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Maryland Fall Foliage Report: October 8, 2020
Welcome to the Fall Foliage Report for October 8, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The western corner of Maryland is seeing peak foliage setting in, headlined by the vivid yellows, reds, and oranges of maple leaves. Elsewhere, Maryland forests are exhibiting scattered spots of color, with the real fall showing yet to come! Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report: October 1, 2020
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for October 1, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report: September 24, 2020
Maple tree in Deep Creek Lake State Park, photo by Roy Musselwhite
It is now officially fall with a chill in the air and the welcomed return of the Canada geese. The most obvious indicator of autumn’s arrival, the changing of the foliage, is still a few weeks away for most of the state. However, in Western Maryland, pockets here and there are starting to show splotches of brilliant color. Traditionally it’s the region where leaf color changes are seen first, with the foliage in Garrett and Allegany counties beginning to turn beginning in late September and peaking toward the middle of October. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Report Preview: September 18, 2020
Welcome to the 2020 Maryland Fall Foliage Report, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Although we will mention a festival or event occasionally, that will not be a major focus this year due to numerous cancellations of many seasonal events. However, the men and women working for Maryland’s Park Service and Forest Service will provide eyewitness accounts, as well as photographs, as the fall season unfolds. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Nov. 16-17, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for November 16 and 17 brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Nov. 9-10, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for November 9 and 10 brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Nov. 2-3, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for November 2 and 3, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Oct. 26-27, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Oct. 26 and 27, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Oct. 19-20, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Oct. 19 and 20, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Oct. 12-13, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Oct. 12 and 13, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report Oct. 5-6, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Oct. 5 and 6, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
True fall weather is on the way! Garrett County is anticipating nighttime temperatures dipping into the 3os this weekend, reports Melissa Nash, forester and project manager. With the change in temperature comes the beginning of peak season in parts of Maryland.
“Cool nights and sunny days typically bring out the best color,“ Nash explains. “Some areas of Garrett County, especially around Meadow Mountain (near the Eastern Continental Divide), are expected to peak within the next couple of days.” She reports vibrant yellows to oranges and reds on maple, and yellow color on birch and hickory as most notable. Oaks should begin to change soon with white oak producing deep reds to purplish tones and red oaks golden brown.
Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Sept. 28-29, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 28 and 29, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
“As we officially welcome fall this week, the cool nights and sunny days are making for a beautiful start to a colorful display in Garrett County,” reports Melissa Nash, Garrett County forest project manager. “Some areas, especially the ridge tops, are reaching the mid-point this week. Peak should be expected in 1-2 weeks for most of the county.” Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Sept. 21-22, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the last weekend of summer, Sept. 21 and 22, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Having melted down almost daily through a typically hot and humid — and exceptionally wet — Maryland summer, you just might be looking forward to the official astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere: the autumnal, or fall, equinox (also called the September equinox). Early Monday morning — 3:50 a.m. in Annapolis — the sun will rise precisely due east and later will set precisely due west with the length of day and night almost equal. This is also the best time to view Mars as the planet will be at its brightest. Join the Westminster Astronomy Club at Cunningham Falls State Park Saturday night to see the stars!
Sign up to receive weekly reports showcasing the Old Line State’s vibrant fall foliage and the best autumn festivals at dnr.maryland.gov.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – Sept. 14-15, 2019
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 14 and 15, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Soon the landscape will explode with vibrant colors of orange, red and yellow. Kids will be jumping into newly raked piles of leaves and we’ll all “fall” back to Eastern Standard Time and grab that extra bit of sleep. Although Autumn 2019 will not officially arrive until the early morning of Sept. 23, the full moon that falls nearest to the Fall Equinox, the Harvest Moon, is scheduled for its annual appearance on Saturday evening. Sometimes called the Full Corn Moon, it is so bright farmers could work by the light of it. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Nov. 17-18, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 17 and 18, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Forester Rob Clarke succinctly wraps up the final report for 2018 with, “Let the raking begin!” Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Nov. 10-11, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 10 and 11, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The good news is that leaf peepers have an excellent chance of catching fall foliage at its peak in many parts of the state. However, predictions are that this is a very small window of opportunity. So plan to get outdoors in the next few days and catch the best color for autumn 2018. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Nov 3-4, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 3 and 4, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
There is hope for Maryland leaf peepers after all. This is the weekend to take in some brilliant autumnal colors.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Oct. 27-28, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Oct. 20-21, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 20 and 21, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Oct. 13-14, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Garrett County Forester Melissa Nash reports that most of the maples turned brown early and are already bare. “We did get some color last week, but most of those are now bare. Many of the oaks are still pretty green, but are starting to change.” While this is Autumn Glory Festival weekend in Oakland and typically peak season for fall foliage, Nash believe it may be a bit muted. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Oct. 6 and 7
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 6 and 7, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
4-H Camping Center
What a difference a week makes! In Western Maryland, autumn began with a slow start; however, the most recent field reports are encouraging. Garrett County Forester Melissa Nash says things are starting to change more rapidly, as seen in her photo taken at the Maryland 4-H Environmental Education and Camping Center in Swanton. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Sept. 29-30
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the first full weekend of fall, Sept. 29 and 30, 2018, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
As September comes to a close, it appears the rain will diminish and we’ll have some partly cloudy to sunny days to look forward to this weekend. Reports out of Western Maryland confirm the first signs of the season, as the region’s early reds, yellows and oranges are starting to pop, particularly visible in Garrett County’s higher elevations above 2,500 feet. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: Sept. 22-23, 2018
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the first weekend of fall, Sept. 22 and 23, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Soon the landscape will explode with vibrant colors of orange, red and yellow. Kids will be jumping into leaf piles you just raked and we’ll all “fall” back, setting clocks back an hour and grabbing that extra bit of sleep.
Having sweated our way through a typically hot and humid Maryland summer – exceptionally wet as well – you might be looking forward to the autumnal equinox (also called the September equinox) happening Saturday at exactly 9:54 p.m. This is also the best time to view Mars as the planet will be at its brightest. Join the Westminster Astronomy Club at Cunningham Falls State Park Saturday night to see the stars!
Sign up to receive weekly reports showcasing the Old Line State’s vibrant fall foliage and the best autumn festivals at dnr.maryland.gov.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: November 18-19
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 18-19, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
Well the Maryland leaf peeper season is coming to a close. While there are some spots of red and yellow in St. Mary’s County and some oaks peaking in parts of central and southern Maryland, the consensus seems to be the leaves are falling very quickly.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: November 11-12
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 11-12, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
In western Maryland it appears that everything is happening at once, as eastern Allegany, Washington and Frederick counties are all reporting peak conditions, although muted. Weather has been a factor, especially around South Mountain. Washington County from Clear Spring west is just past peak.
How long the leaves will last is anyone’s guess…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: November 4-5
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Nov. 4 – 5, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
In November we’re starting to think of oyster dressing, pumpkin pie and turkey dinners, despite the fairly mild temperatures and presence of still-green leaves on many Maryland trees. While the leaves are past peak and have even started to drop in western Maryland, the brilliant orange, scarlet and yellow foliage is coming on strong in central Maryland and the mid-Eastern Shore. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: October 28-29
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 28 and 29, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.Well, this is the weekend for ghosts, goblins and other fright-worthy tricks and treats, and there are lots of Halloween events for everyone to enjoy! Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: October 21-22
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
The Mid-Atlantic region is basking in the glow of an Indian summer, and if you’re planning to head west this weekend, you should meet with good viewing conditions in Allegany County, where the leaves are holding at about 25 percent color change. Rocky Gap State Park reports that hickories, maples and poplars are lovely, providing a patchwork of colors, just in time for the some brisk autumn hiking. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: October 14-15
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 14 and 15, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
Garrett County’s biggest event of the year, the Autumn Glory Festival, is underway in Oakland and other locations throughout the county. Highlights of the festival include the Maryland State Banjo and Fiddle Championships, Tall Tale Storytelling and Book Festival, Western Maryland Tournament of Bands, parades, a 5K Run, and an authentic Oktoberfest celebration.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: October 7-8
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Oct. 7 and 8, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
In Garrett County, oaks are just starting to change and there are pockets of brilliant color, mostly maples, sassafras and sumac. The wet areas and swamps continue to show the most color. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report – September 30-October 1
Nice Weekend for the Calvert County Fair, National Public Lands Day and Apple and Pumpkin Festivals
Chimney Rock Trail, photo by Tim Ray
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
October arrives this weekend and soon the full glory of the changing foliage will as well! Reports out of Western Maryland confirm the first signs of the season as the region’s early reds, yellows and oranges are starting to pop, particularly visible in Garrett County’s higher elevations above 2,500 feet.
Deep Creek Lake State Park is reporting that foliage is coming along with red maples starting to turn bright orange. The low areas, which are cooler and moister, have the most color.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 23-24
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for the weekend of Sept. 23 and 24, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Office of Tourism.
It’s official! It’s autumn in Maryland.
When this weekend rolls in, thoughts will begin to turn to the sights, sounds and scents of the season: fan-filled football stadiums, bright orange pumpkins, cinnamon and cider warming on the stove and the welcomed return of Canada geese.
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 16-17
Burnside Bridge, Antietam National Battlefield, photo by National Park Service
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 16 and 17, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
You know summer’s almost over when local county fairs fill up with farm animals, 4-H kids, arts and crafts, fall harvest exhibits, midways and cotton candy. This weekend, you can choose from the Anne Arundel County Fair (Sept. 13-17) in Crownsville, the Charles County Fair (Sept. 14-17) in La Plata, or the Great Frederick Fair (Sept. 15-23), which runs for nine days. Read more…
Fall Foliage and Festival Report: September 9 and 10
Defenders Day Celebration at North Point, Woodmont Lodge Open House
Solitude by Joseph Halpin
Welcome to the Fall Foliage and Festival Report for Sept. 9 and 10, brought to you by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Office of Tourism.
It’s been a long, hot summer in the mid-Atlantic but with just a handful of days left, Marylanders will begin to sense the changing season – shorter days, longer nights, fatter crabs, football, chirping crickets – and one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the autumn season, the appearance of fall foliage. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Recap for 2025 Season
Yellow hickory leaves. Photo by Melissa Nash.
Maryland State Park rangers and foresters found color this fall in the leaves, mushrooms, fruits, and flowers of Maryland, even a seasonal drought tamping down some of autumn’s glory.
Here is a look back at some of the most impressive photos from this year’s Maryland Fall Foliage reports.
While the opportunities to go leaf-peep may be fading, opportunities to enjoy the Maryland outdoors – fishing, hunting, hitting the trails, or watching the skies – are boundless in the second half of autumn and beginning of winter. Visit mdoutdoors.maryland.gov to purchase or renew your license. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – October 29
You can rest assured that young Mark Figgins has a big smile on his face behind this big largemouth bass that he holds up for a picture before releasing it. Photo by Mark Figgins
The fall months offer comfortable temperatures for plenty of outdoor fun and the scenery of the changing foliage is icing on the cake. It is a wonderful time to share good times fishing together.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 22
Photo by Keith Lockwood
Despite the strong autumn winds we’ve been experiencing lately, anglers can find a lee shore or perhaps a tucked away quiet piece of water to enjoy fishing and the fall foliage. This is a wonderful month to enjoy the outdoors, so don’t miss it.
The 2025 striped bass young of the year survey results have been released and although they show an improvement over the past couple years, it’s still below the long-term survey average.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 8
Cayla Beam found tranquility and a Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) on the Transquaking River recently. Photo courtesy of Cayla Beam
October presents a wonderful opportunity to spend some time fishing in the comfort of mild temperatures and the beautiful settings of fall foliage and peaceful waters.
Maryland Fall Foliage Preview 2025
New Germany State Park in Garrett County. Photo by Melissa Nash, Maryland Forest Service.
Welcome to the Maryland Fall Foliage Report for 2025. Fall officially begins on Monday, Sept. 22, but we’re expecting to see color changes in the coming weeks.
Our weekly reports featuring observations from Department of Natural Resources’ foresters, naturalists, and rangers throughout the state will be posted every Thursday into November.
Maryland Fall Foliage Preview 2024
Welcome to the Maryland Fall Foliage Report for 2024. Fall officially begins on Sunday, September 22 at 8:44 a.m.
Many of Maryland’s trees are changing color earlier than usual this year due to drought. Marylanders can also expect to see more yellow and gold tones, and fewer reds and purples.
Forester Melissa Nash in Garrett County says leaves are two weeks ahead of schedule in Maryland’s westernmost jurisdiction, which is experiencing extreme drought.
“While we will still have a fall color display, I anticipate it may peak earlier than normal and we will see more muted colors and more yellow to golden tones as opposed to vibrant colors, again due to lack of moisture,” Nash says.
Following an extended dry spell, the sugar maples at the Potomac Garrett State Forest Headquarters produced a short lived burst of oranges and yellows before succumbing to gravity. Photo by Scott Campbell
Yellow and gold leaf colors are produced by carotenoid pigments, which are ever-present in the leaves and are therefore less dependent on weather conditions. Read more…
Maryland Fall Foliage Forecast 2023
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fall officially kicks off Saturday, September 23, 2023—the same day as the autumn equinox—in the Northern Hemisphere. Many of us in Maryland are looking forward to leaving behind the days of record-breaking heat and welcoming clear, blue skies, cooler evenings and autumnal tree canopies. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources once again will present its weekly Fall Foliage Report, posted online and sent by email bulletin to subscribers.
What can we expect from fall foliage this year and when can leaf peepers catch a glimpse of fall’s best colors? Read more…
Natural Heritage Program Spotlight: Fall Swamps
Cranesville Swamp in fall by Matt Tillett
At this time of year, leaf watchers are enthusiastically traveling the region to catch the best show of color on our deciduous trees (and you can too—follow our Fall Foliage Reports here)! Nature certainly puts on a show of a bedtime routine before the winter snooze, but fall beauty does not only lie in the falling leaves. Smaller plants and conifers go through transitions of their own, or sometimes just provide an enduring and welcome carpet of green in an otherwise browning landscape. Wetlands in particular are enjoyable in the fall, having lost the crowds and blood-sucking bugs that may be a summer nuisance. Wetlands are often split into four types, each defined by its own set of soil, water, and vegetation characteristics. Here in Maryland we are fortunate to have all four to appreciate. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – September 21
Angler Philip Wyatt Wieland caught a 30-inch Spanish mackerel in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy Philip Wyatt Wieland
As summer fades into fall, anglers are enjoying milder temperatures and good fishing for a variety of species.
If you enjoy beautiful scenery to go with your fall fishing trips, check out the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fall Foliage Report to find out where the trees are displaying their natural wonder. Sign up at the DNR website to receive the weekly report by email.
Fall Foliage Preview for 2022
Overview
Welcome to the fall foliage report for 2022. Fall officially begins on Thursday, September 22 at 9:04 p.m. and the outlook for this year is positive. It’s hard to predict what kind of season Maryland will have, but there are a few factors that affect fall foliage, helping us to develop a science-based forecast. In western Maryland we’re already seeing the falling black gum leaves decorating the dark forest floor with pops of pink. There are similar reports from Southern Maryland, where the yellow poplars are also joining in, as summer waves its last goodbye.
Black Gum leaves – Photo: Melissa Carson, Maryland Park Service
Maryland Fishing Report – October 20
Bergen Kline certainly was thrilled to catch this 41-inch northern pike at Deep Creek Lake recently while fishing with his dad. Photo by Sean Kline
This week is an exciting time for family and friends to be out fishing and enjoying the outdoors, as daytime temperatures become more moderate and a wide variety of fish become more active as waters cool.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 13
Carson Hoffmaster seems to be all tied up with this large crab while sorting the catch with his dad. Photo by Brad Hoffmaster
Children always offer a different window into our world, certainly a simpler type of fun and excitement. This could not be truer when they accompany us on our fishing and crabbing adventures.
Right now blue crabs are heavy and laden with meat so do not put that crabbing gear away just yet.
Maryland Fishing Report – October 6
Lyla Jones went fishing last weekend with her dad and grandfather (along with a a furry friend) and they all had a wonderful time together. Photo by Joe Garrett
Early fall offers a wonderful opportunity to spend time outdoors with family and friends, especially our younger anglers. The fall trout stocking program has begun, offering excellent trout fishing at waters in most areas of Maryland. The Atlantic waters near Ocean City and Assateague Island, along with the Coastal Bays and the Chesapeake Bay all offer wonderful fishing opportunities before colder weather begins to move in next month.
Maryland Fishing Report: Nov. 7
Brian Morgan sent in this picture of a rainbow trout caught recently. Photo by Brian Morgan
Frosty mornings are now common, the Canada geese are arriving and the fall foliage is in various stages of color change throughout the state. Old man winter is beckoning off in the distance and soon will be knocking on our door. Colder weather will be here soon, so be sure to enjoy the outdoors during this special time of the year.
Anglers continue to enjoy the results of the fall trout stocking program. Many trout management waters have been stocked and offer quality fishing, often close to home.
Maryland Fishing Report: October 17
One of the first things any young angler learns is to get a good grip on that trout! Photo courtesy of Nathan Williams
This week offers some exciting fishing opportunities for Maryland anglers – the weather is just about right, the changing color of the leaves paints a beautiful backdrop to outdoor activities and there are plenty of eager fish to catch.
For the next few weeks, state hatcheries are stocking most trout management waters throughout Maryland. The trout are providing quality fishing close to home and allowing success on a fishing adventure, especially for our young anglers.
At the Atlantic coast, sea bass, flounder and dolphin are biting.
And in the Chesapeake Bay, autumn is one of the most anticipated times for striped bass fishing. Rockfish like the cooler water temperatures and begin to feed aggressively to build up lost body stores. Cooler water also forces baitfish in the form of bay anchovies, juvenile menhaden and silversides to exit the tidal rivers and head down the bay.
Aboveboard: Fall 2018
Fall is a great time to enjoy our state’s spectacular and diverse terrain and gain a better understanding of the role it plays in our culture, heritage and living history. Opportunities abound to immerse yourself in the scenic splendor, storied past and bright and prosperous future.
In this edition of the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, we learn more about the Piscataway, a Native American tribe in Southern Maryland that had lost their identity throughout colonization. This tribe recently gained official recognition by the state and has an agreement with some of our state parks, where they will host events to educate the public of our shared heritage. Read more…