THE LEAVES ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE AND REVEAL THE AWE OF AUTUMN. SEVERAL SPOTS IN PITTSBURGH AND ACROSS THE STATE ARE PERFECT FOR VIEWING THE GORGEOUS FALL LANDSCAPE. | PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

Autumn is a time for change. A change in temperature, a change in season and a gorgeous change in scenery.

The bright red, orange and yellow shades of fall leaves are starting to dot the landscape in Allegheny County and throughout the state, and there are a number of spots you can visit to enjoy the wonders of the season.

If you want to track leaf changes throughout the country to better plan your trips, check out this Smoky Mountains interactive prediction map.

Related: When Is Peak Fall Foliage in Pennsylvania?

Local Spots

If you can’t head north to Vermont, New England or Maine this fall, there are a number of options right here in the Pittsburgh region to get your fall foliage fix.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

The Three Rivers Heritage Trail, a 33-mile nonlinear trail with segments on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, is a popular spot to see some spectacular colors. Spanning the city’s North Side, Downtown and South Side neighborhoods, the trail is easily accessible from various points, and offers foliage fanatics views of the city skyline and rivers surrounded by shades of red, orange and yellow.

Visit the trail map for recommended access points. 

Pittsburgh’s City Parks

Pittsburgh’s city parks contain hundreds of acres of trails perfect for spotting those vibrant colors of the season.

FALL YOGA IN SCHENLEY PARK IS ONE WAY TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE SEASON HAS TO OFFER. | PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

• Schenley Park, with 465 acres of greenery, offers both a sprawling hilltop view of the city and a range of trails throughout Panther Hollow.
• Frick Park offers 644 acres, making it the largest park in Pittsburgh. It also features an assortment of tulip, ash and red maple trees, which change colors at slightly different times. This promises an assortment of picture-perfect fall colors for your seasonal backdrops.
• Highland Park sits on 365 acres and features a Victorian era entry garden complete with fountain and reflecting pool. Take a rest on one of the benches or a brisk hike along the trails as you bask in the colors of autumn.
• Riverview Park in the North Side is known for its dense woodlands and steep topography. This 259-acre park is the perfect spot to get some exercise in along the extensive network of trails among the changing leaves.

Great Allegheny Passage

The Great Allegheny Passage, spanning about 150 miles between Downtown’s Point and Cumberland, Maryland, boasts fall colors a bit earlier in October. The trail carries pedestrians and cyclists through Ohiopyle, a state park rich with autumnal beauty at the southern ridge of the Laurel Mountains. If you’re up for a hike, you can brave the somewhat difficult Baughman Trail to take in a dramatic panorama of the Youghiogheny River Gorge.

More Spots in Pennsylvania

If you’re up for some short road trips this fall, these other Pennsylvania destinations won’t disappoint.

Presque Isle State Park, Erie

Head north on Interstate 79 to Presque Isle State Park and Lake Erie for some leaf viewing among the 3,200-acre peninsula surrounded by diverse woodlands. Eye some of the first changing leaves this month with weekend sightseeing boat tours aboard the Lady Kate, or head up at the beginning of October for fewer crowds and eye-popping shades of the season.  

Laurel Highlands

FALLINGWATER IN THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS IS ONE OF MANY SPOTS TO GET YOUR FALL FOLIAGE FIX WHILE ALSO ADMIRING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S ARCHITECTURE. | PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The entire Laurel Highlands is dense with various types of trees – oak, maple, cherry and more – and offers multiple scenic overlooks, creating a leaf peeper’s paradise. Barely an hour outside of Pittsburgh, you can pick up the Lincoln Highway – Route 30 – which carries those traveling by car through roads lined on either side by sprawling trees and wildflowers. If you’re looking for a nice drive this fall, look no further.

Allegheny National Forest

Allegheny National Forest, rife with deciduous trees that take on warm shades of red, orange and yellow starting in late September. You can take the Longhouse National Scenic Byway, a 36-mile road that loops around the forest with ample views of picture-perfect vistas, including the spectacular Kinzua Point Scenic View. The forest also offers a wide range of activities throughout the year, including birding, boating, camping, biking, hiking, skiing and more.

The Poconos

SHOHOLA FALLS STATE PARK IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS OFFERS BREATHTAKING VIEWS AND BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS TO VISITORS THIS AUTUMN. | PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaf peeping in the Poconos, including Big Pocono State Park, is so popular that there’s a separate page for them on the mountains’ website. While the scenic mountains are about 4.5 hours from Pittsburgh, they have more than 127 varieties of trees, shrubs and plants, making for famously beautiful fall views for drivers, hikers and cyclists alike.

The Pocono Mountains also have a Fall Foliage Forecast that travelers can use to plan their trips through three color zones — this means foliage fanatics will be able to see peak colors three separate times in three separate parts of the 2,400-square-mile region.

For more fall foliage spots, check out this VisitPA article.