Every fall, the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania do something that feels a little excessive.

One minute, the mountains are green. Then seemingly overnight, entire ridges are covered in red, orange, gold, yellow, and burgundy. Fall doesn’t just arrive in the Laurel Highlands. It makes an entrance.

But why does fall put on such a show here?

Turns out, the Laurel Highlands have a few things working in their favor. Elevation, weather, and an unusually diverse mix of trees all come together to create a mighty impressive autumn. And no, the leaves aren’t actually “turning” yellow in quite the way you probably think.

Plot Twist: There Was Yellow All Along

Here’s your fun fact for the day: some of those yellow and orange colors have been hiding in the leaves all summer.

During spring and summer, leaves are full of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for their green color. As autumn arrives and nights grow longer, trees slow and eventually stop producing chlorophyll. Once all that green begins to disappear, other pigments that were already present finally get their moment in the spotlight.

As the green fades, the yellows and oranges that were hiding there all along finally get their turn. Reds and purples join the party as fall sets in, and suddenly the whole mountainside looks like Mother Nature got a little carried away with the color palette.

Different trees bring different colors to the party, too. Sugar maples can glow orange-red, red maples turn scarlet, hickories lean golden-bronze, and oaks bring reds, browns, and russets.

Which brings us to why the Laurel Highlands are particularly good at this.

The Mountains Have an Unfair Advantage

The Laurel Highlands have a lot working in their favor when fall rolls around. Higher elevations are home to trees like sugar maple, red maple, black cherry, and beech, while lower slopes have plenty of oaks and hickories. Basically, there are a whole lot of different trees here, and they don’t all get the memo to change color at the same time.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Laurel Highlands are a “melting pot” of northern and southern forest types, thanks in part to the region’s changing elevations. Higher ridges can reach peak color before the valleys and slopes below, so instead of the entire region changing at once, fall tends to roll across the mountains in stages. One area may already be showing off while another is just getting started.

Elevation also means the Laurel Highlands tend to be cooler and wetter than surrounding areas, and those cool temperatures can play a part in the show. Sunny fall days followed by chilly nights are especially good for producing those vivid reds and purples everyone hopes to see.

Of course, Mother Nature still gets the final say. Drought, unusually warm weather, early frost, heavy rain, and strong winds can all affect when the colors arrive, how bright they become, and how long they hang around. That’s why there’s no magic date you can permanently circle for peak foliage, although mid-October is typically prime time in the Laurel Highlands.

So if it seems like these mountains were practically built for fall, they kind of were. Lots of tree varieties + changing elevations + cool mountain weather = one seriously good fall show. Turns out, ski country knows how to do autumn pretty well, too.

Go Ahead. Be a Leaf Peeper.

There’s no shame in planning a day around pretty trees. Ohiopyle State Park, Laurel Hill State Park, Linn Run State Park, Forbes State Forest, and the winding mountain roads all offer plenty of places to catch the show.

Pressed for Time? Here’s the Breakdown:

• Why so many colors? Lots of different tree species.
• Why such a long show? Different elevations reach peak color at different times.
• What makes a great year? Sunny days and cool nights help bring out the brightest colors.

So yes, there’s science behind those ridiculously pretty mountains. But you don’t need to understand chlorophyll to enjoy them.

Pick a road, find a trail, and go see what all the fuss is about. Then head back to your SNOWBALL PROPERTY and enjoy the mountain version of home. And with the vacation-rental experience of our sister company, BEACHBALL PROPERTIES, an Airbnb Superhost and Vrbo Premier Partner, you can bet we know a thing or two about a getaway with a great view.

Come Have A Ball In The Laurel Highlands!

– Ginger & Hunter Harrelson