It's Friday the 13th, and while some of us might be superstitious, the leaves sure aren't, and they are still doing their part to knock our socks off for the Virginia State Parks fall foliage.

Here's your Friday the 13th leaf report from 13 parks, plus 2 bonuses. Be sure to watch the video below, and go into the woods, if you dare...

If you must go into the woods, take someone with you! 

1 | KIPTOPEKE STATE PARK

Color changes: Goldenrod and highwater bush are in full bloom. Sumac is beginning to turn burgundy and dogwood is beginning to turn red.  Cherry is beginning to turn yellow but if windy conditions persist the leaves will not show much color. Hackberry is beginning to turn and is at a light chartreuse.  Fennel is past peak and is beginning to seed.

Best places to see the color: Raptor Trail and Cabin/ Lodge area are the showiest.  All along the south side of the entrance road has good color. 

Why you should visit this week: The prediction of a front passing through this week should increase the number of migratory songbirds and raptors significantly.

2 | BEAR CREEK LAKE STATE PARK

Color changes: This week at Bear Creek Lake State Park the Colors are beginning to shine through even more. Along with yellows from the tulip trees, the hickory and walnut have started to turn yellow as well. Reds are also starting to pop from red maples and dogwoods.

Best places to see the color: The brilliance of fall color can be seen as you come into the park along Trents Mill Road. Once in the park, Oak Hill Road and Bear Creek Lake Road are also nice drives to view the fall colors. The leaf colors around the lake will begin to show within the next week during the peak.

Why you should visit this week: Come visit the beautiful change of the season at Bear Creek Lake State Park. Enjoy a relaxing paddle across the lake or sit back and watch as the leaves gentle cascade from the tree around any of our campsites or cabins.

Follow this leafy scenic road to Claytor Lake State Park, Virginia

3 | CLAYTOR LAKE STATE PARK

Color changes: Maples are changing color to a fiery red/orange. Dogwoods are a red rust color. Walnut trees are yellow and have few leaves left. Poplars have integrated yellow and green leaves. Oaks are starting transition to brown color. Sweet Gum trees are showing beautiful colors ranging from green to yellow, and yellow to orange and red on some trees. All other trees are showing a variety of alternating color throughout the park.   

Best places to see the color: Currently the best place to see the fall color is around the waterline of Claytor Lake, while driving down State Park Road entering the park, and while hiking one of our seven trails.

Why you should visit this week: This weekend guests will have beautiful weather to come out and enjoy the park whether they are camping, fishing, hiking or just having a picnic. The park foliage is beginning to change beautiful colors. Right now the foliage is very colorful around the lake.  

SEE THE FALL FOLIAGE AT THESE PARKS ON THE VIDEO BELOW:

4 | HIGH BRIDGE TRAIL STATE PARK

Color changes: The Tulip Poplars are holding onto summer and maintaining a vivacious lime green color, fighting the xanthophyll creeping up to turn the leaves yellow. Some sap has been trapped in the Maple leaves which have turned burgundy, violet, and bright red. The Walnut trees are turning yellow and a variety of different trees are turning tangerine and golden colors.

Best places to see the color: Trees along all 31 miles of trail are starting to turn beautiful fall colors. Specifically, the High Bridge itself and Camp Paradise Fort are two great places to see the trees.

Why you should visit this week: 

We are offering brand new kid’s programs focusing on history and nature. Saturday, October 15 at 1 p.m. the program “Paint with All the Colors…” is making its debut in which children will be making their own paints out of nature and creating a painting with it. On Sunday, October 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. bring your kids to Camp Paradise Fort for a kid’s fort tour complete with Civil War relics and examples of period dress.

Sunday, October 15 at 10 a.m. there will be a hike along our Spur Line trail, a great opportunity to see all of the fall foliage changing.

SEE A LISTING OF ALL FUN FALL EVENTS HERE

5 | NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK

Color changes: This week the maples, paw paws, ash, hickory, and walnut are all starting to change color. Maples are starting to turn yellow but will end up red by next week. 

Best places to see the color: Fall colors are especially nice down at the bridge and on the Monacan Trail.

Why you should visit this week: This Saturday we are offering wagon rides that takes you to one of the highest ridgetops in the park. This evening ride offers great view of the foliage and mountains.

6 | LEESYLVANIA STATE PARK

Color changes: The orange and red leaves particularly catch our photographer’s eye at Leesylvania State Park. She chose maple trees.  

Best places to see the color: See the changing colors mostly by our Marina and along the beach.

Why you should visit this week: You are invited out to our Fall Festival coming up on October 21st.

7 | HOLLIDAY LAKE STATE PARK

Color changes: Walnut trees are loaded with nuts, Dogwoods, Maple, and Oaks are beginning to show colors.

Best places to see the color: All over the park, especially on the Lakeshore Trail and the Day Use Area.

Why you should visit this week: Its fall!

8 | HUNGRY MOTHER STATE PARK

Color changes: Poplar, Ash, Oak and Maples trees are the color changes we are seeing most this week.

Best places to see the color: All around the park you will find beautiful color, vibrant colors are reflecting very pretty on the water. We should be at peak by October 21.

Why you should visit this week: This weekend's interpretive events are Saturday at 9 a.m. you can enjoy a leisurely Fall Foliage Paddle and 1 p.m. you can take a fall colors hike lead by an interpreter.

9 | POCAHONTAS STATE PARK

Color changes: Along Beaver Lake many of the trees are still holding onto their dark green summer foliage. From the picture you can see many Red and White Oak trees, as well as Tulip Poplars, Maple, and Sweet Gum. The Beech Tree is beginning to show signs of yellowing leaves, and there are many scattered along the trails below it.

Best places to see the color: There are many places to view the changing leaves at Pocahontas State Park. Beaver Lake Trail is a 2.5 mile hike around the lake, on this trail there are 2 floating docks, as well as various overlooks to view the reflection of the changing leaves on the water.

Why you should visit this week: Visit Pocahontas State Park this Saturday (10/14) for the opportunity to test your survival and Leave No Trace skills against the Zombie Apocalypse, The Hiking Dead program begins at the Nature Center at 2:00. If you prefer a more leisurely way to enjoy our park, we have a Hey! Wagon ride on Sunday (10/15) meeting at the CCC Field at 2:00, you can learn more about the park’s history while viewing our changing leaves.  

See the fall leaves on the Train Tour October 18 at New River Trail State Park

10 | NEW RIVER TRAIL STATE PARK

Color changes: We are seeing more yellows and oranges this week.

Best places to see the color: The entire length of the New River Trail offers fall foliage views. The photo attached is near the Austinville access point.

Why you should visit this week: A great opportunity to see the fall foliage will be during our train tour on October 18 or the Van Tour on October 25. Guests should call the park office for reservations 276-699-6778. Park visitors can also rent bicycles Friday – Sunday at the Foster Falls location.

11 | DOUTHAT STATE PARK

Color changes: Majority of Maple leaves are orange and yellow with very few green. Walnut trees are completely yellow. Majority of Maple leaves are orange and yellow with very few green. Walnut trees are completely yellow.

Best places to see the color: Standing at the upper end of the lake at the boat launch.

Why you should visit this week: This Saturday October 14 we have are annual Apple Day, which a celebration of A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage and Arts and Crafts Fair. Demonstrations and the arts and crafts fair begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 5 p.m. Visit with traditional artisans and crafters including: apple farming, basket weaving, blacksmithing, soap making, and more. Douthat State Park will be providing concessions for the event. Souvenirs and fun food will be available to purchase including a smoke pork dinner, Brunswick Stew, hot dogs, and other goodies to temp your taste buds.

12 | STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK

Color changes: 

•             Red Maple:  Most of the leaves on this tree have turned, but are falling very quickly due to such dry weather.

•             Sugar Maple:  Near cabin #1 beginning to fully turn this week along with many other maple trees in the cabin area.

•             Willow Oak:  Near Playground beside Visitor Center.  Tree has made a total transformation in color over the past week; going from green to dark orange/brown.

Best places to see the color: The best places to see fall color at Staunton River State Park would be the cabin area, looking out over the two rivers that border the park, behind our visitor center, and next to the pool complex.

Why you should visit this week: On October 21st (8:00pm-11:00pm) Staunton River State Park will be hosting the Staunton River Star Party.  View some of the beautiful fall colors during the day and then visit some of the astronomers at our visitor center who will show you stars, moons, galaxies, and many other wonders that the universe has to offer.  More info here.

13 | FALSE CAPE STATE PARK

Color changes: Fall Foliage is different out here on the coast. With our forest primarily made up of “loblolly pines” and “live oaks” colors don’t vary much this time of year. However we do have a wide variety of other fall color changes and species that bloom primarily in the fall.

Best places to see the color: Sandridge Trail

Why you should visit this week: Prime season for bird migration!

B O N U S | WILDERNESS ROAD STATE PARK

Color changes: Maples are still turning, some yellow and some orange. The dogwoods are dark red right now and the poplars are yellow. These colors are still sparse as there has not been a lot of change yet. A large amount of leaves have fallen without turning due to drought, but we recently received much needed rain, so hopefully our color will start to explode soon.

Best places to see the color:  From just about anywhere on any of our trails. Martin’s Station offers a great undisturbed view of the mountains which are showing more color than the valley.

Why you should visit this week: The Park is celebrating its 19th annual Heritage Festival on Saturday (Oct 14) with live music, Appalachian Arts and Crafts, demonstrations, food, kids’ activities and more. Also, Martin’s Station will host their annual Fall Encampment with various 18th century demonstrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

B O N U S 2 | CALEDON STATE PARK

Color changes: This week, we’re finally seeing the beautiful orange colors in our trees around the park.

Best places to see the color: Trees like these can be seen all over the park, but we recommend the beautiful Caledon Marsh Trail.

Why you should visit this week: This week concludes our kayaking season, so if you’re interested in kayaking at Caledon one last time, this weekend is your chance. We have to kayak programs: Sunset Kayak, Saturday at 6:30pm, and Kayak with the Eagles, Sunday at 10am.

SEE THE CHANGING LEAVES AT VIRGINIA STATE PARKS

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