Leaf peeping

Fall colors in Delaware

Typical peak runs Oct 27 – 30. Pick the week, then the place.

Photo: David English Trail

Fall color in Delaware typically peaks between Oct 27 and Oct 30, with the middle of the season around Oct 28. The earliest typical peak we track is at David English Trail (around Oct 21) and the latest is at Rocky Run (around Oct 23). We track 23 places here: 14 hikes, 7 mountain biking trails, 1 campground, and 1 scenic drive.

When to go

Week by week

How many places are in their typical peak window each week, with the top pick. Today’s week is highlighted.

Oct 20 – 26
Busiest
23 places
David English TrailTop pick · hike
Oct 27 – Nov 2
Busiest
23 places
Rocky RunTop pick · hike
Nov 3 – 9
Busiest
23 places
Hidden PondTop pick · hike

Plan ahead

Coming up next

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Hikes

Best fall hikes

Trails ranked by how much hardwood forest surrounds them and how consistent the timing is across years.

Everything

Map and full list

Every place we track in Delaware, grouped by where it is in its typical window.

Coming up (23)

Coming up

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Questions

Fall colors in Delaware: FAQ

When is peak fall color in Delaware?

Across the 23 places we track in Delaware, typical peak runs from Oct 27 to Oct 30, with the middle of the season around Oct 28. Where you are in the state matters: higher elevations come earlier and valleys later.

Where do leaves change first in Delaware?

Among the places we track in Delaware, David English Trail has the earliest typical peak, around Oct 21. The latest is Rocky Run, around Oct 23.

What are the best fall hikes in Delaware?

Hikes with strong typical color in Delaware include David English Trail, Rocky Run, Hidden Pond, Whitley Farms Trail, and Whitely Farms Trail. They are ranked by how much of the surrounding forest is hardwood and how consistent the timing has been across years.

Is this a forecast?

No. These dates are typical timing: when leaves have usually reached peak in past years, from NASA satellite vegetation data from 2017 to 2024 and USGS forest cover. A warm, dry or very wet year can shift them by a week or more, so treat them as a planning window, not a prediction for this year.

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