Compare · 137 straight-line miles apart
Canaan Valley Refuge vs Patuxent Research Refugefall color
Canaan Valley Refuge or Patuxent Research Refuge: which comes first?
Canaan Valley Refuge usually comes first (Sep 21–30), Patuxent Research Refuge about 31 days later (Oct 21–31), going by each place's own sources. Their usual windows don't overlap. They're 137 miles apart in a straight line.
Checked Sep 28. Sources (4)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Usual windows, side by side
Canaan Valley Refuge · usually sep 21–30
Patuxent Research Refuge · usually oct 21–31
Side by side
| Canaan Valley Refuge | Patuxent Research Refuge | |
|---|---|---|
| Usually | Sep 21–30 | Oct 21–31 |
| This season | No official report yet | No official report yet |
| Elevation | 3,334 ft | 107 ft |
Elevation at the point we map (USGS). Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, the average first 32 °F night at the nearest station.
Where to go at each
Canaan Valley Refuge
- Cabin Mountain TrailClimbs through forest to a wide view of the valley
- Cabin Mountain Spur TrailSteep trail, mostly through northern hardwood forest
- Brown Mountain Overlook TrailValley-floor loop overlooking the refuge's wetlands
- Freeland Boardwalk TrailShort accessible boardwalk past a beaver pond to balsam fir
Patuxent Research Refuge
- Forest Trail, North TractBeeches turn bright gold and maples reddish in autumn
- Cash Lake Trail, South TractAlong the refuge's largest lake, with waterfowl and a beaver lodge
- Loop Trail, South TractPaved, accessible loop with views of Lake Redington and Cash Lake
Sources (8)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Research Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Research Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Research Refuge, Trails ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Questions people ask
Which has fall color first, Canaan Valley Refuge or Patuxent Research Refuge?
Canaan Valley Refuge, usually Sep 21–30; Patuxent Research Refuge usually Oct 21–31. Each place's own sourced window, not a forecast.
Can I see both on one trip?
Not usually at their best: their usual windows don't overlap. They're 137 straight-line miles apart.
Which is higher?
Canaan Valley Refuge: 3,334 ft at the point we map, against 107 ft (USGS). Higher places often turn earlier, but latitude matters as much.