Are you looking for the best spots for fall foliage in the Lynchburg area? We are lucky in the Lynchburg and Central Virginia to have so many great spots for leaf-peeping! We've listed our family's favorite places to see autumn leaves in Lynchburg and beyond! We love hiking and visiting parks, so included those in our list of where to see fall leaves in Lynchburg and Central Virginia.
Want to know when fall colors will be at their peak in the Lynchburg area? Check out this fall foliage prediction map from SmokyMountains.com. Simply move the slider at the bottom of the map to get an idea when leaves will be at peak colors in Lynchburg and across the United States. No map like this can be 100 percent accurate, of course, but it can give you a good idea of when fall colors will peak.
The predictive map uses a complex algorithm that carefully analyzes several million data points to forecast county-by-county the precise moment when peak fall will occur. Data used includes:
NOAA historical temperatures
NOAA historical precipitation
NOAA forecast temperatures
NOAA forecast precipitation
Historical leaf peak trends
Peak observation trends
Historical model outputs from previous years
Ready to go find some beautiful fall leaves in Lynchburg and Central Virginia? Here are my family's favorite spots for leaf-peeping in the Lynchburg area:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Runs through Virginia and North Carolina from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of beauty in every season; however, it's especially beautiful in fall. The Blue Ridge Parkway attracts visitors from across the country and around the world and is among the top 10 nation parks and recreational areas visited in 2019 with almost 15 million visitors. Best of all, the Blue Ridge Parkway is right in our backyard! Whether you choose top Parkway destinations in Virginia including the Peaks of Otter or Mabry Mill, top destinations in North Carolina including Doughton Park or Linville Falls, or enjoy a day trip or multi-day trip driving the entire 469 miles, put the Blue Ridge Parkway at the top of your fall leaf-peeping list!
Here are some great hikes off the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Old City Cemetery
401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504
There's so much beauty in Old City Cemetery, located in the heart of Lynchburg! The 27-acre cemetery with its public garden, historic sites, and beautiful chapel hosts more 33,000 visitors annually. Old City Cemetery is beautiful in any season, with over 100 different varieties of trees, the cemetery is especially beautiful when the leaves change colors in fall. Pose for photos in front of the chapel or the old train depot, in the gardens, or on the old fashioned swing.
Here are 25 amazing family photo shoot locations in Lynchburg and Central Virginia
Blackwater Creek Bikeway
Ed Page Entrance is on Old Langhorne Road, behind St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1724 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503
Blackwater Creek Bikeway is one of the most popular paved trails in Lynchburg. Public parking is available at both the Ed Page entrance off Langhorne Road and the East Randolph Place entrance off Rivermont Avenue. The 3-mile paved trail is perfect for jogging, walking, or biking. Beginning at the Ed Page entrance , it’s about three miles to the entrance to the RiverWalk Trail, or approximately two miles before reaching the Point of Honor Trail Section.
Here are 25 Places in the Lynchburg Area to Walk or Hike
Shenandoah National Park
Runs north to south from Front Royal to Waynesboro, with multiple entrances
There's nowhere more beautiful in Virginia in any season than Shenandoah National Park. The 105 mile Skyline Drive runs the length of Shenandoah National Park. Speed limit is 35 MPH and there are more than 70 overlooks along the Skyline Drive. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands, you'll find beauty everywhere you look! In addition to the overlooks, there are many hiking trails to enjoy in Shenandoah National Park, including hikes along the Appalachian Trail.
You'll love these 10 hikes in Shenandoah National Park!
Riverside Park
2238 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg VA 24503
Riverside Park is the second oldest park in Lynchburg and one of the most popular park for area families. Riverside Park offers two playground areas and the Sprayground water play area. The Alpine Trail, the first dedicated hiking trail in Lynchburg, offers scenic views of the James River. There are also paved walking trails throughout the park. The scenic overlook at Riverside Park, located behind the Sprayground, was renovated in 2020 and is a beautiful location for family photos.
Here's a guide to all of the parks in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties.
Here's more information about SmokyMountains.com and the fall foliage prediction map. Company founder and statistical expert David Angotti shares, "The vast majority of individuals use the leaf map to simply check when leaves will peak near their home or use it to plan a leaf peeping trip."
Angotti speaks about the accuracy of the fall foliage prediction map, "Similar to any meteorological forecast, leaf predictions will never be 100% accurate. However, after publishing our predictive fall foliage map for nearly a decade, we are quite confident in our data sources, process, and algorithm. Our experience combined with a scheduled mid-season update has us especially confident about this year’s predictions. Our goal is that this data- based, interactive tool will increase the number of people that are able to enjoy peak fall in 2021."
SmokyMountains.com is a travel brand that markets the Smoky Mountain region and hosts travelers in luxurious Gatlinburg cabins. They are focused on delivering incredible vacation experiences for the millions of annual travelers to the regions and the fall leaf map is one of the ways they positively impact vacations.
Plan your family's fall leaf peeping adventures now. Lynchburg Macaroni Kid helps you Find Your Family Fun® in any season! It's FREE to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, so click HERE and join the fun!
