Ellicott City
Historic town · Maryland
Three Quaker brothers founded this mill town on the Patapsco River in 1771, and its steep Main Street still holds the granite storefronts that grew up around their mills. Filled today with antique shops and restaurants, the historic district anchors the oldest surviving train station in the country, a short drive from both Baltimore and Washington.
Don’t miss
Color nearby peaks: November 2–November 6
Color builds from October 20 · mostly bare by November 26
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Ellicott City’s own coordinates and elevation (66 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Ellicott City on the map
More things to do in Maryland
Swallow Falls State Park
State parkPeak October 15
Muddy Creek Falls, Maryland's highest free-falling waterfall, drops 53 feet through this 257-acre Garrett County park near Deep Creek Lake, reached by an easy loop trail through one of the state's few stands of old-growth hemlock and white pine.
Don’t miss: 53-ft Muddy Creek Falls · Old-growth hemlock and pine forest · Near Deep Creek Lake
Cunningham Falls State Park
State parkPeak October 29
Cunningham Falls tumbles 78 feet down a rock face in the Catoctin Mountains, the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland, reached by a short trail from the Houck day-use area of this roughly 6,000-acre park established in 1954 alongside the 43-acre Hunting Creek Lake.
Don’t miss: 78-ft Cunningham Falls · Catoctin Mountain fall color · Hunting Creek Lake
Butler's Orchard
OrchardColor nearby peaks November 2
Five generations of the Butler family have farmed this roughly 300-acre Germantown property since 1950; its Pumpkin Festival, running since 1980, fills fall weekends with pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, and a corn maze.
Don’t miss: Pumpkin Festival since 1980 · Pick-your-own pumpkins · Hayrides and corn maze
Field of Screams Maryland
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 3
A multi-haunt scream park on Olney Laytonsville Road, north of the Capital Beltway, known for its Trail of Terror, Haunted Trail and Slaughter Factory haunted house. The park sat out the 2025 season for a full rebuild of its trail and says it will return in 2026.
Don’t miss: Trail of Terror and Haunted Trail · Slaughter Factory haunted house · Returning in 2026 after a full rebuild
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Ellicott City peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 2–November 6 (best estimate November 4). Color starts around October 20 and is mostly bare by November 26.
- What is Ellicott City best for?
- A walkable history stop near Baltimore.
- How do I get to Ellicott City?
- The closest city is Baltimore, about 10 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Maryland's fall lineup.
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