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Fall Photo Guide

Pennsylvania Fall Foliage 2026

Bare <20% Typical peak was 21 days ago

Typical peak window

Oct 7 – Oct 15

Centered on Oct 11 at reference elevation.

moderate confidence in typical timing.

The northern tier peaks in early October; the southeast corner waits until the end of the month.

Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .

Seasonal timing

In a typical season, Pennsylvania’s peak falls around Oct. 11, within the Oct. 7–15 window. The northern tier usually peaks in early October, while the southeast corner waits until the end of the month; high ground around 1,950 feet peaks near Oct. 10, ahead of valleys around 650 feet near Oct. 14.

What turns here

  • sugar maple
  • red maple
  • oak
  • birch
  • tulip poplar

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 11

Typical color progression for Pennsylvania. No change from Sep 3 to Sep 20. First color from Sep 20 to Sep 29. Approaching peak from Sep 29 to Oct 7. Peak from Oct 7 to Oct 15. Past peak from Oct 15 to Oct 25. Bare from Oct 25 to Nov 8.

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

Pennsylvania is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.

Pennsylvania by county

11 days from McKean County to Philadelphia County.

Typical fall foliage stage by county in Pennsylvania on November 1 Each county is shaded by its typical foliage stage. Peak runs from Oct 9 in McKean County to Oct 20 in Philadelphia County. Every county, its stage and its typical peak date are listed as text below the map. Adams County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Allegheny County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Armstrong County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Beaver County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Bedford County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Berks County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Blair County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Bradford County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Bucks County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Butler County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 13 Cambria County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Cameron County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Carbon County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Centre County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 13 Chester County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Clarion County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Clearfield County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Clinton County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Columbia County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Crawford County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Cumberland County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Dauphin County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Delaware County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 19 Elk County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Erie County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Fayette County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Forest County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Franklin County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Fulton County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Greene County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Huntingdon County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Indiana County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 13 Jefferson County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Juniata County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Lackawanna County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Lancaster County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Lawrence County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Lebanon County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Lehigh County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Luzerne County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 13 Lycoming County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 McKean County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 9 Mercer County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Mifflin County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Monroe County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 13 Montgomery County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Montour County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Northampton County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Northumberland County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Perry County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 17 Philadelphia County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 20 Pike County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Potter County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 9 Schuylkill County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 14 Snyder County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 16 Somerset County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Sullivan County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Susquehanna County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Tioga County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Union County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Venango County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 Warren County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 10 Washington County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Wayne County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 11 Westmoreland County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 15 Wyoming County: Bare on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 12 York County: Past peak on Nov 1, 2026, typically peaks Oct 18 Leonard Harrison Overlook Mount Davis Observation Tower Canyon Vista, Worlds End Colton Point Overlook Ganoga Falls, Ricketts Glen Baughman Rock Overlook Hawk Mountain North Lookout

Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method

A county is still an average. Bedford County spans 5 days on its own, ridge to valley.

Every county, as text
County Typical peak Stage on Nov 1, 2026 Median elev. Spread
Adams County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 587 ft 4 days
Allegheny County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,059 ft 1 days
Armstrong County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,145 ft 2 days
Beaver County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,124 ft 2 days
Bedford County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,335 ft 5 days
Berks County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 509 ft 2 days
Blair County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,267 ft 4 days
Bradford County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,345 ft 2 days
Bucks County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 336 ft 2 days
Butler County Oct 9 – Oct 17 Bare 1,229 ft 1 days
Cambria County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 2,126 ft 3 days
Cameron County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,763 ft 4 days
Carbon County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,573 ft 2 days
Centre County Oct 9 – Oct 17 Bare 1,454 ft 3 days
Chester County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 465 ft 1 days
Clarion County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,413 ft 1 days
Clearfield County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,565 ft 2 days
Clinton County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,374 ft 4 days
Columbia County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,013 ft 3 days
Crawford County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,280 ft 2 days
Cumberland County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 620 ft 2 days
Dauphin County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 611 ft 4 days
Delaware County Oct 15 – Oct 23 Past peak 239 ft 1 days
Elk County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,835 ft 2 days
Erie County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,191 ft 2 days
Fayette County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,411 ft 4 days
Forest County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,562 ft 1 days
Franklin County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 727 ft 3 days
Fulton County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 980 ft 3 days
Greene County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 1,240 ft 1 days
Huntingdon County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,030 ft 3 days
Indiana County Oct 9 – Oct 17 Bare 1,392 ft 2 days
Jefferson County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,568 ft 1 days
Juniata County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 775 ft 2 days
Lackawanna County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,411 ft 3 days
Lancaster County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 436 ft 1 days
Lawrence County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,066 ft 0 days
Lebanon County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 540 ft 1 days
Lehigh County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 643 ft 1 days
Luzerne County Oct 9 – Oct 17 Bare 1,090 ft 3 days
Lycoming County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,377 ft 3 days
McKean County Oct 5 – Oct 13 Bare 1,940 ft 1 days
Mercer County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,241 ft 1 days
Mifflin County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 859 ft 2 days
Monroe County Oct 9 – Oct 17 Bare 1,107 ft 4 days
Montgomery County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 333 ft 1 days
Montour County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 613 ft 2 days
Northampton County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 592 ft 2 days
Northumberland County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 633 ft 1 days
Perry County Oct 13 – Oct 21 Bare 640 ft 1 days
Philadelphia County Oct 16 – Oct 24 Past peak 34 ft 1 days
Pike County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,395 ft 3 days
Potter County Oct 5 – Oct 13 Bare 1,900 ft 3 days
Schuylkill County Oct 10 – Oct 18 Bare 1,095 ft 3 days
Snyder County Oct 12 – Oct 20 Bare 664 ft 1 days
Somerset County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 2,243 ft 3 days
Sullivan County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,881 ft 3 days
Susquehanna County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,503 ft 1 days
Tioga County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,696 ft 2 days
Union County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 775 ft 4 days
Venango County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,430 ft 1 days
Warren County Oct 6 – Oct 14 Bare 1,610 ft 2 days
Washington County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,172 ft 1 days
Wayne County Oct 7 – Oct 15 Bare 1,440 ft 2 days
Westmoreland County Oct 11 – Oct 19 Bare 1,183 ft 1 days
Wyoming County Oct 8 – Oct 16 Bare 1,216 ft 4 days
York County Oct 14 – Oct 22 Past peak 633 ft 2 days

Peak by elevation

4 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.

Elevation band Approx. elevation Typical peak Today
High ridges & passes 1,950 ft Oct 10 Bare
Mid elevation 1,600 ft Oct 11 Bare
Valleys & lowlands 650 ft Oct 14 Bare

Foliage stages

  1. No change 0–10%
  2. First color 10–25%
  3. Approaching peak 25–60%
  4. Peak 60–90%
  5. Past peak 40–70%, dropping
  6. Bare <20%

Plan the light

Pennsylvania on October 11, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Pennsylvania on October 11, 2026
EventTime
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon 6:50 AM
Sunrise Rises E · 99° 7:18 AM
Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light 7:55 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light 12:58 PM
Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset 6:00 PM
Sunset Sets W · 261° 6:37 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon 7:05 PM

Times in America/New York · day length 11h 19m · computed from NOAA solar equations.

Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.

Which way to point the camera

Sun rises E, sets W.

Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.

Where to shoot in Pennsylvania

7 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations

Recent reports from Pennsylvania

Report what you saw
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Common questions

When do the leaves change in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania typically peaks Oct 7 – Oct 15, centered on Oct 11. The northern tier peaks in early October; the southeast corner waits until the end of the month. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Pennsylvania?
Yes, by about 4 days. High ground around 1,950 ft peaks near Oct 10, while valleys near 650 ft wait until Oct 14. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
Where are the best places to see fall color in Pennsylvania?
The guide includes 7 researched locations in Pennsylvania, including Leonard Harrison Overlook, Mount Davis Observation Tower, Canyon Vista, Worlds End. Leonard Harrison Overlook turns first, around Oct 9, and Hawk Mountain North Lookout is last, around Oct 13. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
What trees turn color in Pennsylvania?
Mainly sugar maple, red maple, oak, birch, tulip poplar. 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.

Nearby states