� said Joanne Marshall, director of Greene County Tourism.
Marshall also recommends heading to Ryerson Station State Park and Rices Landing for spectacular scenes.
鈥淭he covered bridge self-guided tour is one of the best,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t takes you pretty much all over Greene County. You can see closer to the Mon River 鈥� and then you get the covered bridges backed by fall foliage.鈥�
Fall foliage in its full splendor is best viewed from back roads, trails and parks throughout Washington County, where every bend in the path reveals deep, lush colors.
鈥淚 would recommend, obviously Washington Park, Mingo Park and Cross Creek, so the city park and the county parks,鈥� said Pam Kilgore, founder of WashPA Outdoors. 鈥淚f you can get on the water, that would be a less conventional way to take in the fall colors.鈥�
Chase McClain, director, marketing for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, agrees that fall foliage 鈥渇rom a boat or kayak along the Monongahela River or Cross Creek County Park鈥� is stunning.
McClain said in an email the first places that come to mind when he thinks gorgeous fall foliage views are hiking at Hillman State Park and West Beth Hiking Trail, touring the Montour, Panhandle or National Pike trails, and wandering through Cecil and Peterswood parks.
鈥淏y car along the covered bridges driving tour鈥� is another must during fall, he said.
Pennsylvania is one of three regions in the world whose deciduous forests turn spectacularly colorful each fall, and we enjoy a longer, more varied display than any state in the U.S.
鈥淲e really are blessed,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淲e are really blessed with forest in Pennsylvania. Approaching 17 million acres 鈥� 30% of that is publicly accessible. We always urge folks to get out, experience and enjoy it.鈥�
When, in the next few weeks, our region transforms from rolling green hills and forests to a landscape burning brilliant reds, oranges and yellows, grab friends, a camera and your keys and head outside for autumn鈥檚 greatest show.
For self-guided driving tours through Washington, Greene and Fayette counties and other fall fun, visit each county鈥檚 tourism web site at: https://www.visitwashingtoncountypa.com/, https://visitgreene.org/ and https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/.