When and where to catch the changing color of fall foliage in Bucks County
Pennsylvania is home to some of the world's most stunning fall foliage, attracting visitors from across the country who wish to view its full and varied display of colors.
But deciding when to make plans is an important step to viewing the colors, because you will want to see Bucks County Fall leaves at their peak.
According to Ryan Reed, a natural resource program specialist in the bureau of forestry at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the first week of November has been the norm in recent years for Bucks County to experience its prime fall colors.
"What has an affect on leaf color is things that are pretty set in stone, and that's shorter day lengths and the accompanying lower temperatures which Pennsylvania experiences in the fall," Reed said. "Year to year, these things generally aren't that different, but there can be anomalies."
According to the bureau's 2022 weekly foliage reports, trees in Bucks County and surrounding Southeastern PA counties experienced their "best color" in the week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2. The foliage report for 2023 is a few weeks from coming out.
But even though Bucks County trees are consistent year-to-year in when they begin to change color, Reed explained that climate change has caused an overall shift in when the fall foliage occurs.
"Our comparatively warmer falls are shifting the onset of changing colors of our trees," Reed said. "If you would compare peak times between the 60's and 70's in all the states to now, observed peak times are generally 10 days to two weeks later."
More: Fall colors will peak throughout October in the Poconos
Unfortunately, with warmer fall seasons, Reed explained that some Bucks County tree species, particularly its northern hardwoods, are receding northward in range as temperatures rise.
Reed said you can still locate numerous northern hardwoods in Bucks, which include beech, birch, sugar maple, canadian hemlock and white pine trees, but with climate change they become less dominant in the area.
The health of Pennsylvania's forests is important, Reed said, because it sustains a resource that makes the state truly unique.
"When it comes to tying in science with human life, it's important to know how important this stuff is good for our economy," Reed said. "People come in from out of state and spend millions to view Pennsylvania's colors. No other state has the diversity of fall color or length of time for the fall foliage."
Our picks for viewing the fall foliage in Bucks County
There are too many hikes and trails in Bucks County to count, but when it comes to viewing the Fall foliage here, these hikes are hard to beat.
If you're still looking for more locations to view the area's fall foliage from after reading our picks, you can check out apps like Strava and Alltrails, which are useful tools for hikers looking for new routes to explore.
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Goat Hill Overlook - Lambertville
Located just uphill from Lambertville, NJ, it's not Bucks County, but Goat Hill Overlook is the perfect place to look the county's colorful treetops.
An easy walk from the parking lot to the northern, New Hope bridge-facing overlook, Goat Hill has both great views of the Delaware River and good hiking trails if you decide to venture southward to the area's more secluded overlooks. The overlook is part of Washington Crossing State Park and preserved by the New JErsey Department of Environmental Protection.
Go: 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ
More: Pa. state parks and forests budget ticks up, but only at a fraction of investment needs
High Rocks at Ralph Stover State Park - Pipersville
At the High Rocks vista, which is accessed shortly after entering the trail head off of Tory Road in Pipersville, you're given a stunning view of a horseshoe bend in Tohickon Creek Gorge with it's surrounding forest from above.
High Rocks features what AllTrails considers a "moderately challenging" 3.7-mile hiking loop, and skilled rock climbers often come to the park to use its 150-foot, sheer rock face. Be careful, but when the fall foliage is at it's peak, you'll want to see it here.
Go: 6011 State Park Road, Pipersville
Fonthill Park - Doylestown
Nothing says "Bucks County" more than fall leaves mixed with historical architecture, and that's exactly what Fonthill Park offers. If you're exploring Bucks County's fall colors, this is a must-see.
A popular location for prom and wedding photographs, you can't forget to give it a visit during the fall as the park's woods show off their most beautiful colors. Come see the Fonthill Castle, which was once the home of archaeologist and scholar Henry Chapman Mercer, and stay for the park's various walking trails.
The 10-acre park offers space for picnicking, hiking and biking/ There you'll also find the historic sites of the Mercer castle, Fonthill Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Open sunrise to sunset, according to the visitpa.com website.
Go: 130 E. Swamp Road, Doylestown
More: Fonthill Castle grounds to be enhanced. Here's the conceptual plan
Tyler State Park - Newtown
Tyler State Park is home to a beautiful farm and woodland setting for you to experience the fall's changing colors. Neshaminy Creek flows through and separates the park into several unique sections allowing you to explore its 1,711 acres.
And while you're there, don't miss the Schofield Ford covered bridge, which you can access from the park's northernmost lot near Bucks County Community College. It's a bridge with history, having been burned down in 1991 in arsonists and restored in 1997, according to the Visit Bucks County website. And in the fall, it's another classic Bucks County experience.
Go: 101 Swamp Road, Newtown
Delaware Canal State Park
The 60-mile tree-lined towpath along Delaware Canal State Park provides some of the best foliage viewing in all of Bucks County. Pack a picnic and take in picture-perfect views while enjoying lunch along the canal, which was named Pennsylvania’s 2022 Trail of the Year.
Go: Various sections and entrances through Bucks County, including Bristol, Yardley, New Hope and Upper Black Eddy
Don't forget to eat: Love kayaking in Bucks County? Five great spots to grab lunch on your way to the water
Get a bird's-eye view at Bowman’s Hill Tower
What better way to get an eyeful of Bucks County's fall colors than from high atop Bowman's Hill Tower?
Located on the grounds of Washington Crossing Historic Park, the tower provides visitors with breathtaking views across 14 miles.
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, off River Road near Aquetong Road in Solebury, is the only accredited museum in the country dedicated to native plants. With over 4.5 miles of trails to explore as well as guided tours, a native plant nursery, visitors center, gift shop and a year-round series of educational programming, the preserve is the nation’s premiere destination for native plant immersion.
The preserve is open Wednesday to Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays. Admission is $10 for adults; children under age 5 are free. Discounts for students, military members and seniors.
Go: 1 Tower Road, New Hope
Take a drive down River Road in Bucks County
View the foliage with a scenic drive along River Road/Route 32.
"Stop by the eclectic bunch of restaurants and shops sprinkled along the way and enjoy the afternoon taking in the crisp autumn air with wading sounds of the Delaware River in the background," Visit Bucks County suggests.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County fall foliage, leaf peeping season coming
