Best Fall Foliage in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia - Tracking Websites 2022

Finding the best fall foliage in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia can be tricky because of the weather variables from year to year. I've found the trick is checking multiple tracking websites and reports from previous years. Below are the updates for 2022!

Best Fall Foliage in Virginia Websites

1. Virginia Department of Forestry: Their weekly report is really helpful! Includes a map at the bottom with typical peak dates:
   1. Eastern Half of Virginia: October 20-31
   2. Central (Harrisonburg to Danville): October 15-25
   3. Western Third of Virginia: October 10-20
2. Shenandoah National Park: Check their Instagram and Facebook on Thursdays for updates from 3 photo spots in the park. (Since Skyline Drive is 105 miles long north to south, there is definitely variety in peak times!)
   1. And you can check out their webcam at Big Meadows too! (Thx to @withsunshinesol for the great tips from the Insta post.)
3. SmokeyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on!
   1. According to their map, looks like in 2022, Shenandoah is at its peak around October 24, 2022, and Northern Virginia is at its peak around October 31, 2022
4. Virginia.org: Great lists of fall trips all around Virginia!
5. Fall Festivals in Northern Virginia: Check out this list of 33 Fall Festivals in Northern Virginia to enjoy the leaves and more family fun!
6. Personal Recommendations on where to see the leaves in Virginia:
   1. Massanutten Resort Chair Lift
   2. Lake Accotink Park, Springfield
   3. Winkler Botanical Preserve, Alexandria
   4. Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station

---

Best Fall Foliage in Maryland Tracking Websites

1. Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Helpful map of the current status (green to red) of each county in Maryland! This is my go-to website this year to check out the fall foliage in Maryland.
2. SmokeyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on!
   1. According to their map, looks like, in 2022, most of Maryland is at its peak around October 24, 2022. The mountains near West Virginia might be a week earlier.
3. Visit Maryland: Great list of Maryland Fall Foliage trips!
4. Personal Recommendations on where to see the leaves in Maryland:
   1. Brookside Gardens, Wheaton
   2. Cabin John Regional Park, Bethesda
   3. Capital Crescent Trail, Bethesda
   4. Carroll Creek Park, Frederick

---

Best Fall Foliage in West Virginia Tracking

1. West Virginia Tourism: Detailed map of this year's predicted peak fall foliage. The western half of the state is predicted to peak in late October and the central will be in early to mid-October, 2022. Plus ideas on where to see the beauty!
2. SmokeyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on!

---

And don't forget, DC has trees too!

1. WUSA9: Article about usual peak dates usually around November 7th.
2. Washington.org: Where to go to photograph the Fall Foliage in and around DC!
3. Where to see the leaves in DC:
   1. The National Arboretum has an incredible variety including the Bonsai Museum which also changes leaves!
   2. Rock Creek Park (of course!)
   3. Theodore Roosevelt Island
   4. Book Hill Park Georgetown
   5. Tregaron Conservancy