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无毛视频檚 autumn leaves won无毛视频檛 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无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檛 yet dressed in the deep reds and burnt oranges of fall.
无毛视频淚 think you无毛视频檙e going to start seeing changes soon,无毛视频� said Ryan Reed, natural resource program specialist for the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. 无毛视频淵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.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 kind of a process,无毛视频� Reed said. 无毛视频淚 would expect peak in (Southwestern Pennsylvania) in mid-October, maybe the third week, if I had to give you my best guess right now.无毛视频�
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无毛视频檚 colors peaked the week of Oct. 21).
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 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,无毛视频� Reed said. 无毛视频淣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无毛视频檚 droughty conditions will moderate that, to a degree. We无毛视频檒l almost have a more normal timing of fall foliage in Pennsylvania because of the drought.无毛视频�
Perfect timing is, according to the DCNR, the week of Oct. 17 无毛视频� 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.
无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 feel like (trees are) going to hold their leaves as long as they normally would,无毛视频� Reed said. 无毛视频淚 do think it无毛视频檒l cut it by a week or so, maybe even two weeks. The take-home message: Once it starts to happen 无毛视频� you无毛视频檒l want to get out there and experience it, because it will be short-lived.无毛视频�
The best way to plan your fall foliage road trip is to check for peak colors on the DCNR无毛视频檚 interactive map (go to https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/ForestsAndTrees/FallFoliageReports/Pages/default.aspx), and travel accordingly.
无毛视频淚f I had to go somewhere to see fall foliage, I无毛视频檇 go up on the Laurel Ridge,无毛视频� said Reed. 无毛视频淥hiopyle无毛视频檚 a destination. One of our most popular destinations is Mt. Davis. It无毛视频檚 a fantastic place to go to get that vista view of the area to really appreciate all the color.无毛视频�
For the third consecutive year, the Laurel Highlands has been named one of USA Today无毛视频檚 top 10 fall foliage destinations, and Eric Knopsnyder, public relations director for Go Laurel Highlands, is honored by the recognition.
无毛视频淚 think we无毛视频檙e right up there,无毛视频� said Knopsnyder. 无毛视频淥hiopyle, everything down there is great. Kentuck Knob, Bachman Rock. The entire Laurel Highlands Scenic byway, which is (Interstate) 711 and (Route) 381, that无毛视频檚 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.无毛视频�
While Fayette County boasts spectacular views, Greene County offers some sensational fall foliage sights, too.
无毛视频淚n Carmichaels, the Jessop Boat Club, that trail, you would be able to see the fall foliage reflecting in the Mon River. It无毛视频檚 a different view of fall foliage, but it无毛视频檚 a really pretty walk,无毛视频� said Joanne Marshall, director of Greene County Tourism.
Marshall also recommends heading to Ryerson Station State Park and Rices Landing for spectacular scenes.
无毛视频淭he covered bridge self-guided tour is one of the best,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚t takes you pretty much all over Greene County. You can see closer to the Mon River 无毛视频� and then you get the covered bridges backed by fall foliage.无毛视频�
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.
无毛视频淚 would recommend, obviously Washington Park, Mingo Park and Cross Creek, so the city park and the county parks,无毛视频� said Pam Kilgore, founder of WashPA Outdoors. 无毛视频淚f you can get on the water, that would be a less conventional way to take in the fall colors.无毛视频�
Chase McClain, director, marketing for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, agrees that fall foliage 无毛视频渇rom a boat or kayak along the Monongahela River or Cross Creek County Park无毛视频� 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.
无毛视频淏y car along the covered bridges driving tour无毛视频� 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.
无毛视频淲e really are blessed,无毛视频� Reed said. 无毛视频淲e are really blessed with forest in Pennsylvania. Approaching 17 million acres 无毛视频� 30% of that is publicly accessible. We always urge folks to get out, experience and enjoy it.无毛视频�
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无毛视频檚 greatest show.
For self-guided driving tours through Washington, Greene and Fayette counties and other fall fun, visit each county无毛视频檚 tourism web site at: https://www.visitwashingtoncountypa.com/, https://visitgreene.org/ and https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/.