--- title: Maryland Fall Foliage Report Indicates Peak Colors in Several Counties canonical: https://marylandfeed.com/maryland-fall-foliage-report-indicates-peak-colors-in-several-counties/ published: '2026-10-29T16:30:42-04:00' updated: '2026-10-29T16:30:42-04:00' author: MarylandFeed Staff section: Natural Resources tags: - Fall Foliage - Natural Resources - State Parks - Trails - Concerts - Family Events source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources source_url: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/29/fall-foliage-report-oct-29/ publisher: MarylandFeed attribution: Copyright MarylandFeed. Quote with credit to MarylandFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Maryland Fall Foliage Report Indicates Peak Colors in Several Counties The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported on October 29, 2026, that foliage is past peak in Garrett County, at peak in Washington, Baltimore, and Cecil counties, and starting to change on the lower Eastern Shore. Forester Melissa Nash noted that most trees in Garrett County have lost their leaves, while vibrant colors are still visible in other regions. Forester Aaron Cook described Washington County as having reached peak foliage, with a landscape glowing in autumnal hues, and Forester Nathan House indicated that Baltimore County is near peak, showcasing brilliant reds and oranges. --- ### Press Release: Maryland Department of Natural Resources *Published October 29, 2026. Reproduced in full from the [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/29/fall-foliage-report-oct-29/).* #### Fall Foliage Report Oct. 29 Foliage is past peak in Garrett County; at peak in Washington, Baltimore, and Cecil counties; and starting to change in earnest on the lower Eastern Shore. Keep an eye out for vibrant yellow hickory trees and sunset-hued sugar maples. A maple leaf shifting from green to red. Annapolis, Oct. 28. #### Foliage Reports **Forester Melissa Nash, Garrett County** Leaves are past peak in Garrett County. Golden and burgundy tones of oaks are all that remain as most other trees have lost their leaves. We are well past peak in Garrett County but the remaining leaves are making for a nice final display against what has been largely bluebird skies. **Forester Aaron Cook, Washington County** Blackberry leaves. Let the red lanterns mark your path as you make your way through the yellows, tans, and browns of changing oaks and hickories. Aldo Leopold, a forester and author of the book “*A Sand County Almanac*” wrote: *“The lanterns are blackberry leaves, red in October sun… Almost anything may happen between one red lantern and another.”* Leopold opined *“that for the ensuing eleven months the lanterns glow only in recollection. Sometimes I think the other months were constituted mainly as a fitting interlude between Octobers.”* As we reach the end of October, Washington County has reached peak fall foliage. The ridges are glowing with autumnal hues of red, gold, rust, yellow, and orange. The weather has remained absolutely perfect for observing this seasonal show, which can be observed just about anywhere this week. **Forester Bob Schwartz, Washington County** Yellow hickories shining in the sunlight. The landscape is awash with about every autumn tone this week, we are at peak. Our recent stretch of bluebird skies has kept many of the earlier turning leaves on the trees while the later turning leaves of oaks and hickories have at last joined them. Russet, which is both the most autumnal word I can think of as well as the perfect descriptor of the usual color of oak leaves, joins the burnt gold of the hickories, lantern red of the blackberries, the dusky purple of the flowering dogwood, and creamy white of perennial wildflower seedheads, among others, to provide a better-than-anticipated show. One of the most underappreciated groups of autumn trees, I think, are the hickories. When most folks think of autumn, I imagine they think of the candy apple red maple, sunset tone sugar maple, or the purple of ash, but walking beneath a burnt gold canopy of hickory, flanked by the sun, is a completely different experience. The compound leaf of the hickory allows much of the light through but warms the quality of the autumn sun, casting the world in sepia. **Forester Nathan House, Baltimore County** Changing maple leaves in Annapolis. We are near peak foliage in Baltimore County. Native trees stealing the show include sweetgums, red maples, and flowering dogwoods, all displaying brilliant reds and oranges. Expect this palette to continue and fluctuate over the next couple of weeks as more oaks join the mix and current peak color trees drop leaves. **Ranger Lesley Leader, Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area** Blue Sky on Big Elk Creek by Christian Gerard Vibrant red maples and brilliant yellow hickories signify the peak of fall color in Cecil County. **Forester Alex Fignar, Dorchester County** Deep in the deciduous forests of Dorchester County, shorter days and cooler nights have finally begun to bring a yellow auburn hue to the forest. Willow Oaks and Sweet Gum are just ever so slightly bringing color change, while Red Maple, true to its name, has begun its journey into crimson red. **Forester Rachel Egolf, Somerset County** Fall foliage on the Eastern Shore. Somerset County’s trees are getting into the spirit of the season. Around every corner you can see evidence of the cooler, near frost nights with trees in every fall fashionable color imaginable. We are not quite near peak, but we are close. It is a colorful time as red maples and sweet gums can be a mix of yellow, orange and crimson red on the same tree! The black gums are a deep scarlet red to burgundy and purple in the understory, with flowering dogwood also turning deep reddish purple with red berries and next year’s buds visible. Also in the lower canopy shrub layer we see staghorn sumac turning deep pink to burgundy. White oak leaves range from burnt orange or copper to red. Yellow poplars are beginning to turn bright yellow in the upper canopies. We have some areas in the county that look like it has already snowed. The groundsel bush with its profuse snowy white and cream colored flowers is in full bloom. Also known as waterbush or saltbush, the fluffy flowers resemble small paintbrushes. This plant with its grey green leaves tells you where the solid ground is. **Janet Heaton, Pocomoke River State Park** Changing foliage at the Shad Landing area of Pocomoke River State Park. The colors of the trees have intensified across all ranges of golden yellows, burnt oranges, and deep crimson reds. **Ranger Meghan Rhode, Assateague Island State Park** This is the first week we have seen a lot of color show up in the trees on the mainland surrounding the park. #### Submissions Anne Arundel Bumblebees sleeping on Showy Goldenrod- by Gabriel Diggs Howard County. Photo by Caline Britto Lopes. The woodland canopy glows with shades of crimson, gold, and amber beneath a brilliant blue sky. Though the wetland is dry due to the ongoing drought, the beauty of autumn still shines through in this peaceful corner of Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, Maryland. Photo by Suzy Moore, Director of Advancement. #### Celestial Report A chart showing the constellation Taurus. By Anthony Burrows With November right around the corner, it is time to say goodbye to warm nights and comfortable breezes. Temperatures drop quickly during peak stargazing hours, so be sure to dress for the cold. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! The silver lining: far fewer bugs. The planetary action kicks off right away on November 2, when the Moon and Mars team up for a close pairing. A few nights later, on November 4 and 5, the Taurid meteor shower reaches its peak. While it is a modest shower producing around 5 to 10 meteors per hour, viewing conditions will be ideal thanks to a slender waning crescent Moon. To spot them, follow the constellation Taurus. Start in the east/northeast early in the evening, to the southeast after midnight ending in the west/southwest before sunrise. A new Moon follows shortly after on November 9, bringing even darker skies. Speaking of moons, if you missed October’s Hunter’s Moon, check out the photo below. Best of all, keep your eyes on the night sky in the coming weeks, we have back-to-back supermoons lined up for November and December. #### Happenings **Helmets and Harvest** Check out the **Helmets and Harvest AgriTrail, which celebrates Maryland’s bike trails and agritourism businesses!** Pick a region to explore, then check in at designated bike paths and businesses to earn points toward autumnal swag, 10 points for a sticker, 15 points for a water bottle, and 20 points for a knit beanie! **Pumpkin Carving or Painting** Oct. 30, 3-6 p.m. Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing Area Bring your own pumpkin to the Pocomoke River State Park camp store to decorate. Free. RSVP to (410) 632-2566. **Fungi Fest** Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to noon Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing Area Celebrate all things fungi while promoting healthy, active lifestyles and a love of the outdoors. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning with a 5K walk/run followed by a farmers market-style festival featuring vendors, live music, interpretive programs, arts and crafts, and family-friendly yard games. Source: [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/10/29/fall-foliage-report-oct-29/)