Best Places Around the Area to See Fall Foliage

Autumn’s natural glory will soon be ablaze with color, making it a great time to plan your leaf-peeping. Mid-October is generally the best time to start seeking out fall foliage, and the colors can continue well into November. For an animated map showing the progression of color across the U.S., check out this online illustration from The Farmer’s Almanac.

 

So where should you go locally to experience autumn at its finest? Here we offer some of the best spots in the DMV for photographing fall scenery – whether it’s for dynamic social media posts, placing your pictures in a frame, or just taking snapshots with your mind.

 

Tidal Basin

Washington, D.C.

 

Spanning 107 acres, but just 10 feet deep, the Tidal Basin is well known for its lovely cherry blossoms in the spring, but in the fall these same trees turn a beautiful orange and gold! Enjoy a stroll around an easy two-mile loop.

 

Theodore Roosevelt Island

George Washington Memorial Parkway Arlington, VA

 

A two-mile path follows the island’s shore, moving into the swamp and tidal inlet where nature frames views of Washington, D.C. Buy the book “Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island” by Melanie Choukas-Bradley for an even more meaningful meander.

 

State Arboretum of Virginia

Blandy Experimental Farm Boyce, VA

 

Virginia’s State Arboretum spans 172 acres of tree and shrub collections dating back to the early 1930s. You can also experience the glorious golden 300 tree Ginkgo grove every fall.

 

Georgetown, D.C.

 

Georgetown is renowned for federalist architecture, cobblestone streets, and historic brick and frame row houses, some of which date to the mid-1700s. It’s also an origination point for the historic C & O Canal, a National Park which runs 184.5 miles into Cumberland, Md. Enjoy a fall stroll and consider taking a guided tour.

 

Washington, D.C.

 

Created in 1890, Rock Creek Park is the oldest urban park in the National Park Service. Its 1,754 acres generally follow the Potomac River tributary of Rock Creek and include a golf course, equestrian trails, an amphitheater, and picnic and playground facilities. It also includes Peirce Mill, a water-powered grist mill built in the 1820s.

 

Gaithersburg, MD

 

More than 50 miles of trails wind through a variety of habitat, including the 90-acre Clopper Lake. A restored 19th-century cabin adds charm to your fall photographs.

 

McLean, VA

 

Three overlooks within a short walk front the Great Falls Park Virginia Visitor Center allow for spectacular scenery. Two of the overlooks are handicap and stroller accessible.

 

Potomac, MD

 

Visit the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center on the Maryland side of Great Falls Park, located at mile 14.3 along the C&O Canal towpath in Montgomery County, Md.

 

Luray, VA

 

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Va., the park stretches 105 miles from the northern entrance in Front Royal to the southern entrance near Waynesboro. Skyline Drive is the main road running the span of the park – a scenic byway that can get especially busy during peak leaf-peeping times.

 

Harpers Ferry, WV

 

Almost Heaven, but just a hop, skip, and a jump from the D.C. Metro area, Harpers Ferry is a time capsule nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers come together and continue eastward to the Chesapeake Bay as the Potomac river. Unfortunately, this fall’s rockslide stabilization project will make the travel to Harpers Ferry a bit tricky, so check your options online or through your favorite phone app.

 

Boonsboro, MD

 

This 40-mile park weaves along South Mountain Ridge. Visitors can walk the same paths as the Civil War soldiers who fought at the 1862 Battle of South Mountain, climbing to enjoy breathtaking views.

 

Fredericksburg, VA

 

This paved pathway makes for an easy walk, but don’t let the pavement fool you – beautiful views of the Rappahannock River, Old Mill Park, and several historic mills are seen throughout the trail.