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Best Places To See Fall Color

Resources: Community

Fall is one of the times residents of the DC area flock to rural areas in search of fall colors. But it can be hard to decide what trails and scenic routes are best during the short peak color season. In this case, we’ve done that hard work for you and compiled 10 of the best fall foliage destinations.

Scenic Drives for Fall Foliage

1. Skyline Drive 

B772TD Skyline Drive, Rip Rap Area, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA

This 3-hour drive with 75 overlooks offers stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley. With a speed limit of 35 mph, Skyline drive allows you relax, roll down the windows, and experience all the changing leaf colors in this stunning fall foliage drive. Most common tree species on Skyline Drive include;  chestnuts and red oak on the ridge tops and upper slopes,  yellow poplars on the lower slopes and streams, and maple, birch, ash, and basswood on the mid-slopes.

Peak Viewing Season:  Oct 22nd -Nov. 4


2. Blue Ridge Parkway


blue-ridge-parkway-asheville-nc

Cue up John Denver’s Take me home, country roads for this drive. The Blue Ridge parkway spans a winding 469 miles throughout Virginia and North Carolina. With various elevations and over a hundred species of trees surrounding the parkway you’re in for a wonderful mix of yellow, orange, scarlet, & purple leaves. Most common tree species on the Blue Ridge parkway include; sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock, tulip poplar, red maple, white oak, and northern red oak.

Peak Viewing Season: Oct 22nd-Oct 31st

3. Monticello Wine Trail 

charlottesville-va

Calling all Wine Lovers….What is better than beautiful fall foliage? Fall foliage and wine! The Monticello Wine Trail combines the beauty of fall foliage destinations with exceptional Virginia wine. Our tip: Make it a weekend trip and take advantage of the charming country inns and exceptional dining. Most common tree species on the Monticello Wine Trail include; red cedar, sugar maple, red maple, and eastern white pine.

Peak Viewing Season: Oct. 19th-Nov. 4th

4. The Crooked Road

crooked-road-300px

Experience Virginia’s musical heritage while exploring the lively fall foliage in the Appalachian Mountains.  The crooked road has extraordinary fall foliage views as well as leading you to major hotspots of bluegrass, and traditional American mountain music. Most common tree species on The Crooked Road include; sugar maples, American Beech, Eastern Hemlock, Yellow Birch, Yellow Buckeye, and Carolina Silverbell.

Peak Viewing Season: Oct. 19th-Nov. 4th

Scenic Hikes for Fall Foliage

5. Sky Meadows State Park 

sky-meadows-state-park-va-state-park-flickr

Wedged between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Virginia piedmont, this once fully functioning farm has transformed into a beautiful fall foliage oasis. With 1,864 acres of park and multiple trails, families can enjoy the color explosion of changing leaves while exploring historic colonial through post-civil war life. Most common tree species at Sky Meadows State Park include a range of oaks and hickories.

Peak Viewing Season: Oct. 19th-Nov. 4th

6. The Priest 

The Priest is one of the many mountains making up the Cardinal Range in central Virginia. The trail leading to its overlook is only a mile spur of the Appalachian Trail. Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org

Surrounded by miles of wilderness, the Priest is a remote hike that gives way to a panorama of fall splashed mountains at the peak. As the most remote destination on this list, the priest offers a way to escape from the hecticness of the DC area and embrace the beautiful nature of autumn. Most common tree species at the priest include; sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock, tulip poplar, red maple, white oak, and northern red oak.

Peak Viewing Season: Oct. 19th-Nov. 4th

7. Billy Goat Trail 

billy-goat-trail

The Billy Goat Trail is great for Marylanders that what to experience fall foliage without venturing into Virginia. The hike is 4.7 miles that follows a path between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River. The unique thing about this trail is that it is filled with views of endangered species of plant fauna. The most common tree species seen at Billy Goat Trail include; hickory, ash, oak, and poplar.

Peak Color: Oct 19th -Nov. 4th


8. Humpback Rocks – Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 6

humpback-rocks

Get ready to experience 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley. Humpback Rocks is a short 1.0-mile climb but don’t let that fool you. Within a mile, this trail ascends 800 feet and is a tough climb but the views are worth it even for novice hikers. The most common tree species seen at Humpback rocks include; red cedar, sugar maple, red maple, and eastern white pine.

Peak Color: Oct 19th -Nov. 4th

Scenic Towns for Fall Foliage

9. Harpers Ferry W. VA 

harpers_ferry_fall_foliage_by_terry_tabb_770px

Take a break from the DC fast paced area and escape to a small town surrounded by beautiful fall foliage. Harpers Ferry West Virginia is where the Shenandoah River meets the Potomac. In this centuries-old town that is just over an hour from the District, you can observe the changing leaf colors while relaxing and experiencing the small town life. The most common tree species seen here include; chestnut oak, black oak, and red oak species.

Peak Color: Oct 19th -Nov. 4th

10. Asheville, NC 

asheville

The fall foliage beauty of Asheville, NC comes from extreme elevation variations and over 100 species of deciduous trees. These aspects result in a colorful mix of leaf colors that last throughout the season.The most common tree species seen here include; sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock, tulip poplar, red maple, white oak, and northern red oak.

Peak Color: Oct 22nd -Nov. 4

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Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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