Peak fall color arrives in Pittsburgh
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It's leaf-peeping season. Photo: Courtesy of DCNR
The wait for peak fall color is over. Foliage across the Pittsburgh region is reaching its most vibrant point this week, giving leaf peepers a fleeting window to catch the show.
Why it matters: You don't have to head to the mountains for a spectacular show. Some of the best viewing is now closer to home, while higher elevations have already passed their peak.
Zoom in: Fall color will peak this week in Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Washington counties, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Oct. 22-28 foliage report.
- Sugar maples and hickories are splashing the landscape with gold, while oaks will bring a second wave of color this and next week, turning deep red and yellow.
- Color has already peaked in the Laurel Highlands' higher elevations, but there's still time to catch the vibrant foliage. Tulip trees and maples brighten the roads and trails of Linn Run State Park in Westmoreland County, while oaks across Somerset County and the region's highest ridges are turning amber and gold, per the DCNR.
How it works: As days grow shorter, trees prepare for winter by producing less chlorophyll. The green fades and fall colors emerge before the leaves drop.
Zoom out: Weather plays a major role in how long the show lasts. Temperature, rainfall and sunlight all influence when leaves change and how vibrant they are.
The bottom line: Schenley, Frick, Riverview and Emerald View parks, along with Allegheny Cemetery, are some of the city's best spots for fall foliage.