Fall foliage in Western Maryland is reaching peak color this week, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, while trees around Baltimore and on the Eastern Shore are only starting to turn. For anyone in the Baltimore area planning a holiday-weekend leaf drive, the forecast points to Saturday: remnants of Isaias are expected to bring widespread rain to the state late Saturday night through Monday.
The state’s latest fall foliage report, published Oct. 8, says a run of sunny days, cool nights and a heavy frost has sped up the change in the mountains. Here is what foresters are seeing in each region and how to plan around the weather.
Where is fall foliage peaking in Maryland right now?
Garrett County is the leader. Forester Melissa Nash reported that Meadow Mountain, Savage River Reservoir and the Big Run area should peak this week, with other parts of the county following next week.
“Leaves have rapidly changed in Garrett County in the past few days.”
Melissa Nash, Garrett County forester, Maryland DNR fall foliage report
Farther east, the ridges are a different story. In Washington County, watershed forester Bob Schwartz said the ridges are still mostly green, with gold and red showing in spots. Black walnut, hackberry and black locust are yellowing but dropping leaves quickly, while red maple, blackgum and flowering dogwood are changing. In Frederick County, forester Dakota Durcho expects the biggest change of the season over the next two to three weeks.
How far along is the Baltimore area?
In Baltimore County, project forester Nathan House reported bright reds from red maples, Virginia creeper and blackgum, with softer yellows from poplars and understory sugar maples. That means color is visible around the region, but the broad canopy change is still ahead. House also cautioned that not every bright plant is welcome: the report highlights a linden viburnum seedling, an invasive exotic shrub, turning red.
In northeastern Maryland, ranger Lesley Leader at Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area in Cecil County described moderate color change and leaf drop, with bright red black gums, orange Norway maples and sycamores shedding brown leaves.
Maryland foliage by region
| Region | Status as of Oct. 8 | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett County | Rapid change; first areas at peak | Rest of county peaks next week |
| Washington County | Mostly green ridges, scattered gold and red | Faster change with cool nights and rain |
| Frederick County | Mostly green, starting to turn | Biggest change in next 2–3 weeks |
| Baltimore County | Scattered bright reds and yellows | Broader change still ahead |
| Cecil County (Fair Hill) | Moderate change and leaf drop | Not specified |
| Dorchester and Somerset counties | Mostly green; sweet gum, bald cypress leading | More color in coming weeks |
The report did not include an update from Southern Maryland.
What will the weather do to the leaves this weekend?
The National Weather Service forecast for Baltimore calls for a partly sunny Friday with a high near 76 and a mostly cloudy Saturday near 73, followed by rain showers after 2 a.m. Sunday. Sunday brings showers with an east wind of 10 to 15 mph and higher gusts, and showers and thunderstorms are likely into Monday morning. Our earlier forecast story explains what Isaias’ remnants mean for Baltimore.
In Oakland, the Garrett County seat, the weather service puts the chance of rain at 94% Saturday night and 96% Sunday, after a mostly sunny Friday near 65 and a mostly cloudy Saturday near 64.
Rain and wind can knock down leaves that have already turned, especially early-dropping species. Schwartz, however, said in the DNR report that moisture should help trees hold their color longer, and that continued cool weather with periodic rain should speed the change over the next few weeks. For the mountains, that means the window for trees already at peak is short; for Central Maryland, the best weeks may still be ahead.
Is it worth the drive from Baltimore?
If you want peak color this weekend, Garrett County is the place, and Friday or Saturday is the time. The 59th Autumn Glory Festival runs through Oct. 11 in Garrett County with parades, craft shows, music and foliage driving tours, according to the DNR report, so expect crowds in Oakland and around Deep Creek Lake.
Closer to home, Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County offers a viewfinder with EnChroma lenses at Clopper Lake, designed to help people with red-green color blindness see fall colors more accurately. The DNR says to park at the lower Boat Center lot near the self-launch ramp and follow the gravel path to the shoreline.
Tips for a leaf trip this weekend:
- Go Saturday rather than Sunday, when rain is expected statewide.
- Check park pages and festival schedules before you leave, since some outdoor events are listed as weather-permitting.
- Watch for wet leaves on mountain roads and trails after the rain, which can be slick.
- If you stay local, look for early color in red maples, blackgum and Virginia creeper along Baltimore County roads and parks.
When is the next foliage update?
The DNR publishes its foliage report weekly during the fall season, with reports from foresters and rangers around the state. Given the rain, next week’s update should show whether the mountains held their color and how quickly Central Maryland is catching up.
Featured image: Autumn color at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. Photo: randomduck / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.