fall colors in Washington, DC
 

We'll be in Washington, DC next October for 4 ou 5 days and would like to know the best time and the best places to enjoy the foliage season. Many thanks for the suggestions.

I see by your other messages that your trip will be on or before October 10. That may actually be a bit early to see colours changing in the DC area, so it will be a matter of luck I would say. (Later in October is usually better.) There may be some limited opportunities to spot trees in colour along the Mall which you can see as you take in sights there. My suggestions would be to spend time in Rock Creek Park, the canal area in Georgetown, as well as possibly Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, and/or Hillwood Estate which is on the edge of Rock Creek Park, both of which have pretty grounds. If you have a car and can get out into the countryside, then you might consider the Great Falls, Virginia area or even further afield to something like Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia or Washington, Virginia (and eat at the Inn at Little Washington see http://www.theinnatlittlewashington.com/), either of which would be a pretty ride and offer a interesting day out. You can even get to a place like Gettysburg Pennsylvania, which is set in lovely rolling countryside, in about 1.5 hours from DC.

In DC itself, you can walk or rent bikes and go along the canal towpath in Georgetown. You can also take a ride by mule-drawn barge along the canal, sponsored by the National Park Service. The park offers lots of other tours in the canal area, take a look at http://www.nps.gov/choh/Calendar/Canaller.html

Rock Creek Park is a very large park stretching or many miles in northwest DC. You can walk or rent bikes and ride through the park. There are entrances to the park in many places, including near the National Zoo, further south off Connecticut Avenue and other places. See http://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm for a map and information. See a list of places below for possible bike rental.
Dumbarton Oaks and Hillwood are private homes turned into museums which have fairly good-size grounds and trees may be in foliage mode at that time. Both offer guided tours and are quite interesting. See http://www.doaks.org/ and http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/. Just strolling the little tree-lined streets of Georgetown can give you opportunities to see bursts of colour, assuming the trees have turned at that point.

You could also see trees in fall colour along the river, either by walking (try the river areas behind the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials) or by renting a canoe or kayak. Thompson Boat Center offers both boat and bike rentals. They are located along the Potomac River in the Georgetown area. You can apparently also hire kayaks and take guided kayak tours on the Potomac from a location in Southeast Washington, I have not done this, but take a look at the website www.atlantickayak.com/gangplank

Thompson Boat Center
2900 Virginia Ave NW
(at Rock Creek Parkway)
(202) 333-9543
http://www.thompsonboatcenter.com/

Bicycle Pro Shop
3403 M Street, NW
Phone: 202-337-0311
http://www.bicycleproshop.com/

Big Wheel Bikes
1034 33rd Street, NW
Phone: 202-337-0254
http://www.bigwheelbikes.com/

Revolution Cycles
3411 M Street, NW
Phone: 202-965-3601

October 10 will be way to early in DC area. Last year all was green well into late October. Peak was not until Nov 7 or so. It could easily be a week or so earlier this year, but still will all be green in early October. You'll need to get well up into the mountains of WV or Western VA for color.

Top of Shenandoah Park may have color by them, but probably not much lower than that. Could be though, depends on how soon the cooler weather kicks in. Either way, you'll probably need to get to a couple thousand feet elevation at least.

Cicerone and weimarer, thanks for the suggestions.
Is it correct to say that the best time could be from Oct 27 to Nov 10 ? Maybe I can change my schedule. Thanks again.

I agree early October is almost always too early for the leaves changing color in DC. But I don't think u can really estimate an exact time frame. That said,I think Nov 10 is generally late and I think of that as already raking the fallen leaves. R u planning on only being in DC proper and not traveling to the surrounding areas?

Yes, last week in October to first week in Nov are the best bet. Here's a good resource, especially for scenic drives in the countryside. The Fort Valley route (in the Shenadoah County section) is a winner, as are most anywhere out there once off I-81.

http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fall/index.shtml

Yestravel, I understand that it's hard to estimate an exact time frame. Actually we intend, after leaving DC, spend 2 or 3 days in the surrounding areas, especially the Shenandoah County, as suggested by weimarer.

Shenadoah Valley and Skyline drive usually peak around mid October or so. George Washington Forest also has great leaf peeping.

verabr, I'm not going to argue with yestravel. I live in the DC area and I can assure you, mid-October is too early except, at best, in the very highest elevations in western VA and WV in an early season.

Here is a picture I found (not a very good one) that was taken from the Skyline Drive on Nov 2, 2008. There is still green left on some of the trees and it is not even peak color.
If you can, change your trip to at most a week before this time. It would take a major freak of nature to push this scenario back 3 weeks.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG

I think this discussion illustrates just how difficult it is to estimate the time leaves change -- it is so variable from year to year and it depends upon exactly where u r, even which side of the moutain u look at.
I also have lived in DC my entire life. I'm wondering where on Skyline drive that picture was taken? Just this past Fall (2008) we drove the GW National Forest mid Oct and it was gorgeous. The next weekend we drove Skyline drive and it was past peak from the mid point up. We were in the more Northern portion closer to DC, perhaps the picture was more to the South on the drive because it sure does not match my experience in Oct 2008? I would agree lower elevations peak a bit later than the mountains obviously.

In any case, once u decide on your dates check the various websites and I'm sure u will find places where the leaves are gorgeous. Have not yet heard predictions about what type of Fall season we will be having in this area. Enjoy your trip!