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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

     

    Pennsylvania Fall Foliage Reports

    Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation -- or anywhere in the world.

    Only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color:

    • Eastern North America
    • The British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe
    • Northeastern China and northern Japan

    Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers.

    Pennsylvania’s location between 40° and 42° North latitude and its varied topography from sea level on the coastal plain to over 3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands supports 134 species of trees and many more shrubs and vines that contribute to the display of autumn color.

    Pennsylvania is the meeting ground of northern trees that flourish only on mountain tops farther south and southern species that are at the northern limits of their range.

    Northern tree species include:

    • Gray and paper (white) birches
    • Mountain maple
    • American mountain ash 
    • Quaking aspen
    • Pin (fire) cherry

    Southern tree species include:

    • Black gum
    • Black walnut
    • Pignut hickory
    • Flowering dogwood
    • Southern red and scarlet oaks
    • Sweetbay and umbrella magnolias
    • Persimmon
    • Pawpaw

    Ohio buckeye, bur oak, and shingle oak, common to the Mississippi Valley, have eastern outposts on the Allegheny Plateau.

    ​2023 Fall Foliage Reports

    Week One: September 28 - October 4, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Week Two: October 5 - October 11, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Week Three: October 12 - October 18, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Week Four: October 19 - October 25, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Week Five: October 26 - November 1, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Week Six: November 2 - November 8, 2023 Report (PDF)

    Additional Information

    Prime Locations for Viewing Pennsylvania Fall Foliage Interactive Map

    Why Do Autumn Leaves Change Color? Fact Sheet (PDF)

    Laurel Highlands Discover Fall Scenic Driving Tour

    Northern Loop

    This 125-mile loop is the quintessential “leaf peeper” road trip. The tour closely follows the ridge offering views at every turn. Allow a minimum of four hours to complete the tour.

    Scenic Driving Tour - Northern Loop Fact Sheet (PDF)

    Southern Loop

    This approximately 70-mile loop offers meandering drives through the valleys between the ridges of the highlands. Allow a minimum of two-and-a-half hours to complete the tour.

    Scenic Driving Tour - Southern Loop Fact Sheet (PDF)