Virginia is diverse in landscape, from the highest mountains to the Eastern Shore. The variety in landscape and elevation provides a long fall foliage season, starting earliest in the higher elevations and moving eastward. Fall colors generally peak sometime between October 10 and October 31; however, these dates can vary from year to year, based on factors such as temperature and rainfall.
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November 12, 2025
Virginia’s fall foliage season is long, but in November there comes an end at last. Winter moves in from the West and down the mountains, baring branches and painting any remaining leaves in shades of brown.
Still craving fall? Head east! In central Virginia, oak and beech are holding onto some color, while the Coastal Plain still features maple, oak, and sweetgum. Already longing for summer shades? Look no further than the nearest pine forest for some year-round green.
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- Northampton County
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- Sweetgum
It’s a good time for a walk in the woods. Enjoy the satisfying crunch of leaves underfoot; dry grasses and seed stalks shuddering in a bracing breeze; underbrush-rustling white-throated sparrows and juncos fresh from the North for a winter vacation. Every season is beautiful here in Virginia!
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- Mint Springs Valley Park, Crozet
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- Southern red oak, Biscuit Run Park, Albemarle County
Why Leaves Change Color
- Chlorophyll gives leaves their familiar green color.
- Carotenoids produce yellow, orange, and brown colors.
- Anthocyanins produce red and purple colors and are the same pigments that give color to fruits like blueberries and cherries.
Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the leaf cells throughout the growing season. During this time, chlorophyll is produced and leaves appear green. As days get shorter, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops. With the green color no longer visible, the yellow carotenoids are revealed. During autumn, bright light and excess plant sugars produce red anthocyanins within leaf cells.
Virginia’s many species of deciduous trees create an interesting mix of autumn colors. Here are some colors you can expect from some of our most common species:
| Tree | Color | Timing |
| Black Gum | Bright red | Early |
| Dogwood | Red to maroon | Early |
| Tulip-poplar | Yellow | Early |
| Red Maple | Orange to brilliant scarlet | Middle |
| Sugar Maple | Bright orange | Middle |
| Beech | Yellow to orange | Middle |
| Hickory | Gold | Middle |
| Oaks | Deep red, amber, russet | Late |
Fall Foliage Resources
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
- Shenandoah National Park
- Explore Fall
- Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map
- All things Fall In Virginia from the Virginia Tourism Corporation
- Find a state forest to view fall color
- Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located just south of Washington, DC.
Fall Foliage Driving Tours
Try our DOF-recommended Fall Foliage Driving Tours.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Date | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall | F00009 | Forest Facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of the science of leaves changing colors, the role of pigments, effects of the calendar and weather, why these changes occur, and fall leaf identification information. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | 09/01/2011 | Publication | View | education public-information | publication |
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