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Friday Fall Foliage Report: Sept 29, 2017
Each week we bring a fresh update of the fall foliage changes at various parks across the state.
From poplars, oaks, cherry, to maple and walnut trees, we have so many leafy trees you are sure to find something beautiful this autumn outside at a Virginia State Park. Pack a picnic and plan an outing to one of these beautiful parks.
A leaf strewn path on Boyd's Hole Trail is just the beginning at Caledon State Park
Be sure to watch the video below
For fresh photos of the fall leaves at these parks
At Caledon, trees are just beginning to show yellow and light orange tints. Soon this will give way to an array of warm colors spreading throughout the many trails of the park.
Upcoming interpretive programs for the last weekend of September will be Friday, September 29, Welcome Campfire at 7 p.m. and on Saturday,
September 30, 2017 at 10 a.m. Who’s in Your Backyard, 1 p.m. Let Them Bee and at 3 p.m. Trick Your Stick. Weather has been hot in the low 80’s and forecast to be warm and pretty through the weekend. Peak colors are predicted to be 2nd week in October for our area.
- Cherry trees are dropping leaves.
- Walnut trees starting to drop/change colors.
- Maple trees starting to change color to red.
- Dogwoods turning rust color.
- Sweet Gum trees starting color transition to yellow/orange.
- Oaks turning to brown and dropping leaves/acorns.
Overlooking Beaver Lake from the floating docks the early morning light casts a glow on what is going to be another warm day at Pocahontas State Park. Although we are enjoying these last few days of the heat, we are seeing early signs of fall in the forest. We are still seeing a lot of green but slowly, leaves are beginning to fall and cover the trails. Soon enough we will be enjoying the bright reds, yellows and oranges of the changing leaves.
At New River Trail State Park the maple trees turning red/orange-yellow/purple colors, black walnut trees turning yellow, others a yellow-green, but most are still green. Peak fall colors should be between October 10-17.
A great place to see the fall leaves is at “The Point” which is one of the more secluded areas in the park, and is known as a National Landmark. It is also where the Staunton River and the Dan River come together and flow into the John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake), thus forming the point in the land.
We have beautiful large oak trees in the park. All of these trees are directly in front of our cabin area, and can be seen very well from the road and a few hiking trails. While there is not a lot of that fall color in these trees yet, we will continue to monitor the changes over the next several weeks.
This week at Natural Bridge State Park, we have had the trees begin to show some color! Little bit of yellows here and there but since the weather has been warmer this month and very little rainfall, we are getting to see only a small change this week.
We look forward to the coming weeks as the leaves bring out their reds, oranges, and darker shades of green around the Natural Bridge and the visitors are enjoying the walks down our Cedar Creek Trail daily.
FALL IN LOVE WITH VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
