Foliage map › National parks and forests › Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park fall foliage
Shenandoah National Park follows the crest of the Blue Ridge for about 105 miles in northern Virginia, between the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Virginia Piedmont to the east. The high central section around Skyland and Big Meadows typically peaks in mid-October, and the lower slopes and the valleys below follow later in the month.
- Typical peak
- Oct 15 – Oct 30
- Location
- Virginia
- Size
- About 200,000 acres
- Elevation
- About 500 to 4,051 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 15 at Skyland. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Skyland, at 3,680 feet. See below for other parts of the park.
Peak by place and elevation
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each place. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s status.
The season at Skyland
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Where to see the color in Shenandoah
Skyline Drive runs the length of the park with about 70 overlooks. In the central district, Skyland sits at the highest point on the drive, about 3,680 feet, near the trail to Stony Man, and Hawksbill, the highest peak in the park at 4,051 feet, has a summit view over the valley. Near Big Meadows, a broad open meadow, a trail leads down to Dark Hollow Falls.
Scenic drive
Skyline Drive runs about 105 miles from Front Royal in the north to Rockfish Gap in the south, where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway, with entrances at Thornton Gap (US 211) and Swift Run Gap (US 33) in between. The overlooks face east over the Piedmont and west over the Shenandoah Valley. From Rockfish Gap, Charlottesville is about 25 miles east.
Trees you’ll see turning
Scenic drive guide
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park?
In a typical year, the high central section around Skyland and Big Meadows peaks in mid-October, and the lower elevations and the valleys on either side peak later in October.
What is the best way to see fall color in Shenandoah?
Skyline Drive, which runs the full length of the park along the crest of the Blue Ridge, with overlooks on both sides.