While 28 Pennsylvania counties are at peak color for fall foliage, Lancaster County’s prime time is still to come.
Recent chilly nights helped colors develop through Pennsylvania forests, according to the latest Fall Foliage Report by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With morning lows in the 30s and 40s forecasted in many locations across the state, that trend is expected to accelerate, says the department.
Some of Pennsylvania’s northernmost counties have already passed peak color, earning a “Still nice, but declining” label in the Oct. 16 report.
The whopping 28 counties in peak color include northwest corner of the state to the Pennsylvania Wilds in northcentral Pa., extending as far east as Lackawanna and Carbon counties.
The vast majority of counties the state’s southeastern quadrant, including Lancaster and its surrounding counties, are labeled as approaching peak bloom.
Some places to see fall color are:
— Northwestern Pa: Route 8 from Barkeyville (off U.S. 80) north into Erie County; U.S. 6 through Erie and Warren counties and east; Route 322 beginning in Crawford County and heading east toward Clarion and along the Allegheny River on Route 62 north of Oil City toward Warren.
— Northcentral Pa.: Route 414 toward Slate Run; stop along the way and take a hike on the Dragons Back Trail.
— Northeastern Pa.: The Montage Tract and the Harvey’s Creek Tract, Big Pocono State Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Appalachian Trail.
— West-central and southwestern Pa.: Route 381 from Ligonier to Farmington; Lake Wilheim in Maurice K. Goddard State Park.
— Central and southeastern Pa.: Gallitzin State Forest, Nockamixon State Park, David R. Johnson Natural Area. Route 443 in Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Route 233 around Caledonia State Park.
Find even more suggestions in this week’s report here. The weekly reports will be published each Thursday for at least six weeks this fall.
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