Witnessing the brilliant colors of autumn in Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland is an unforgettable experience. With 70,000 acres of public land, scenic overlooks, historic small towns, and two world-class trails, there are endless ways to soak in peak fall foliage. Plan your trip for late September through mid-October when the Allegheny Mountains turn from green to gold, red, and rust. Allegany County doesn't just watch the season change; it hands you a front-row seat.
 

Here Are The 10 Best Ways To Chase The Color This Year:

1. Green Ridge State Forest Scenic Overlook Tour — Best for a slow drive

A 45-mile, two-hour driving route that highlights the beauty of the Allegheny Mountains in a season that ignites our ridges with blazing hardwoods.
 

2. Dans Rock — Best for Photographers

Sitting at the highest point in the county, Dans Rock delivers sweeping views of the Allegheny Front dressed in fall color. Time it for late afternoon, when the low sun sets the ridgelines glowing.

A man rides a bike on a rough mountain trail through the woods.

Dans Mountain State Park

9. Dans Mountain State Park serves as a seasonal recreational facility that covers 481 acres and offers a wide variety of wildlife, mountain streams, overlooks and scenic beauty, including the 4.5-mile Lonacona…

3. Great Allegheny Passage — Best for Adventure Seekers

Pedal or walk past The Narrows, Helmstetter's Curve, and the Mason-Dixon Line Park as the trail canopy shifts from green to a patchwork of orange and red.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad — Best for: a lazy afternoon

Watch the Alleghenies turn from the window of a fully restored 1309 steam engine. The Cumberland-to-Frostburg route climbs through the county's most colorful stretches—no driving required.

Tracks and Yaks- Glide along the tracks while soaking in the beauty of the natural landscape.

Designed for all ages and fitness levels, rail biking offers a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors without the strain of traditional cycling.

C&O Canal Towpath — Best for: an easy walk

Flat, shaded, and lined with maples and sycamores that reflect right off the water. No climb, all payoff.

Scenic Byways — Best for: a full-day road trip

Three byways, three different flavors of fall—Historic National Road, Mountain Maryland Byway, and the C&O Canal West Scenic Byway. Main streets, mountain overlooks, mile after mile of color.

Heritage Days Festival — Best for: culture + color combined

Live music, local food, and mountain tradition fill downtown Cumberland right as the leaves hit peak. Pair a festival afternoon with a stroll through the Arts and Entertainment District.

A steam train travels through a mountain valley surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage.

Heritage Days Weekend

One weekend. Three major events. Heritage Days Weekend is Cumberland’s signature history and heritage festival, bringing the past to life across Maryland’s Mountain Side.

Coal Miner Memorial — Best for: a quiet, meaningful stop

One of the county's newest heritage sites takes on a different mood in autumn, framed by turning leaves and nearby trails.

Coal Miner Memorial - ED - Frostburg MD

Coal Heritage Itinerary

Trace the legacy of coal mining in Allegany County, where the industry powered a nation and shaped the lives of immigrant families who built Mountain Maryland’s communities.

Downtown Cumberland & Frostburg — Best for: a low-key afternoon

Sometimes the best foliage view is from a sidewalk table. Wander the walkable downtowns, then warm up with something local.