There are few more breath-taking natural wonders than the changing of the leaves each Autumn. The challenge is knowing when and where the changes are happening. Visit too early, and you miss the dramatic colors; too late, and empty branches await.

There are several online guides to help travelers fully enjoy the changing foliage this fall.

Know Before You Go

While the leaves are the showstopper, the science behind why and how the change from greens to the colors of a Virginia sunset offers its own wonder.

Shenandoah National Park has put together a 15-minute video that explains the science behind the wonder and is a good place to start your adventure to fall.

 Timing the Journey

Where and when are leaves at peak? The website Explore Fall offers an interactive map that projects the color changes by day and location across the the commonwealth.

Users can choose to track the progress of colors across the state, or in individual communities. And the slider bar across the bottom lets you see the progression of color.

 

And if Virginia doesn’t quinch one’s thirst for changing leaves, the site tracks changing colors across the country.

If foliage travel plans include Virginia State Parks, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation offers real-time reports from state parks across the commonwealth.

Fall Virginia is another resource for exploring the season. In addition to projections about when leaves will change, there are guides to local towns to visit in the fall, and scenic drives to explore.