Virginiafall foliage
No reports yet this season. Next up: Shenandoah, typically Oct 8–21.
When is peak fall foliage in Virginia?
In the Blue Ridge, usually in the second or third week of October. That's when Shenandoah National Park says fall color has generally been at its most brilliant; the higher elevations change first and the color moves slowly down the mountain. In the southwest, around Mount Rogers, the Forest Service puts it in mid to late October.
Checked Sep 27. Sources: National Park Service, Shenandoah FAQ ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This week in Virginia · Updated Sep 28
We haven't logged an official report for Virginia yet this fall; the first places here usually turn around Oct 8. Every day this week looks dry and calm at most places, and no frost in sight: the coldest night is 50°F at George Washington and Jefferson. In the Southern Appalachians' volunteer tree counts for Sep 15–21, every species with enough observations is close to a typical year.
When each place peaks, and the week ahead
Best days to go: all week
No strong wind in the forecast. No frost yet: the coldest night is 50°F at George Washington and Jefferson.
- ShenandoahUsually Oct 8–21Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- George Washington and JeffersonUsually Oct 11–31Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Great Dismal Swamp RefugeSwamp autumn color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceTodaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Occoquan Bay RefugeWetland autumn color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceTodaydry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah | Oct 8–21 | No report | — | 52°F | 3,487 ft |
| George Washington and Jefferson | Oct 11–31 | No report | — | 50°F | 3,101 ft |
| Great Dismal Swamp Refuge | Swamp autumn color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | No report | — | 62°F | 14 ft |
| Occoquan Bay Refuge | Wetland autumn color, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | No report | — | 60°F | -2 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.
Southern Appalachians, site by site
Color moving across the Southern Appalachians
88 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).
Southern Appalachians, Sep 15–21
Tuliptree
5% this week (66 observations) · typical 6%
0% this week (46 observations) · typical 1%
Willow oak
0% this week (42 observations) · typical 1%
3% this week (35 observations) · typical 1%
Every species with enough observations is close to a typical year. 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 Southern Appalachians →
Planning a Virginia fall foliage trip
Shenandoah's Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge and is the only public road through the park. Fall weekends there bring both the color and large crowds, and the campgrounds and lodges are usually booked for every September and October weekend months ahead; parking at Old Rag is limited on October weekends, especially Saturdays.
In the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, the Forest Service points to Mount Rogers, Douthat State Park and Whitetop Mountain, where maples, poplars and oaks light up the highlands. Mount Rogers alone has four wilderness areas, 400 miles of trail and scenic roads such as the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway and the road to Whitetop Mountain.
Shenandoah's fall season runs from late September through November, with average daytime temperatures of 49°F to 60°F, so pack layers even when the forecast chart above looks mild.
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 ServiceBald cypress, red maple and Atlantic white cedar in the largest remnant of the swampSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceLake Drummond Wildlife Drive: route, hours by season, vehicle feeSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Auto Tour in a new tab)
Show all 17
- Sep 28Park ServiceFour entrances, boardwalks, the Pines Trail and the Portsmouth Ditch loopSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Trails in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceWhere the refuge is: twenty miles south of Washington, D.C.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceWildlife Drive and foot trails, best seasons, hours, fees and seasonal weatherSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceSpring ephemerals late March into April, a second wave April into MaySource (opens US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Back Creek Gorge Wildflower Trail (George Washington & Jefferson National Forests) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceSpring wildflowers along the trail from the iron furnace to Roaring Run FallsSource (opens US Forest Service, Celebrating Wildflowers: Roaring Run Wildflower Trail (George Washington & Jefferson National Forests) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceDisplay begins late March; azaleas in May, mountain laurel in June; 862 species; spring flowers along low streams, summer and fall at Big MeadowsSource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah Wildflowers in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park Service40th annual Wildflower Weekend, May 2-3, 2026; free programs, no reservationsSource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah Wildflower Weekend in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceFall color usually most brilliant around the 2nd or 3rd week of October, higher elevations first; azaleas late May–early June, mountain laurel in JuneSource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah FAQ in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceFall season late September to November, the busiest time; weekend crowds; campgrounds and lodges booked months aheadSource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah in fall in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceOld Rag day-use ticket needed March 1 to November 30 ($2)Source (opens National Park Service, Old Rag FAQ in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceSkyline Drive runs 105 miles; Big Meadows at mile 51Source (opens National Park Service, Driving Skyline Drive in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park Service1.6-mile round trip, 340 ft gain, trailhead at mile 41.7Source (opens National Park Service, Stony Man hike in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceSpring runs mid-March through MaySource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah in spring in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceWinter usually November through FebruarySource (opens National Park Service, Shenandoah in winter in a new tab)
Questions people ask
When is peak fall foliage in Virginia in 2026?
It depends on the place. In a typical year: Shenandoah, Oct 8–21 and George Washington and Jefferson, Oct 11–31. Each place page has its own dates.
Where can I see fall foliage in Virginia?
We track 4 places: Shenandoah (usually Oct 8–21), George Washington and Jefferson (usually Oct 11–31), Great Dismal Swamp Refuge and Occoquan Bay Refuge.
How long does the fall foliage season last in Virginia?
Across the places we track, from about Oct 8 (Shenandoah) to Oct 31 (George Washington and Jefferson). 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.