Great Falls Park
National park · Virginia
The Potomac drops 76 feet over jagged bedrock cascades at this 800-acre National Park Service site near McLean, with cliffside trails past the ruins of George Washington's Patowmack Canal offering some of the region's most dramatic river-gorge foliage views.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 31–November 4
Color builds from October 18 · mostly bare by November 24
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Great Falls Park’s own coordinates and elevation (48 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Great Falls Park on the map
More things to do in Virginia
Skyline Drive
Scenic drivePeak October 21
Shenandoah National Park's 105-mile ridge-top drive along the Blue Ridge crest strings together 75 overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont, with color typically peaking mid-to-late October at the higher elevations near the Front Royal entrance.
Don’t miss: 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest · 75 scenic overlooks · Peak color mid-to-late October
Old Rag Mountain
TrailPeak October 20
The 9-mile circuit to Old Rag's 3,284-foot summit climbs through a mile-long boulder scramble that's become Virginia's most popular hike, so popular that a capped day-use ticket, bought in advance on recreation.gov, is now required year-round on top of the park entrance pass.
Don’t miss: Signature summit boulder scramble · 3,284-ft summit · Advance day-use ticket required
Cox Farms
FarmColor nearby peaks October 31
This Centreville farm runs a daytime Fall Festival of slides, hayrides, and pumpkins alongside Fields of Fear, a nighttime haunted attraction with a scare-zone cornfield and hayride, on Friday and Saturday nights from late September into early November.
Don’t miss: Fall Festival slides and hayrides · Fields of Fear haunted nights · Cornightmare cornfield maze
Graves Mountain Farm
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 20
Family-run since 1965 at the foot of the Blue Ridge in Madison County, this 1,800-acre farm and lodge holds its Apple Harvest Festival across the first three weekends of October, with pick-your-own apples, hayrides, bluegrass, and a country buffet.
Don’t miss: Apple Harvest Festival, October weekends · Pick-your-own apples · Blue Ridge foothill setting
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Great Falls Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 31–November 4 (best estimate November 2). Color starts around October 18 and is mostly bare by November 24.
- What is Great Falls Park best for?
- Dramatic river-gorge scenery near DC.
- How do I get to Great Falls Park?
- The closest city is Washington, DC, about 13 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Virginia's fall lineup.
Own or manage Great Falls Park? Update your listing or get in touch.