Autumn is in full swing! The air is getting chillier and the leaves are beginning to change colors, making it the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of the changing season. With fall colors now reaching their peak in Maryland, the best time to view the foliage is between now and November 10. Here are a few ways you can experience the colors of fall:
Take a tour:
Explore and learn about the changing colors with a guided hike. On Saturday, November 2, Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks will be hosting a Fall Foliage Hike at the Beverly Triton Nature Park at 10 a.m. and a Fall Color Walk at Lake Waterford Park at 1:30 p.m. Head to Tuckahoe State Park on Saturday, November 16, at 2 p.m. for a fall walk on the multi-purpose trail, followed by apple cider.
Explore on your own:
If you prefer a self-guided tour, head to your favorite park or trail and enjoy a walk, hike, or bike ride through nature. Quiet Waters Park, Downs Park, Martinak State Park, Tuckahoe State Park, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and the B&A Trail are all great choices. For even more options, check out our 2019 Hikes & Bikes Guide.
Take a drive:
View the foliage on the road by traveling one of the Maryland Scenic Byways. Start in Annapolis and drive the Roots & Tides Byway down to Prince Frederick. Some notable stops on the way include the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the American Chestnut Land Trust, and Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary. On the Eastern Shore, explore the 419-mile Chesapeake Country Byway—which stretches from Chesapeake City to Crisfield and includes Crystal Beach, the Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge, and Janes Island State Park. Or, travel a portion the 125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad—which begins in Cambridge and ends in Goldsboro and includes Martinak State Park, Sailwinds Park, and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center.
Plan a getaway:
If you’re up for a day or weekend trip, head towards Central and Western Maryland and check out some of the state’s most popular foliage-viewing spots—including Patapsco Valley State Park in Baltimore and Howard counties, Oregon Ridge State Park in Cockeysville, and Swallow Falls State Park in Garrett County. Another popular attraction is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland, which offers a Fall Foliage train ride through Maryland’s mountains.
