National Recreation Area·Pennsylvania·24,147 acres
Allegheny National Recreation Area
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Thursday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
1 report came in from Warren County this week, 1 of them past peak. Our date held. See the county on the map.
When is peak fall foliage at Allegheny National Recreation Area in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Allegheny National Recreation Area around Oct 15, and the four days to aim for are Oct 14 to 17.
The recreation area runs from about 1,329 to 2,014 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 2 days: the high stands around Oct 13, the low ground around Oct 15. That's 2 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the recreation area | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 1,250 to 1,500 ft, 1,500 to 1,750 ft, 1,750 to 2,000 ft, 2,000 to 2,250 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 2,000–2,250 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 136%
- 1,750–2,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1437%
- 1,500–1,750 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1530%
- 1,250–1,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1527%
Height off 3DEP inside the recreation area’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the recreation area stands in it.
That’s 2 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Wednesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 15
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- 1,750–2,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 14
- 1,500–1,750 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 15
- 1,250–1,500 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 15
- Where to drive
- Route 6 through Allegheny National Forest, about 11 miles · Letchworth Gorge Road (Park Road), about 72 miles
- What turns
- northern red oak, red maple, white oak, shagbark hickory, sugar maple
What turns, and when
- northern red oak26%
- red maple24%
- white oak14%
- shagbark hickory13%
- sugar maple11%
- tulip poplar6%
Also named across Pennsylvania, outside what the canopy read measures here: American Beech.
Pennsylvania's vast forests turn every shade from scarlet maple to burgundy oak to bronze beech, and the Allegheny Plateau produces color that rivals the best of New England across a much larger canvas.
Questions people ask about Allegheny National Recreation Area
- When is peak fall foliage at Allegheny National Recreation Area?
Our forecast puts peak color at Allegheny National Recreation Area around Oct 15, and the four days to aim for are Oct 14 to 17.
- Where is the best fall color at Allegheny National Recreation Area right now?
On Nov 10 the recreation area is leaves down. The last band to peak was 1,250 to 1,500 feet, around Oct 15.
- How long does peak last at Allegheny National Recreation Area?
About four days at the top, Oct 14 to 17, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the recreation area's elevations the color moves over about 2 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 6 days.
- Is Allegheny National Recreation Area past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 15, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Allegheny National Recreation Area?
Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Hickory, American Beech. Pennsylvania's vast forests turn every shade from scarlet maple to burgundy oak to bronze beech, and the Allegheny Plateau produces color that rivals the best of New England across a much larger canvas.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 27 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 10 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
- Peak Oct 20 best Oct 19 to 22
- Peak Nov 4 best Nov 3 to 6
Fall color roads near Allegheny National Recreation Area
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the recreation area, so allow more by road.
- Route 6 through Allegheny National Forest
Pennsylvania's wildest stretch of forest, peaking in mid-October with a sea of red oak, cherry, and maple.
- Letchworth Gorge Road (Park Road)
The Grand Canyon of the East. Three major waterfalls framed by walls of orange and red hardwoods. Peak is early-to-mid October.