Maryland Fall Foliage 2026
Garrett County in the Allegheny highlands leads the show, with ridges around 3,000 feet hitting peak in the first half of October. Sugar maple and red maple dominate the canopy. By late October, color moves through the Piedmont and toward the Chesapeake, with oaks and hickories taking longer to turn. The Eastern Shore trails by weeks, often holding green into November before its own cycle begins.
When Maryland peaks
Oct 9 – Oct 17
Centered on Oct 13. Western mountains peak in early-to-mid October; the Eastern Shore is a November event.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- oak
- hickory
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 13Typical color progression for Maryland. No change from Sep 5 to Sep 22. First color from Sep 22 to Oct 1. Approaching peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Peak from Oct 9 to Oct 17. Past peak from Oct 17 to Oct 27. Bare from Oct 27 to Nov 10.
Color starts around Sep 22.
Peak by elevation
16 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 5,000 ft | Oct 4 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 2,500 ft | Oct 13 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 500 ft | Oct 20 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Maryland on October 13, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:58 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 7:25 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:01 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:03 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 6:05 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:41 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:08 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 17m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Maryland
2 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls No change
Youghiogheny Highlands · 2,319 ft · peaks Oct 13
Maryland's tallest free-falling waterfall drops 53 feet over a sandstone lip inside an old-growth hemlock and white pine stand. The dark conifers hold the edges of the frame while red maple and yellow birch supply the color along the creek.
- Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain No change
Catoctin Mountain · 1,395 ft · peaks Oct 16
A quartzite outcrop on the east face of Catoctin Mountain looking down over Thurmont and the Monocacy Valley. Broken rock ledges give a hard foreground against the oak and maple color dropping away below.
Recent reports from Maryland
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Maryland?
- Maryland typically peaks Oct 9 – Oct 17, centered on Oct 13. Western mountains peak in early-to-mid October; the Eastern Shore is a November event. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Maryland?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 5,000 ft peaks near Oct 4, while valleys near 500 ft wait until Oct 20. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Maryland?
- We track 2 verified locations in Maryland, including Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls, Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain. Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls turns first, around Oct 13, and Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain is last, around Oct 16. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Maryland?
- Mainly sugar maple, red maple, oak, hickory. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.