Where to See the Best Fall Colors in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey
The fall season is upon us, and if you want to see the best and brightest fall colors, you’ll want to know the best time to see fall colors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. It’s different for every region, and the best time to view fall colors is actually different each year, because so many factors go into when colors change and just how much they change. If you’re looking to do leaf-peeping, keep this information about the best time to see fall colors handy.
Best Fall Foliage in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware
The fall colors for the 2024 season are going to be different than ever before, in terms of when and where they peak. According to the experts at Accuweather.com, if there isn’t a lot of consistent rainfall during the summer, it can stress out trees and cause them to lose their leaves early. That makes for “duller colors.” On the flipside of that, having too much rainfall is also an issue. “If there’s a lot of rain from late summer into the early fall, you can get mold to develop on some of the trees and also invite lots of insects,” AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Paselok said. Because of this year’s weather patterns, “the best areas to see vivid fall foliage this year will be outside of the traditionally popular tourist destinations due to the weather across the United States leading up to peak leaf-peeping season.”
According to the Accuweather map, the most vibrant fall colors will be in the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley this season. But, the Northeast and New England will also get decent colors, with those areas falling into the “typical” colors area. Most of the U.S. will also get “typical” colors, which can still be beautiful.
In Pennsylvania, Visit Pennsylvania names Allegheny National Forest the best place to see fall colors. They also say the best time to view is late September or early October. “Allegheny National Forest is filled with deciduous trees with a wide array of warm reds, lively yellows, and deep oranges in autumn,” they note. “Take a leisurely drive through the colorful forest or choose from a variety of hiking and biking trails to see the foliage up close.”
In Delaware, Visit Delaware highlights Mt. Cuba Center in northwestern Delaware as a great spot for “photographers looking to capture the splendor of the season.” The best time to view in Delaware is the second half of October and beginning of November. For New Jersey, Visit New Jersey suggests hitting up Stokes State Forest in Branchville from early-to-mid October, offering “hiking paths, scenic overlooks and picnic facilities.” In general, colors in the Northeast last through early November, but October brings the brightest.
