The Best Spots to View Fall Foliage in Greater Philadelphia in 2026

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia’s answer to Paris’ Champs-Elysées, stretches diagonally for a mile from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, lined with oak, maple and plane trees that form a canopy of red, orange and yellow during the autumn months. 

Some of the world’s most renowned and picturesque museums — including the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the stunningly landscaped Calder Gardens and The Franklin Institute — line both sides. 

Don’t miss: Climb to the top of the Rocky Steps for the perfect tree-lined shot down the grand boulevard.

The 125-foot-tall Bowman’s Hill Tower within Washington Crossing Historic Park in New Hope marks the spot George Washington may have used as a lookout before famously crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. Today, it’s a prime spot for fall leaf-peeping. 

To get to the top, take the elevator partway and then climb 23 steps, or take the entire 125-step, century-old spiral staircase. Both methods lead to expansive fall foliage views for 14 miles across the Bucks County countryside, including  Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve.

Know before you go: Timed tickets are required. 

What could be more apt for that perfect fall color shot than one with a castle in the background? 

Renowned archeologist and ceramist Henry Chapman Mercer’s former home, Fonthill Castle, has been repurposed into an elegant museum displaying Mercer’s massive collection of prints, books, artifacts and handcrafted Moravian tiles, made at the nearby historic TileWorks. 

Enjoy stunning fall views from one of the castle’s 200 windows or stroll the 70 acres of brilliantly hued countryside surrounding the estate.

Good for: Museum meandering and countryside charm

One of William Penn’s original squares, Franklin Square offers plenty of modern outdoor fun, offering a picnic area and lots of open space, making the square a refreshing and photogenic spot to take in fall’s colors.

Take a mini-tour of Philadelphia as you putt-putt through scale models of iconic landmarks at Philly Mini Golf. Enjoy dazzling fountain shows, grab a burger at the illuminated stand or take a nostalgic ride on the Parx Liberty Carousel — a tribute to Philadelphia’s carousel-making heritage.

Know before you go: Franklin Square is always free to visit, with pay-as-you-go activities and refreshments. 

Name a more historic — and quintessentially Philly — pair than the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We’ll wait. 

Independence National Historical Park, which houses these iconic landmarks (and many more), comes alive in autumn, a perfect time to capture stunning foliage surrounding the Revolutionary-era buildings and exciting museums of Philadelphia’s Historic District.

Be sure to stop by leafy Washington Square, another of Penn’s original five squares, brimming with more than 60 species of trees.

Good for: Fall photos with a historic backdrop

Before there were public parks, people would often gather at garden cemeteries to enjoy the outdoors. Laurel Hill became the second garden cemetery in the country, still stunning nearly two centuries later with its magnificent array of trees. 

Laurel Hill East (Philadelphia) and Laurel Hill West (Bala Cynwyd) operate as one entity with arboretum status. The historic living collection includes more than 8,500 trees and shrubs of more than 1,000 different species and cultivars. 

Don’t miss: Laurel Hill East’s incredible 360-degree tree-filled views over Kelly Drive and across the Schuylkill River 

William Penn likely never imagined how popular his green space — or come fall, this red, orange and yellow space — would become among amblers, readers, families, dog-walkers, artists and leaf-peepers. 

Rittenhouse Square — the centerpiece of the chic, same-named neighborhood — explodes with color in the fall. On crisp autumn days, residents and visitors flock to the picturesque park’s wheel-and-spoke walkways, sculptures, fountains and reflecting pool to enjoy the gorgeous sycamore, maple, elm and oak foliage in the heart of Center City.

Don’t miss: Eating, shopping and dining in the surrounding neighborhood

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Awbury Arboretum’s 56 open acres in the heart of Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia. Once the homestead of a prominent Quaker family, the arboretum has been free and open to the public for more than 100 years.

Separated by Washington Lane, the park has two sides: one with a historic home, heritage trees, ponds and meandering trails; the other with farms, gardens, honeybees, resident chickens and the home of the Philly Goat Project. 

Know before you go: Take the littles to the Adventure Woods area of the arboretum for a natural, forested play space.

North America’s oldest botanical garden, the 50-acre Bartram’s Garden (dating back to 1728), first belonged to Quaker and self-taught botanist John Bartram Sr., who cultivated and sold the garden’s plant specimens to European aristocrats. 

Today the site in Southwest Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River Trail includes the Bartram family house, a 17-acre meadow, a greenhouse, a boathouse, and an array of naturalistic, woodland and formal gardens showing off colorful autumn blooms and bright leaves amidst historic trees.

Don’t miss: The historic cider mill Bartram himself carved into the bedrock along the river

Bucolic Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a renovated 1864 gristmill, showcases scores of works by lifelong Delaware County resident Andrew Wyeth alongside other Wyeth-family illustrations, paintings and installations.

Autumn sets the surrounding 15-acre campus ablaze with vibrant colors, perfect for an autumn amble or leaf-peeping stroll. Visitors can enjoy even more autumn views across the street at the National Historic Landmark N.C. Wyeth House & Studio, the 1922 family home and workspace of Andrew’s father.

Don’t miss: Taking time to savor the Brandywine River and the beautiful countryside that inspired Wyeth to paint his signature landscapes

The exquisite 35-acre Chanticleer botanical pleasure garden in Delaware County — on the grounds of century-old Rosengarten manor — displays over 5,000 plants across a dozen collections. 

The charm here comes from the carefully curated outdoor “rooms,” each with its own design and character. In-house landscape artists design installations incorporating wood, metal and stone into the lush gardens that explode with color each autumn.

Unlike many botanical gardens, Chanticleer chooses not to feature signs naming plants, instead encouraging visitors to chat with gardeners. 

Know before you go: Chanticleer closes for the season on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove — a museum and nature facility — occupies the site of the famed ornithologist and environmentalist’s historic 18th-century home and farm where a teenage Audubon lived when he first arrived in America in 1803. 

Explore the galleries and exhibits on conservation and art, then head outside to explore more than five miles of trails across the 200-acre property where each autumn the idyllic woodlands draw bird- and leaf-watchers alike. 

Know before you go: BYO binoculars to spot some of the more than 175 species of birds flitting about the color-changing tree canopy.

When his wife Elisabeth Phillippe Jenkins passed away in 1963, H. Lawrence Jenkins created a foundation to preserve their modest 20-acre property as a public park, arboretum and wildlife sanctuary to honor her passion for nature. 

When Lawrence died five years later, the foundation created Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens for the community. More than a mile of paved walkways run through the woods of this majestic botanical garden, making it a perfect spot for fall color lovers to peep fall foliage. 

Know before you go: The attraction always offers free admission.

Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Valley remains one of Greater Philadelphia’s most ideal locations to view fall foliage. 

The tranquil horticultural oasis showcases hundreds of thousands of plants from more than 10,000 species and cultivars. Historic trees tower in Peirce’s Park, part of the original collection the Peirce Brothers planted starting in 1798, from which the current gardens sprang. 

Warm up from the fall chill by exploring the garden’s Longwood Reimagined bloom-filled indoor spaces. 

Don’t miss: The attraction’s annual Chrysanthemum Festival (October 16 to November 15, 2026) for even more fall colors

Morris Arboretum & Gardens — Pennsylvania’s official state arboretum — spans 92 stunning acres in the beautiful Chestnut Hill neighborhood, offering a spectacular setting for autumn’s array of colors. 

The arboretum has more than 11,000 labeled plants and trees representing 2,500 types, including some of the oldest and rarest trees in the region. 

Be sure to check out the institution’s Great Trees collection, which includes dawn redwoods, ginkgos that turn gold in autumn and the iconic state champion katsura tree.

Don’t miss: Family-friendly fall fun like the scarecrow walk and the sprawling Garden Railway model train display

Charming Bucks County play-shop-and-dine destination Peddler’s Village welcomes about 2 million yearly visitors to enjoy 60-plus independent boutiques, specialty shops, wineries and restaurants ringing its 42 storybook-style landscaped acres.

Fall foliage lovers can soak in the autumn sights while strolling the winding brick pathways lined with colorful trees at the bucolic shopping oasis. October also means outdoor decor of more than 100 hand-crafted scarecrows during the annual Scarecrows in the Village festival.

Don’t miss: The attraction’s annual apple festival (November 7 to 8, 2026) 

The Schuylkill River Trail — a favorite recreational path for bicyclists, runners, hikers and strollers — now stretches 70 uninterrupted miles along the Schuylkill River from Center City to Reading. 

See thousands of color-changing trees along the now-iconic trail, providing perfect photo opps around every twist and turn, including: the Schuylkill Banks boardwalk in Center City; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the new Christian to Crescent connector bridge; the Treehouse in the Sky; and Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive up to Manayunk in the city’s northwest.  

Know before you go: Download the Schuylkill River Greenways app (iOS/Android) to map your trip.

The 650 acres of Tyler Arboretum’s woodlands, meadows and gardens have been a refuge for tree lovers in the Philadelphia region since the days of William Penn. Each autumn, the landscape comes ablaze with seasonal color. 

Check out gold- and apricot-shaded maples, larches, magnolias and ginkgos at the Old Arboretum; purple and red stewartias and dogwoods along the path to the Butterfly House; and the scarlet and orange sumacs, hydrangeas and chokeberry right in the main parking lot.

Don’t miss: Tyler Arboretum’s numerous historic trees, including the state champion Giant Sequoia, an evergreen stunner year-round

Philadelphia’s University City occupies the easternmost section of West Philadelphia directly across the Schuylkill River from Center City. True to its name, University City is home to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.

Penn’s sylvan Ivy League campus contains stunning canopy trees, sprawling lawns and the half-mile Locust Walk, the main campus thoroughfare and a particularly beautiful site in the fall. 

Or enjoy a grab-and-go lunch alfresco surrounded by changing trees at nearby Clark Park or the revived Woodlands Cemetery. 

Vibe: Collegiate sweater weather

One of the last remaining forested areas in Delaware County, Crum Woods of Swarthmore College offers hiking trails amid hundreds of forested acres. Part of the college’s Scott Arboretum, Crum Woods surrounds tranquil Crum Creek. 

Along with the brilliant fall foliage, Crum Woods contains a stunning collection of enormous native witch hazel trees that open their delicate yellow blooms in autumn. If you happen upon them, be sure to take a sniff of their floral aroma.  

Know before you go: Don’t be surprised if you see college students using the land as a classroom as you trek through the woods.

At 1,200-acre Core Creek Park in Langhorne, Bucks County, visitors can enjoy the changing colors of fall from a canoe, kayak or rowboat (available for rent) during a leisurely paddle on the 1.5-mile-long Lake Luxembourg.

Or take the pet-friendly winding hiking trails through the autumnal woodlands, some of which accommodate bicycles and horses, too. Keep an eye out for migrating birds like ducks and warblers when the trees surrounding Lake Luxembourg begin to glow in colorful fall splendor. 

Know before you go: Bringing a furry friend along? Don’t miss Core Creek’s off-leash dog park.

Revel in brilliant fall colors while strolling through Delaware Canal State Park, a 60-mile-long linear park along the river from Easton to Bristol that was once trod by mule teams pulling cargo-laden boats along the canal. 

The trail is also part of the longer Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, running from northeastern PA to Bristol. 

Don’t miss the bird’s-eye view from Nockamixon Cliffs, a two-mile-long stretch of up-to-300-foot-high rock faces formed 250 million years ago, offering expansive views of the colorful forests below. 

Know before you go: This park allows archery deer hunting in the colder months, so check the park website for updates and use caution while visiting.

The sprawling green space in central Montgomery County’s Evansburg State Park turns into a fall-foliage wonderland each autumn. Located about 30 miles northwest of Center City, Evansburg offers a tree-lined golf course, meadows, forests, farmland and fields. 

Hike the Skippack Creek Trail’s five-mile loop along the rolling ridgeline of the Skippack Creek, trot along 15 miles of horseback riding trails or just relax on the links at 18-hole Skippack Golf Course, all perfect spots for catching some oranges, reds and yellows. 

Know before you go: This park allows various kinds of hunting, so check the park’s website for updates and use caution when visiting.

One of the nation’s largest urban parks, the 2,052-acre Fairmount Park features endless opportunities to experience peak Philly fall foliage. 

Peep the season’s colors from locations parkwide, including historic sites (Park Charms), educational opportunities (Fairmount Park Horticulture Center and The Discovery Center), entertainment venues (the Dell Music Center and Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts), and outdoor recreation (Treetop Quest and Chamounix Equestrian Center), plus Belmont Plateau, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center and 30 miles of trails.

Know before you go: Don’t know where to start? Check out our comprehensive guide to the park to help plan your visit.

Taking its name from the temporary fort Washington’s troops built during their 1777 Revolutionary War encampment, Fort Washington State Park spans a large expanse of forested, hilly terrain in Montgomery County, beloved by hikers, bikers and especially birders. 

The park serves as a major flyway for all 16 species of raptors that migrate along the East Coast each September and October. Experience a bird’s-eye view and the lovely changing colors from the ADA-accessible Hawk Watch Observation Deck, a platform that sits high above the 493-acre park.

Know before you go: Check the park’s events page for organized nature activities like guided hikes and birdwatching programs.

About an hour from Center City, Chester County’s 7,730-acre French Creek State Park offers 35-plus miles of trails that make it an ideal getaway for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians and foliage seekers. 

Enjoy lakeside leaf peeping at Hopewell Lake, or visit the historic 848-acre Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site — once part of a colonial-era iron-producing village that relied on the free labor of enslaved peoples — which shares space with the park.

Know before you go: Hunting is allowed at this park during specific seasons. Use the official website to know which areas to avoid — and when. 

While boaters already flock to the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake inside Downingtown’s Marsh Creek State Park, the surrounding forests, fields and wetlands offer excellent opportunities to enjoy vibrant autumn colors reflected in the lake. 

Located about 40 miles from Center City, the park has about 20 miles of trails ideal for photography, nature observation and fall foliage excursions. 

Know before you go: The White and Yellow trails hug much of the lake’s shoreline, perfect for a color-infused autumnal amble with sailboats in the background. 

Watch sailboats float by a fall-hued crimson, orange and gold backdrop during lakeside leaf-peeping at 5,286-acre Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County. 

Located about an hour’s drive from Center City, the seven-mile-long Lake Nockamixon holds the title of the largest lake in southeastern Pennsylvania, offering more than 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. 

Know before you go: Mountain bikers can catch stunning glimpses of the fiery autumn shoreline at the site’s 10 miles of mountain-bike-only trails.

No need to leave the city for the stunning fall foliage show in Pennypack Park, with its 1,600 acres of rolling hills, meadows, woodlands and wetlands in Northeast Philadelphia. 

Named after the Lenni Lenape word for slow-moving water, the park stretches nine miles, hugging the forested shoreline of the Pennypack Creek as it runs southeast to the Delaware River.

The urban park has miles of paved and unpaved trails perfect for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding.

Know before you go: The Pine Road entrance to the park has a huge parking area, making it the perfect starting spot.

For out-of-this-world views of the surrounding color-changing forest, check out the High Rocks Vista in Bucks County — donated for public enjoyment by author James A. Michener. 

High Rocks overlooks the Tohickon Creek Gorge and the horseshoe valley below (shared by Tohickon Valley Park), rising high above the creek to offer a gorgeous panoramic view of fall foliage as far as the eye can see.

Popular among rock climbers, the 150-foot sheer rock face of the vista offers quite a challenge. 

Know before you go: Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the park’s numerous pavilions and picnic tables.

Take a walk, run or guided horseback ride through the color-changing trees along 12 miles of wooded trails at Delaware County’s Ridley Creek State Park, located a few miles from downtown Media.

Hit up the five-mile, paved Sycamore Mills Road Trail that circles the forested park or grab a picnic basket and enjoy lunch at one of 14 picnic areas among canopies of yellow, orange and red. Or peep the leaves while fly fishing in the well-stocked creek. 

Know before you go: This park allows deer hunting in the colder months, so check the park website for updates and use caution on certain trails.

Take in the fall sights at Tyler State Park, where more than 1,700 acres of parkland occupy an area that was originally farmland. Nature fans can hike, bike and ride horseback on miles of trails among changing trees. 

Head to the Covered Bridge Trail to see one of Buck’s County’s many charming covered bridges, the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, adorned in colorful fall splendor. 

Don’t miss: Enjoy the autumn-hued trees while playing at the park’s massive 36-hole Upper Plantation Picnic Area Disc Golf Course, which ranks among the top 150 in the nation.

Once the headquarters of General Washington’s Revolutionary Army, Valley Forge National Historical Park honors that history with monuments, statues and landmarks like the National Memorial Arch.

The rolling hills across 3,500 acres of the park make for splendid leaf-peeping opportunities perfect for leisurely strolls with scenic overlooks or heart-pumping hikes up Mount Misery.  

The surrounding forest displays 110 different types of trees covering over a third of the park. 

Don’t miss: Historic trees like the Pawling Sycamore, likely alive during Washington’s 1777 encampment

George Washington and his troops turned the tide of the American Revolution by crossing the Delaware River in what’s now Washington Crossing Historic Park on Christmas night 1776. 

But in addition to the park’s historic significance, Washington Crossing has wonderful leafy outdoor trails, walking paths, picnic pavilions, fishing areas and wildlife habitat. An easier commute than the one made by Washington and his men, the park is just a 40-minute drive from Center City.

Don’t miss: The bird’s-eye view from atop Bowman’s Hill Tower (see above)

Enjoy the autumn foliage and crisp fall air at Wissahickon Valley Park, one of Philadelphia’s natural treasures. 

Bordering the Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy and Germantown neighborhoods, the 1,800 wooded acres surrounding the Wissahickon Creek offer countryside vibes and more than 50 miles of multi-use trails, perfect for hiking, walking, mountain biking and horseback riding. 

For one of the city’s most picturesque fall foliage strolls, head to Forbidden Drive — a wide, no-cars-allowed, seven-mile gravel trail running the spine of the park.

Don’t miss: The Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, the only intact covered bridge remaining in any major American city