November 3, 2005

OHIO FALL COLOR UPDATE #6
Fall Color Site

Punderson State Park
	REGION CONDITION 11/03/05
	PARK/PRESERVE/FOREST	COUNTY	STATUS
	CENTRAL
	Alum Creek State Park	Delaware	Peak
	Mount Gilead State Park	Morrow	Peak
	Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve	Licking	Peak
	Deer Creek State Park	Pickaway	Fading
	NORTHEAST
	Mohican State Park and State Forest	Ashland	Fading
	Malabar Farm State Park	Richland	Fading
	Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve	Portage	Fading
	EAST
	Guilford Lake State Park	Columbiana	Peak
	Salt Fork State Park	Guernsey	Fading
	Blue Rock State Park and State Forest	Muskingum	Peak
	Beaver Creek State Park	Columbiana	Fading
	SOUTHEAST
	Lake Hope State Park	Vinton	Peak
	Hocking Hills State Park and State Forest	Hocking	Peak
	Jackson Lake State Park	Jackson	Peak
	Burr Oak State Park	Morgan	Peak
	Tar Hollow State Forest	Ross	Peak
	Lake Alma State Park	Vinton Jackson	Peak
	SOUTHWEST
	Shawnee State Park and State Forest	Scioto	Fading
	Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve	Preble	Peak
	Paint Creek State Park	Ross	Peak
	Caesar Creek State Park and State Nature Preserve	Warren	Peak
	WEST
	Sycamore State Park	Montgomery	Peak
	J. Bryan State Park/ Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve	Greene	Peak
	Indian Lake State Park	Logan	Peak
	Buck Creek State Park	Clark	Peak
	NORTHWEST
	Van Buren State Park	Hancock	Peak
	Maumee State Forest	Fulton	Fading
	Harrison Lake State Park	Fulton	Fading
	COLOR CONDITION KEY:
	CHANGING - Still mostly green with less than 25 percent color showing. NEAR PEAK - Significant color showing - anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. PEAK - Peak colors - as much as 85 percent color showing. FADING - Mostly colored, but colors fading and leaves falling to forest floor. Note that reported conditions are subject to rapid change with wind or rain.

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s woodlands continue to surprise fall foliage enthusiasts with peak color conditions reported at many state parks, nature preserves and forests across the Buckeye State.  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) says this may be the best weekend to get out and enjoy Ohio’s forest fireworks.

“This year marks the latest Fall Color season in recent memory,” said Casey Munchel, Fall Color specialist with the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Usually by the first week of November, a majority of trees have shed their leaves. But this year we are experiencing a later season – with some trees in southern Ohio just beginning to turn.”

Munchel noted that barring heavy wind or rain, Fall Color is likely to linger in some southern areas for another couple weeks.

Colors are starting to fade at Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County where the first Hearthside Cookery Workshops are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 5-6.  Cooking "students" will prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast over an open fire, then stay to savor the fruits of their labors. Call 419-892-2784 to register.

The trees at Mary Jane Thurston State Park in Wood County will be reflecting peak color during its winter bird-feeding clinic at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, in the day lodge. The same clinic is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Nature Center at Van Buren State Park in Hancock County.

Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County, where fall foliage is also at its peak, will host a Veteran’s Day Celebration in the campground on Saturday. Veterans will be honored with a parade, recognition ceremony and a pig roast. 

Call 1-800-BUCKEYE for updates on the best Fall Color viewing locations across the state.  Internet users can also find Fall Color information by visiting discoverohio.com .

Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 130 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample Fall Color. Here are the most current reports from selected locations.