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Fall Foliage Report – November 24, 2021

Map of Maryland showing past peak foliage in most of the state

The meteorological fall season comes to a close on December 1, and we are beginning to experience consistently cooler temperatures and brisk winds across Maryland. Fall foliage enthusiasts who bundle up and head east will be rewarded with leaves of crimson, amber, and gold adorning the Eastern Shore’s beautiful waterfront landscapes. A few pops of color remain in the central part of our state, and our citizen reporters spotted gorgeous burgundy-red leaves in Frederick and mellower tones of yellow and orange at Seneca Creek State Park. We’d like to thank all of the Marylanders that submitted photos capturing the fall season this year. We were thrilled with the response, and your photos helped us with our foliage forecasting. 

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”
Sarah Addison Allen

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Baltimore and Howard Counties

Patapsco Valley State Park

McKeldin area of Patapsco valley state park

McKeldin area of Patapsco Valley State Park

Yellow leaves Yellow leaves 

 

Orange and brown leaves Red Leaves

The brilliant early fall colors have faded to muted tones of yellow, orange, and red at the McKeldin area of the park. The Hollofield Overlook, home to the park’s headquarters and one of its two campgrounds, boasts some of the most beautiful views of the Patapsco River. Ranger Alyssa Myers Patapsco Valley State Park


Photo Submissions for the Week

We’d like to thank all the folks that continue to send in photos of fall scenes from around Maryland. 

Click on photos for larger versions.

Nancy Gladden Log Roll Overlook Green Ridge SF

Nancy G. – Log Roll Overlook, Green Ridge State Forest, Allegany County

 

Craig W Rockville

Craig W. – Rockville, Montgomery County

 

Craig Weisberg Rockville

Craig W. – Rockville, Montgomery County

Fall trees along a lake

Emily W. – Great Seneca Park, Montgomery County

Fall trees along a lake

Holly G. – Lake Waterford Park, Pasadena, Anne Arundel County

Fall trees on the lake

Karl B. – St. Mary’s River State Park, St. Mary’s County

Trees in front of the river

Kelsey B. – Severn River, Harold Harbor, Anne Arundel County

Yellow tree along a shoreling

Lori C. – Crab Alley Creek, Chester, Queen Anne’s County

Fall trees along a point

Lori C. – Safe Harbor Narrows Point Marina, Grasonville, Queen Anne’s County 

Fall trees from the bow of a boat

Lori C. – Safe Harbor Narrows Point Marina, Grasonville, Queen Anne’s County 

Kilgore Falls

Stephanie T. – Kilgore Falls, Rocks State Park, Harford County


Fall (and Winter!) Recreation Spotlights

When the last leaves have fallen, the winter months promise us colors of a different variety—holiday lights!  There are numerous holiday light shows across the state and you can find a list of them on the Visit Maryland website. Our favorite, Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park, offers a scenic, illuminated drive along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay with more than 60 spectacular animated and stationary displays.

As we make this seasonal transition, we’d like to remind you that most of our parks remain open year-round!  Even during the winter months, there are plenty of opportunities across the state to get outdoors and enjoy our natural resources. Visit the Maryland Park Service website to view trail guides and hours of operation and make a camping reservation. Call ahead to confirm hours and facility availability.

 

Lights on the Bay


Watch the sky

Watch for Venus in the night sky. It’s just gone through its greatest elongation and should be visible in the early evenings just after sunset. On November 26 get your binoculars and look for Ceres located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is considered a minor planet and is 600 miles wide—about two and a half times as long as the Grand Canyon! You may also spot some stray meteors as the moon begins to wane. The arrival of the next new moon comes December 4.

Venus

Photo: NASA


Images of sweetgum



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