--- title: Maryland Reports Fall Foliage Peaks in Baltimore and Annapolis canonical: https://marylandfeed.com/maryland-reports-fall-foliage-peaks-in-baltimore-and-annapolis/ published: '2026-11-05T13:01:26-05:00' updated: '2026-11-05T13:01:26-05:00' author: MarylandFeed Staff section: Natural Resources tags: - Fall Foliage - Natural Resources - Trails - State Parks - Coffee Shops - Fires source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources source_url: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/11/05/fall-foliage-report-nov-5/ publisher: MarylandFeed attribution: Copyright MarylandFeed. Quote with credit to MarylandFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Maryland Reports Fall Foliage Peaks in Baltimore and Annapolis According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as of November 5, 2026, fall foliage in areas west of Frederick is past its peak, while Baltimore and Annapolis are experiencing peak colors this week. The Eastern Shore is also reaching peak foliage, making this week an ideal time to enjoy the outdoors. The agency noted that the fall wildfire season is beginning, with nearly all wildfires in Maryland caused by human activity, particularly debris burning. --- ### Press Release: Maryland Department of Natural Resources *Published November 5, 2026. Reproduced in full from the [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/11/05/fall-foliage-report-nov-5/).* #### Fall Foliage Report Nov. 5 Maryland’s fall foliage in areas west of Frederick is past its peak, while Baltimore and Annapolis are hitting the highs this week with bold maples and ochre oaks. The Eastern Shore is also reaching peak foliage, making this week a great weekend to get outside. Along with the fall colors, troops of mushrooms are sprouting at Pocomoke River State Park, all in time for the third annual Fungi Fest on Saturday, Nov. 7. As fall foliage season ends, fall wildfire season begins. Wildfire activity in Maryland peaks during the spring and fall, when the absence of leaf cover allows sunlight and wind to reach and dry the forest floor. Nearly all wildfires in Maryland are caused by human activity, with debris burning being the leading cause. Please take care, especially with outdoor fires, when all those crunchy leaves are on the ground! Leaves change in the Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden in Annapolis. #### Foliage Reports **Forester Aaron Cook, Washington County** The slow, steady progression to peak fall color takes an entire month. Once at peak the pace quickens, so much so that it can seem if you blink you may have missed the entire show. Despite excellent conditions, such as dry, calm weather, many of the leaves have started to fall to the ground, and we are now seeing bare trees in many locations. We have passed peak, but there are still pockets of color to be found. The showers this week should bring down more leaves, and provide needed rain. Foliage in Blairs Valley. **Forester Nathan House, Baltimore County** Fiery maple leaves. We are at peak foliage this week. **Ranger Lesley Leader, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area** Foliage in Cecil County is displaying a glorious palette of orange and gold. It’s been a beautiful fall season. Calm warm days with low winds have meant the leaves have been hanging on for longer than is usual. Near Oak Point. Photo By Gianna Emmons. Training Center Drive. Photo by Christian Gerard. **Forester Alex Fignar, Mid-Shore** Changing leaves on the mid-Shore. Wow, what a difference a week makes! The Maryland Forest Service has just declared the Mid Shore open for peak leaf peeping! The deciduous trees have all been electrified with fall colors from bright yellows and oranges to reds that present in shades of neon and fire. The days are still temperate and warm with cooler nights. It is still the perfect weather to grab a crab cake sandwich or a glass of wine at one of our fine waterfront cafes and view the beautiful fall foliage against glistening waterways. Our state forests and parks also provide miles of hiking trails that will provide you with an off-the-beaten-path leaf-peeping experience that cannot be enjoyed at highway speeds. If you are coming to the east side of the Bay, get here quickly, because the leaves are changing every day! **Kevin Dietrich, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Museum** Grasshopper at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. **Rachel Egolf, Somerset County** It’s a beautiful time to be in the woods here on the Lower Shore. We are approaching peak color this week. You can see all the colors of fall on any given stretch of road and trail. The stars of the show, bronze colored oaks, red maples, yellow hickories, yellow to crimson-red sweet gums, and burgundy flowering dogwoods, are the colors you’ll find in the vibrant palette this week. Watch out for poison ivy! It has joined in on the color change, so the usual shiny leaves of three have changed to red. **Forester Ian McGovern, Worcester County** We are at peak this week down in Worcester. Look for full reds and oranges in the hardwood areas near water in the county. Especially the bald cypress trees along the Pocomoke River which are showing their very unique rusty color this week. Changing bald cypress turn a rusty shade. Notice the distinctive knees spread out around the base of the tree. #### Celestial Report By Anthony Burrows With a new moon arriving on Nov. 9, dark skies make this week ideal for stargazing. You might even catch a few lingering meteors from the tail end of the Taurid peak. To spot them, look toward the constellation Taurus. Because the Moon is rising in the early pre-dawn hours, the next few mornings offer a great opportunity to catch some dramatic moonrises: - **November 6:** A slender waning crescent clears the horizon around 4 a.m. - **November 7:** The crescent thins out even further, rising around 5 a.m. - **November 8:** At just 0.6% illumination, the hairline sliver will be a tough catch, but early birds can try spotting it low on the horizon around 6 a.m. **The Highlight: November 7** Be sure to set an alarm for the morning of Nov. 7. The moon and brilliant Venus will share the same right ascension for a striking planetary conjunction. Rising side-by-side in the southeast around 5 a.m., the duo will remain visible until twilight washes them out around 6:20 a.m. Keep an eye out for the “Da Vinci Glow” (earthshine): sunlight reflecting off Earth’s daytime clouds and oceans softly illuminates the shadowed face of the moon, revealing its ghostly full silhouette alongside Venus. Moon with Da Vinci Glow, Venus. Photo by Anthony Burrows. #### The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund: Caring for Our Trees A squirrel runs along a path in the Tawes Garden in Annapolis. Maryland communities seeking support to care for their trees and forests can now use a single application to access several funding sources through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Community Forestry Catalyst Fund (CF2). Local governments, nonprofits, schools, community associations, businesses, and other organizations may apply for projects on eligible public or private property in Maryland. Individual residents are not eligible for direct awards. Additional eligibility requirements are outlined in the program’s Request for Proposals. Applicants describe their project through a common application, and Forest Service staff determine which available funding source best fits the proposed work. When a project qualifies for more than one compatible source, funding may be combined into a single award. Potential funding sources include the U.S. Forest Service urban and community forestry funds, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Urban Tree Program, and Tree-Mendous Maryland, depending on availability in each review cycle. Eligible work can include forest assessments and management planning, invasive species control, tree establishment and care, and education or volunteer training. Changing foliage in the Tawes Garden in Annapolis. Standard funding requests may be made for up to $10,000. Projects require a cash or in-kind contribution from the applicant or its partners, such as volunteer time, donated materials, or professional services, but there is no minimum contribution amount or percentage. Applications are accepted year-round with reviews Jan. 15 and July 15. The next review deadline is Jan. 15, 2027. Organizations that receive an award may apply again in a later review cycle. Applications are available on DNR’s [Community Forestry Catalyst Fund](https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/Community-Forestry-Catalyst-Fund.aspx) webpage; potential applicants should review information on the [Request for Proposals](https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Documents/CF2-Request-for-Proposals.pdf) page. Questions about eligibility or the application process may be directed to forestry\_grants.dnr@maryland.gov. Source: [Maryland Department of Natural Resources](https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/11/05/fall-foliage-report-nov-5/)