Virginia’s fall foliage is just about to burst into full Technicolor glory. Peak color conditions are expected in the mountains in mid to late October, and in the central piedmont and coastal plain in late October. For a sneak preview, check out some higher elevations and rural areas, where slight color changes can already be seen.

From Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and across the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia’s landscape offers a spectacular array of colors on a variety of trees, including:

• Ash: yellow and maroon
• Beech: yellow to orange
• Dogwood: scarlet to purple
• Hickory: golden bronze
• Oak: red, brown, or russet
• Poplar: golden yellow
• Red Maple: brilliant scarlet

If you’re looking for the road less traveled, try The Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VDOF) recommended Fall Foliage Driving Tours, each designed by an expert VDOF forester. For tour routes, visit VDOF and choose from among the following counties: Greene, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Bath, Bedford, Craig, Franklin, and Highland.

To get the latest on the Virginia’s fall fabulousness, you can always call the Fall Foliage Hotline at 800-424-LOVE, or the U.S. Forest Service Fall Color hotline at 800.354.4595 (press “8” for the Southern States report).