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Illustration

State guide

When to catch Maryland'snatural highlights

When is the best time to see nature in Maryland?

Two Maryland peaks have a named place and a source: Fort McHenry's cherry trees, most likely at peak between the last week of March and the first week of April, and Patuxent Research Refuge's fall color, which peaks in late October.

Checked Sep 29. Sources: National Park Service, Cherry Blossoms at Fort McHenry ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.

The peaks through the year

Named places, in their sources' words; not statewide dates

On one calendar

Approximate months; the cards above give the timing
  • Cherry blossoms at Fort McHenryUsual peak: between the last week of March and the first week of April
  • Fall color at PatuxentUsual peak: late October

Solid: a usual peak, the best viewing time or when animals are most numerous. Hatched: a broader season, never a peak.

Pick a part of Maryland

7 places we follow

Baltimore and the Patuxent

Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

Frederick and Washington counties

Maryland on one map

Every place we follow here; tap one for its events
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Browse by season and event

Park guides and towns to stay in

Towns: straight-line distances on their own pages

Towns

Maryland in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Channels of blue water between golden marsh grass, with a few pines on the horizon
Tidal marshes at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: USFWS · public domain · resized
Canada geese on the water of an impoundment at Blackwater refuge
Canada geese in an impoundment at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (date not given). Photo: Betty Whetzel/USFWS · public domain · resized
A rock formation in the foreground with forested mountains in the background
The rock outcrop at Chimney Rock, the park's most popular vista, with mountains beyond (date not given). Photo: NPS Photo/Peggie Gaul · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

When do Fort McHenry's cherry trees peak?

Most likely between the last week of March and the first week of April.Source: National Park Service, Cherry Blossoms at Fort McHenry ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is fall color at its best at Patuxent?

The Fish and Wildlife Service puts the refuge's peak in late October.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages