Pennsylvania’s Forested Canyon Shows Its Autumn Colors From Orbit

Landsat captures red and gold foliage along Pine Creek Gorge.

The Oversize News · Published November 7, 2026
Primary source released 2026-11-02 · News brief & context

A forested plateau displays red and gold foliage and is incised by several narrow, curving valleys. — Pine Creek Gorge and surrounding woodland, Landsat 8, October 25, 2026. Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison; Landsat data: USGS. Source and original image.

A seasonal release

A NASA Earth Observatory report published on November 2 presents an autumn view of Pine Creek Gorge in north-central Pennsylvania. Landsat 8 acquired the image on October 25, showing wooded ridges and valleys across the Allegheny Plateau.

A canyon shaped by redirected water

The gorge extends about 72 kilometers and reaches roughly 460 meters deep. Its history involves ice-age glaciers that blocked an older, northward-flowing drainage. Water spilled south, and the river became established along the course visible today.

A recovered forest

The modern tree cover also has a human history. Intensive logging left large areas stripped by the early twentieth century. Forest returned over subsequent decades. Today’s seasonal colors therefore sit within both a much older geological story and a more recent period of landscape recovery.

Reading this report

Satellite foliage images should be read with their acquisition date in mind. They do not show current color at every overlook, and conditions can change quickly with wind, rain and temperature. Use local observations for a visit; use the orbital view to understand the wider pattern.

Source & verification

This independently written summary is based on NASA’s original report, released 2026-11-02. Consult the source for research details, methods and subsequent updates. NASA does not sponsor or endorse this publication.