Wondering when the color of fall leaves will peak in 2022 near Erie and where best to see them?
David Angotti can tell you. He is a statistical expert and the co-founder of the site SmokyMountains.com. His love for weather, travel, technology, and the autumn season led him to begin developing a nationwide fall leaf map in 2013 after one Smoky Mountains visitor too many inquired with him when the leaves would be at their fall best.
What started as a fun side-project quickly became the most respected nationwide fall leaf map and one of the best fall resources in the country. Now, tens of millions of people use his map each year to plan everything from photography trips to weddings. But the most common users are simply people wondering when the leaves will peak near them, just like you're wondering when leaves will be at their best fall color in Erie!
While not an exact science, the predictive map uses a complex algorithm that carefully analyzes several million data points and outputs approximately 50,000 predictive data pieces to determine when leaves will peak in each part of the country.
Check out the map below to see when the leaves will peak near Erie or another part of the country. Simply move the slider along the bottom to see when leaves are expected to reach peak color in Erie.
Where to go leaf peeping in Erie
While at Macaroni KID Erie we don't use scientific data to determine the best place to go in the Erie region to see fall leaves, we think we have pretty good intel!
Ready to go find some beautiful fall leaves in Erie County, Chautauqua County, and even Ohio?
Here are my family's 7 favorite spots for leaf-peeping in the Erie region and the tri-state area:
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Asbury Woods
4105 Asbury Road, Erie, PA
This beautiful park has so many great hiking trails carpeted with red and gold leaves in the fall. Asbury Woods is also beginning to host events again, which means you can join in a fall campfire, a hike to find owls, and the Scary Creature Feature, an annual tradition for local families. Check our Macaroni Kid Erie calendar for all the details!
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Erie Bluffs State Park
11100 W Lake Rd, Lake City, PA
There are about five miles of trails to explore at this state park, near the Ohio line. Wooded paths lead to vistas with scenic vistas of Lake Erie from atop the 90-foot bluff wall. Some take you right down to the water's edge. All give you a great view of the changing leaves as fall progresses.
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Frontier Park
1501 W. Sixth St., Erie, PA
Frontier Park is home to more than 1,000 trees and fall is incredibly picturesque in this park! I snapped the above picture on a late fall day in 2019 when my son was decked out in his Harry Potter Halloween costume.
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Presque Isle State Park
301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA
Of course we have to include Presque Isle on our list! Every season on Presque Isle is magical, and fall is certainly no exception. Take your bicycles and pedal the 13-mile loop around the peninsula to see fall in all its glory here.
Want to get out of town? Here are three easy road trips from Erie where you can see amazing fall foliage:
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Holden Arboretum
9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH
We just visited Holden Arboretum for the first time in a few weeks ago and decided it would be worth a trip back this fall just to see the changing leaves. The best spot has to be from the top of the 12-story tower in the arboretum. Drive time: Approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes.
 Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau |
Chautauqua County, N.Y.
There are a bazillion places in Chautauqua County, N.Y. to see brilliant fall foliage. Three of our family favorites: Chautauqua Institution, which you can enter for free in 2020; Panama Rocks State Park where kids an explore to their heart's content; and Luensman Overview Park, which offers an overlook of Lake Erie and the surrounding wine country. Bring cash and stop at an Amish roadside stand or two for fresh local produce, blooms, and baked goods! Want more ideas? Check out Tour Chautauqua's list of a dozen spots to see fall foliage. Drive time: Approximately 40 minutes, depending on your destination.
 Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau |
Kinzua Sky Walk
296 Viaduct Rd, Mt. Jewett, PA
The Kinzua Sky Walk is an engineering marvel with breathtaking views of the Kinzua Gorge and was recently selected as “One of the World’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Skywalks and Viewpoints in the World” by the Culture Trip, U.K. The skywalk is 225 feet high and was constructed on six of the historic Kinzua Viaduct massive steel towers remaining after the tornado of 2003. It extends out 624 feet into the Kinzua Gorge offering panoramic views and a partial glass floor. The skywalk features a walkway with a set of railroad tracks leading to the end of the overlook which has a partial glass floor. Drive time: Approximately 2 hours
