Pennsylvaniafall foliage
No reports yet this season. Next up: Erie Refuge, typically Oct 11–20.
When is peak fall foliage in Pennsylvania?
No source we can use gives the whole state one date. At Delaware Water Gap, the National Park Service says fall foliage peaks sometime in October, with the week shifting as mountain temperatures change. That's the Water Gap's own timing, not the state's: each place below shows its own timing and latest status.
Checked Sep 28. Source: National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap biking ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This week in Pennsylvania · Updated Sep 28
We haven't logged an official report for Pennsylvania yet this fall; the first places here usually turn around Oct 1. The forecast looks best on today through Thu, Sat–Sun, and no frost in sight: the coldest night is 42°F at Kinzua Bridge State Park. In the Mid-Atlantic's volunteer tree counts for Sep 15–21, sugar maple and flowering dogwood are behind a typical year; the rest are close to typical.
When each place peaks, and the week ahead
Best days to go: Today–Thu, Sat–Sun
No strong wind in the forecast. No frost yet: the coldest night is 42°F at Kinzua Bridge State Park.
- Delaware Water GapNational Park Service says fall foliage peaks sometime in October, with the week varying as mountain temperatures changeTodaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Allegheny National ForestPeak leaf color at Jakes Rocks Overlook: Oct 8–14Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFrirain likelySatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Erie RefugeUsually Oct 11–20Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFrirain likelySatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Cherry Valley RefugeUsually Oct 21–31Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Bald Eagle State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Black Moshannon State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Cook Forest State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFrirain likelySatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Hyner View State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Kinzua Bridge State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFrirain likelySatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Laurel HighlandsStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Laurel Hill State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSunrain likely
- Little Pine State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Ohiopyle State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Pine Creek GorgeStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Sinnemahoning State ParkStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 25Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
All the numbers
| Place | Usual peak | This week | Rain likely | Coldest night | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Water Gap | National Park Service says fall foliage peaks sometime in October, with the week varying as mountain temperatures change | No report | — | 48°F | 511 ft |
| Allegheny National Forest | Peak leaf color at Jakes Rocks Overlook: Oct 8–14 | No report | Fri | 43°F | 1,186 ft |
| Erie Refuge | Oct 11–20 | No report | Fri | 46°F | 1,387 ft |
| Cherry Valley Refuge | Oct 21–31 | No report | — | 48°F | 303 ft |
| Bald Eagle State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 49°F | 609 ft |
| Black Moshannon State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 45°F | 1,865 ft |
| Cook Forest State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | Fri | 46°F | 1,199 ft |
| Hyner View State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 48°F | 1,935 ft |
| Kinzua Bridge State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | Fri | 42°F | 2,108 ft |
| Laurel Highlands | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 47°F | 2,708 ft |
| Laurel Hill State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | Sun | 47°F | 2,216 ft |
| Little Pine State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 46°F | 784 ft |
| Ohiopyle State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 48°F | 1,209 ft |
| Pine Creek Gorge | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 45°F | 1,811 ft |
| Sinnemahoning State Park | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 25 | No report | — | 46°F | 921 ft |
Solid bars: each place's usual window from its official sources; dashed: a regional or statewide timing, not the place's own. Stages from the latest official report. Weather: National Weather Service forecast for each place, issued Sep 28. A best day is dry and calm at most of these places.
Mid-Atlantic, site by site
Color moving across the Mid-Atlantic
70 volunteer sites this week (seen in at least 2 of the falls 2020–2025)
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Brown, leaves down
Typical year, not a prediction. Each dot is a real USA-NPN volunteer site: the middle stage its trees had that week across the falls 2020–2025. Green: under 5% of leaves colored · yellow 5–24% · orange 25–49% · red half or more · brown: leaves mostly down. Sites within a few hundred yards of each other (a research forest, a park) share one dot, with their number on it. Data: USA National Phenology Network (CC BY 4.0).
Mid-Atlantic, Sep 15–21
6% this week (106 observations) · typical 5%
3% this week (73 observations) · typical 13%
2% this week (57 observations) · typical 6%
2% this week (49 observations) · typical 26%
Sugar maple and flowering dogwood are behind a typical year; the rest are close to typical. Only species with at least 15 observations that week; the line marks the typical share for the same week (2020–2025). Updated Sep 27. Data: USA-NPN. Which trees turn when in the Mid-Atlantic →
Planning a Pennsylvania fall foliage trip
For the Water Gap from the Pennsylvania side, three overlooks sit on PA 611: Point of the Gap in the heart of the Gap, Arrow Island looking from downstream, and Resort Point looking from upstream.
The park is long and narrow, between I-80 in the south and I-84 in the north, so pick a section first. US 209 is the main north–south road on the Pennsylvania side, and the McDade Recreational Trail runs 31 miles through the valley.
October color overlaps the park's beach fee season (fees are charged April through October), and snow and ice are common from December through March, so check current conditions for the stop you plan.
Sources (5)
- National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap biking ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, The Water Gap ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap directions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap swimming ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap basic information ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Pennsylvania in pictures
Official reports
- Sep 28Park ServiceUsual peak by refuge: early October at Aroostook, Nulhegan Basin and Missisquoi; mid-October at Moosehorn, Rachel Carson and Great Bay (marsh)Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceTrails, winter plowing, rulesSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceKittatinny Ridge fall raptor migrationSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, About Us in a new tab)
Show all 11
- Sep 28Park ServiceFall foliage peaks sometime in OctoberSource (opens National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap biking in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceSnow and ice common December to March; no entry feeSource (opens National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap basic information in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceA quarter mile wide at the river, nearly a mile at the top; Point of the Gap Overlook on PA 611Source (opens National Park Service, The Water Gap in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceThree river beaches, no lifeguards; beach fees April through OctoberSource (opens National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap swimming in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceLocation, hoursSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceReitz's Pond blind, best times of daySource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge wildlife watching in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceTrails, Pool 9 deck, winter skiing, spring wildflowersSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge trails in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServicePopular trails very busy on weekends; parking often fills very early; arrive earlySource (opens National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap summer 2025 in a new tab)
Questions people ask
When is peak fall foliage in Pennsylvania in 2026?
It depends on the place. In a typical year: Erie Refuge, Oct 11–20 and Cherry Valley Refuge, Oct 21–31. Each place page has its own dates.
Where can I see fall foliage in Pennsylvania?
We track 15 places: Erie Refuge (usually Oct 11–20), Cherry Valley Refuge (usually Oct 21–31), Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, Bald Eagle State Park, Pennsylvania, Black Moshannon State Park, Pennsylvania, Cook Forest State Park, Pennsylvania, Delaware Water Gap, Hyner View State Park, Pennsylvania, Kinzua Bridge State Park, Pennsylvania, Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania, Laurel Hill State Park, Pennsylvania, Little Pine State Park, Pennsylvania, Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania, Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania and Sinnemahoning State Park, Pennsylvania.
How long does the fall foliage season last in Pennsylvania?
Across the places we track, from about Oct 11 (Erie Refuge) to Oct 31 (Cherry Valley Refuge). Each place's own window is shorter.
Why does color come earlier in some places?
Higher ground turns first. In the Great Smoky Mountains, color can start as early as mid-September at the highest elevations, develops above 4,000 feet from early to mid-October, and reaches the lower and middle slopes between mid-October and early November.Source: National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains fall color ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How do you track fall foliage?
Each place moves through 6 stages: Still green, First color, Moderate, High color, Peak and Past peak. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.