🍂 Late September 2026 – Last Weeks of September Fall Foliage Report
Date: September 15, 2026, Location: White Haven, PA – Lehigh Gorge / Poconos Region
By the last weeks of September, color have ramped up significantly across the Poconos. We will be seeing 15–30% color in northern and central zones, with southern areas beginning to show more consistent change.
DCNR’s statewide reports for this period typically place Northeast PA in the “approaching best color” category, and 2026 is tracking right in line with that pattern.
Regional Color Snapshot
- Northern Poconos: 25–35% color, strong yellows and early reds
- Central Poconos / Lehigh Gorge: 20–30% color, patchy but noticeable
- Southern Poconos / Jim Thorpe: 10–20% color, mostly green with emerging pockets
Tree Species Behavior
- Birch: Strong, bright yellows along ridges and roadsides
- Red Maple: Deepening reds in swamps and stream corridors
- Hickory: Gold tones spreading across mid‑slopes
- Oak: Still mostly green—setting up a solid mid‑October peak
Best Late‑September Rides & Hikes
- White Haven → Rockport on the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail
- Shades of Death Trail in Hickory Run State Park
- Scenic overlooks near Glen Summit / Black Diamond
This is the week where the forest starts to look visibly “fall”—great for biking, hiking, and early‑season rafting with color on the banks.
Peak season is coming fast. Reserve your fall biking + rafting combo at NOW! Book biking, rafting, or assisted camping at PoconosOutdoors.com or call 570‑899‑0400.
Fall Foliage Report Information Resources:
Penn Woods Fall Foliage Report
Pocono Mountains Fall Foliage Report
🌲 Enjoy the Great Pocono Outdoors!
Try our Poconos Biking with Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking, or Tubing Combo Tours on the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe, PA. Or explore hiking trails, disc golf at Hickory Run State Park, and our VIP bike shuttle services.
For more adventure options, visit the Pocono Fun page.