Use Web to plan fall hiking in Virginia and Maryland

The weather is getting chilly on the East Coast and it's time to get out and enjoy the season.

Some of the best places in the country to see the fall colors are no more than a two- or three-hour drive from the nation's capital. So if you are planning a trip to Washington soon, make sure to budget a time for a memorable hike in the region.

Start your planning by studying up on the Appalachian Trail, especially the section in Northern Virginia — www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.774885/k.DD9E/Virginia.htm. Also visit this site, which offers exact conditions of fall foliage: www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/southeast_us.

Start with a few strolls close to the Washington metropolitan area. The 180-plus mile C&O Canal — www.nps.gov/choh — is an excellent place to take a leisurely fall walk. Or drive farther out near Frederick, Md., and take a hike at Sugarloaf Mountain — www.sugarloafmd.com. The mountain offers several hikes and vistas with prime fall foliage.

Head farther into Western Maryland and visit Cunningham Falls State Park — www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/cunninghamguide.html. The park offers more remote hikes and is known for fall views.

Make your way back closer to the Washington metropolitan area and head into Loudoun County, Va. Hikers can pick up the Appalachian Trail just 20 minutes or so past Leesburg, www.leesburgva.org.

Start a hike on the AT and hoof up to the Blackburn Trail Center, www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=482. The site is often visited by hikers tackling the entire Appalachian Trail but is equally welcoming for those hoping to see the best fall colors.

For a less challenging stroll, head to the town of Waterford — www.waterfordva-wca.org — which was founded by Quakers in the 18th century and adds a history lesson to your fall foliage hike.

If you are a backpacker or savor finishing some challenging miles while searching for the best fall views, head to Clarke County, Va. — www.co.clarke.va.us. Spend a few nights at the Bears Den Trail Center in Bluemont, Va. — http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrID=27966 — where you can enjoy a warm bed at the end of the your hike. The center backs right up into the Appalachian Trail.

The Blue Ridge Trail Center — www.blueridgecenter.org — in nearby Purcellville offers more than 100 acres of hikes and is a good spot for a fall foliage visit. Getting closer to central Virginia will put you in a prime place for fall foliage hiking — even if it puts you closer to tourists who'd rather see the colors from the comfort of their cars.