Leaf peeping: When will our area's leaves turn?
STAUNTON — The weather is turning cool and fall has arrived in the Shenandoah Valley. Soon, the trees will be scattered with yellows, reds and oranges.
So when can you see that?
According to SmokyMountains.com, our area will near peak Oct. 10 and reach peak Oct. 17.
The Virginia Department of Forestry said the majority of the landscape is still green, but is quickly fading to yellow across the northern and western portions of Virginia.
"As shorter days trigger a slowdown in chlorophyll production, yellow pigments begin to be visible in the leaves," the VDOF said.
According to the VDOF report, higher elevation forests in the southwest part of the state have up to 30% of color change in some pockets — mostly from birches, magnolias and a few maples. In the Alleghenies, color is confined to small groups of trees, the report said. From central to west, early changers include black walnut, sumac, dogwood and black gum, the report said. The VDOF said sycamores are yellowing along the rivers, and urban maples are showing a red branch.
"The intensity of fall color varies with weather conditions," the VDOF report said. "Cooler nights to come will enhance the development of red pigments. Meanwhile, we can continue to enjoy the abundant yellow wildflowers, like goldenrod, that light up the autumn roadsides."
Skyline Drive has 105 miles of leaf-peeping opportunity if you want to buy a park pass, or you could head south the Blue Ridge Parkway, which has 216 miles to travel.
If you're looking for a scenic tree-lined drive near Staunton, the drive to Monterey is pretty in the fall. There are scenic views heading down to Goshen and then south as well.
For easy viewing, you can catch a glimpse of some beautiful colors at Staunton's Gypsy Gill Park or at the historic Thornrose Cemetery on 1041 W. Beverley St.
Shenandoah National Park is also a good spot to catch the leaves changing. October is one of the most popular times to visit the park, when it sees nearly a quarter of its annual visitation of 1.4 million, a release from the park said.
Here are a few common trees in Virginia and their leaf colors, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry:
Ash — yellow, maroon
Beech — yellow to orange
Dogwood — scarlet to purple
Hickory — golden bronze
Oak — red, brown or russet
Poplar — golden yellow
Red maple — brilliant scarlet
Sugar maple- orange
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Most leaf colors are already in the plant leaf, according to the VDOF. Chlorophyll gives the leaf its green color, carotenoids give the leaf yellow, orange and brown colors and anthocyanins add colors to red apples, blueberries, cherries, strawberries and plums.
Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are in the plant throughout the growing season. As days get shorter, chlorophyll production is slowed down and eventually stopped, making the green color no longer visible. That's when the other pigments — carotenoids — become more prominent. During the fall, bright light and excess plant sugar makes more anthocyanin in the leaf cells.
Driving tours
Below are fall foliage driving tours that the Virginia Department of Forestry has recommended.
Rockingham County
From I-81, exit 247 (Va. 33), follow Va. 33 west:
Follow Va. 33 West to Brandywine Lake, which has restrooms, camping, fishing and RV parking available. Returning on Va. 33 East, turn right onto Rt. 613 and travel approximately 5 miles to visit Paul State Forest at the intersection of Va. 613 and Va. 257. The Paul is predominantly white oak. Follow Rt. 257 West to Hone Quarry, which has restrooms, camping, and RV parking available. Follow Va. 257 East to Rt. 42; take Va. 42 North to return to Va. 33, or see Va. 42 Fall Driving Route below.
After leaving exit 247 on I-81, follow Va. 33 to its intersection with Va. 42 South in Harrisonburg. Turn left and follow Va. 42 to Natural Chimneys, which has camping facilities and RV parking on the North Fork. Continue on Va. 42 South from Mount Solon to Goshen.
Follow Va. 33 east:
Stay on Va. 33 to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Travel 12 miles to Va. 644 and follow signs to the Massanutten Resort. The resort offers chair lifts to the top of the mountain to observe the leaves, and have bands, arts and crafts.
Follow Va. 602 to Va. 636 West (Left Turn) to Cub Run Road, a distance of about 11 miles. You'll find Catherine Furnace, a well-preserved Civil War pig iron forge. As you leave on Va. 602, find Va. 636 East and follow it to U.S. 340. Take Rt. 340 from the Town of Shenandoah in Page County to Port Republic. Portable toilets, provide by the Shenandoah Blueway Committee and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, are available at the pubic boat ramps at Island Ford, Lynnville, Port Republic and Town of Shenandoah. The Shenandoah River Blueway is an excellent way to see the valley and its trees.
Shenandoah County
Driving time: approximately 1 - 1.5 hours, depending on speed and traffic.
Beginning at I-81, utilize the Edinburg exit (# 279)
Proceed east on Stony Creek Boulevard to the Town of Edinburg in which fuel, drinks and food can be purchased.
Turn left onto U.S. 11 and proceed north for approximately seven-tenths of a mile.
At Edinburg Motors, turn right onto Edinburg Gap Road (Va. 675). This country road will first take you across the scenic North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Soon you will enter the George Washington National Forest and begin to climb in elevation. The tree canopy over the road provides a brilliant display of color. After crossing the first range of the Massanutten Mountain, you will arrive at the sleepy crossroads of King’s Crossing.
At King’s Crossing, turn left onto Fort Valley Road. This scenic road will course lazily through the entire length of the long, but narrow Fort Valley. This small valley, located between two ranges of the Massanutten Mountains was named Fort Valley since it was a proposed hiding place for General Washington’s troops during the Revolutionary War.
After traveling approximately 12 miles on Fort Valley Road, the road will once again enter the George Washington National Forest. Here the valley becomes very narrow and Passage Creek will be adjacent to the road in various places along the way. As you travel along this winding section of road, you will catch glimpses of a stone wall that separates Passage Creek from the roadbed. The boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps built this stone wall during the 1930’s. This section of the National Forest also contains Elizabeth Furnace campground, a picnic area, and several hiking trails, including an interpretive trail to the ruins of Elizabeth Furnace, an 1800’s iron production facility. This interpretive trail is accessed via the parking lot of the picnic area.
Another short drive and the road will intersect Virginia Va. 55. Turn left on Va. 55 travel westward around the north end of the Massanutten Mountain range.
Once again, you will be crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and quickly thereafter entering the Town of Strasburg. Strasburg has many good restaurants, antique stores and museums.
From Strasburg, you can gain access to Interstate 81 via Va. 55 west or U.S. 11 north
Highland County
At exit 222 on I-81 near Staunton, follow U.S. 250 to Monterey. This tour begins as you cross the Highland County line.
At Monterey, travel west on U.S. 250 to Hightown.
Travel west on U.S. 250 to the West Virginia State Line. Turn around and head back to Hightown.
Travel west on U.S, 250 to the West Virginia State Line, and travel into West Virginia to Va. 92. Follow Va. 92 South to Va. 84 to return to Virginia. Va. 84 North will take you back to Hightown. (This tour is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.)
Follow Va. 640 North from Hightown to Va. 637, and follow Va. 637 South to return to Hightown. (This tour is approximately thirty minutes.)
Highland County to Bath County
At Hightown, follow Va. 640 to Va. 84 to Va. 600 and travel into Bath County.
Follow Va. 600 to Lake Moomaw;
Follow Va. 603 (a gravel road) through Bacova to Va. 39.
Take Va. 39 to Warm Springs
Take Va. 39 East to Lexington, or
Follow Va. 220 North to Monterey
Bath County
The Bath County Driving Tour begins in Lexington. At exit 191 on I-81 near Lexington, follow I-64 to Va. 39. This tour begins as you enter Va. 39.
Follow Va. 39 through Millboro Springs. At Va. 629, stay on Va. 39 to Warm Springs or follow Clifton Forge tour below.
To go Clifton Forge:
Turn left onto Va. 629 and travel to Clifton Forge. At Clifton Forge, follow Va. 220 South to Roanoke to complete this tour.
Approaching Warm Springs, two scenic tours are available:
Follow Va. 39 to Va. 603 (a gravel road), and take Va. 603 to Lake Moomaw. Va. 603 becomes Va. 600 (paved). Take Va. 600 to Va. 39, and turn right to return to Warm Springs. (If you stay on Va. 600, you can follow Va. 84 and then Va. 640 to Hightown in Highland County, and take their driving tour).
Take Va. 220 North to Monterey in Highland County.
Laura Peters is the trending topics reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Or a good feature? You can reach reporter Laura Peters (she/her) at lpeters@newsleader.com. Follow her @peterslaura. Subscribe to The News Leader at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Fall foliage: When can you get a peek at those changing colors?
