Yellow hickory leaves. Photo by Melissa Nash.
Maryland State Park rangers and foresters found color this fall in the leaves, mushrooms, fruits, and flowers of Maryland, even a seasonal drought tamping down some of autumn’s glory.
Here is a look back at some of the most impressive photos from this year’s Maryland Fall Foliage reports.
While the opportunities to go leaf-peep may be fading, opportunities to enjoy the Maryland outdoors – fishing, hunting, hitting the trails, or watching the skies – are boundless in the second half of autumn and beginning of winter. Visit mdoutdoors.maryland.gov to purchase or renew your license.
September 18
Sword mountain showing some early color change along areas with thin, rocky soil. Photo by Aaron Cook.
Abnormally dry weather brought early color-change to Washington County, as pictured here along Sword Mountain. Photo from the Sept. 18 report.
September 25
Muddy Creek Falls in Garrett County. Photo by Josh Brenneman from Sept. 25 report.
Some of the earliest changes can be seen in Maryland’s westernmost county, Garrett County, as demonstrated in this image from the Sept. 25 report.
October 2
Waterbush, groundsel or saltbush, are putting their profuse white flowers on display. Photo by Rachel Egolf.
Not all fall colors are orange, red or yellow – here forester Rachel Egolf highlights the beautiful white flowers of waterbush, groundsel or saltbush in contrast to the sunset on the marsh.
October 9
Persimmon and split seed. Photo by Rachel Egolf.
Fruit also provided color to the forest this season. Here, forester Rachel Egolf examines an American persimmon growing on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
October 16
Honey mushrooms grow at Shad Landing. Photo by Anthony Jenkins.
Fall is a great time to spot mushrooms, such as these honey mushrooms.
October 23
Bald Cypress. Photo by Anthony Jenkins.
Pocomoke River State Park is home to the northernmost bald cypress swamp. Here, the cypress foliage turns a rusty orange, with the tree’s knees visible below. Photo from the Oct. 23 report.
October 30
Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area. Photo by Rick Ewing.
November 6
Morning Glory Foal. Photo by Marci Marsicano
Ponies put on their “winter coats” each fall as the temperatures dip in preparation for the winter. Photo from Assateague Island, Nov. 6 report.
Purchase or Renew Your License
One of several hard card designs available through mdoutdoors.maryland.gov. These optional hard cards provide hunters and anglers with a durable alternative to printed or electronic copies. License information is printed on the card.
Order your Maryland hunting and fishing licenses online at mdoutdoors.maryland.gov. Collectible hard cards are also available. No more paper licenses that fade, rip or fall apart. These rugged, collectable cards feature beautiful images of Maryland fish and wildlife.
Hunting
Maryland’s two-week firearms hunting season for sika and white-tailed deer opens Saturday, Nov. 29 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 13.
As part of the hunting heritage for many families, the firearms season is by far the most popular deer hunting season in the state. For many new hunters, this is the first exposure they have to deer hunting, deer management, and the feeling of putting fresh venison on the table for their families.
Bag limits and antlerless season dates for the firearm season, along with other deer hunting seasons and regulations, are available in the 2025-2026 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Fishing
Landlocked striped bass at Liberty and Triadelphia reservoirs become very active during the cooler fall months and offer one of the best times to target them. Slow trolling with large diving crankbaits, bucktails dressed with sassy shads are common ways to fish for them. The minimum size for landlocked striped bass is 18 inches and only one fish may be longer than 30 inches.
Largemouth bass tend to be found patrolling transition waters between the shallower and deeper waters hoping to intercept small baitfish and crayfish seeking winter cover. Chain pickerel can be found holding near sunken wood and will strike almost any lure that comes along their way.
Fishing for blue catfish is very good during the cooler fall months in the Bay’s tidal rivers. The catfish are concentrating in channel areas and are aggressively feeding. They can be caught on cut bait, a wide variety of scent baits, and even soft plastic jigs and crankbaits.
Read more in our weekly fishing report: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/11/12/maryland-fishing-report-november-12/
Coronal mass ejections – bursts of energy from the sun – lit up the skies as far south as Florida Tuesday evening. The aurora borealis was visible at many of our state parks and public lands.
Aurora visible at Tuckahoe State Park. Photo by Jessica Conley.
The aurora visible over the Choptank River in Denton. Photo by Jason Willey.
Sunrise Hike at Calvert Cliffs Nov. 21 at 5:30 a.m. 1.8 miles. Email calvertcliffs.statepark@maryland.gov to register.
Merkle NRMA Guided Bird Presentation and Hike. Nov. 15 9 a.m. to noon. Starts from visitor center, hike is 2.5 miles.
