It is still a little early for full fall foliage at Shenandoah National Park here in Virginia, but there were plenty of hints of color on Friday as I drove along parts of Skyline Drive. There were periodic moments of sunshine, but most of the time the distant mountains were shrouded in mist that caused them to gradually disappear into hazy layers of gray and blue.
Shenandoah National Park is about 75 miles (120 km) from Washington D.C. and extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Skyline Drive, a relatively narrow, winding road, runs the length of the park—approximately 105 miles (170 km)—and generally follows the ridge line of the mountains. There are quite a few pull-offs that provide some amazing views.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I especially like what seems to be Virginia Creeper making its red way up the tree in the last photo.
That was one of the few touches of red that I saw all day. There was a whole lot more yellow and orange than red. I grew up in Massachusetts and was used to seeing brilliant red maple trees in the fall.
Thanks for the pictures of that beauty area, Mike. I haven’t been on Skyline Drive since I was riding in the back of my Dad’s station wagon. It’s one of those childhood memories I’d like to experience again.
I am a bit ashamed to say that this was my first time on Skyline Drive despite the fact that I have lived in Virginia for more than 20 years. I smiled when you mentioned riding in the back of a station wagon, because my Mom drove several of them when I was growing up. Did your Dad’s station wagon have the rear-facing seats. I remember piling into the “way back” area with several of my friends, thinking that it was such fun.
He had a few. One had the rear facing seat. Fun times
This is beautiful, Mike. Do you know how long the fall colors “last” there?
In the part of Northern Virginia where I live the colors tend to be much more muted and last for a month or so. In the mountains where I live I think that when they hit their peak colors they last for only a week or so before they start to fade. We had a spell of warm weather to start October, which has slowed the emergence of the fall colors.
Thanks for taking us along with you on this serene drive through Shenandoah NP, Mike. Your photos are terrific, capturing the blue in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the beginning of the autumnal tree changes.
Thanks, Jet. It is definitely a different kind of photography for me to focus on landscapes, but a fun challenge to capture the feel of what I was seeing. Fall is certainly my favorite time of the year weather-wise–I love the cooler temperatures and all of the changes. Along the way I stopped at an apple orchard and had some fresh cider and bought a big bag of apples that included varieties that I had never even heard of before.
I love the drive through this National Park.
Thanks, kenne. I was able to drive along only a portion of the National Park this time, but plan to return. It is definitely worthwhile that I got the lifetime Senior National Park Pass when I became old enough to qualify.
Very nice series of images Mike! I enjoyed seeing them! Looks like a Great area to photograph!
Thanks, Reed. I don’t often focus on trying to take landscape photos, but this area certainly inspires me to give it a go.
Beautiful colours.
Thank, Tricia. I suspect the colors will be even more spectacular and I might have another go at capturing them in a couple of weeks.
I look forward to it.
Very nice views indeed… automn colors are stil not at it’s max. neighter here in Belgium.
Thanks, Rudi. I guess we all need a little patience for the colors to emerge.
Very nice, Mike! I particularly like your first image, all those layers with the hills fading into the distance. It is flat here and I do miss having any hills to alter the landscape.
Thanks, Ellen. It was somewhat of a challenge trying to get an exposure that allowed me to retain so many of those layers. It is pretty flat where I live in Northern Virginia, but fortunately the mountains are not that far away in the western part of the state.
Very scenic, Mike. Nice to see the autumn colours.
Thanks, Chris. It is cool to be able to share some of the colors of this beautiful transitional season where I live, knowing that bright spring colors are bursting out in your hemisphere. 🙂
Lovely! I have not been there in years, though we hope to drive that Parkway soon!
I only drove part of the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park–it was my first time there–and suspect that I will make a return trip some time in the near future.
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[…] have progressed since my visit there three weeks ago—check out my post from October 17 entitled Shenandoah National Park to see my photos from the previous trip. There were some patches of brilliant color, though most of […]