OHIO FALL COLOR UPDATE #6 -- OCTOBER 30

See the colors progress

EDITORS NOTE: This is the last in a series of Fall Color updates highlighting some of the best places and ways to enjoy autumn in Ohio.

COLUMBUS, OH -- Fall's vibrant yellows, golds, reds and russets are gradually fading from Ohio's rural landscapes, but there's still plenty of good color remaining on woodland trails and bikeways, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

"With temperatures predicted to be in the 70s and forest floors covered in brilliant Fall Color, this coming weekend will be a great time to hike, bike or ride in the woods," said Bill Schultz, Fall Color spokesman with the ODNR Division of Forestry. "A few small pockets of pretty color remain scattered around Ohio. And some oaks in the south are holding their reds and russets."

Colors remain strong in the understory of Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County, even though treetops are past peak. Deer Creek State Park and A.W. Marion State Park in Pickaway County and Madison Lake State Park in Madison County continue to report peak Fall Color viewing with yellows, oranges and reds dominating the landscape.

Good color lingers at Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County where the first Hearthside Cookery Workshops are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2. 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.

Updates on the best Fall Color viewing locations across the state are available by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE. Users can also find Fall Color information on the Internet at ohiodnr.com .

Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 126 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample Fall Color. Here are the most current reports from selected locations:

REGION CONDITION 10/30/03
Condition	Viewing Location	County
CENTRAL
Fading	Alum Creek State Park	Delaware
Fading	Mount Gilead State Park	Morrow
Peak	Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve	Licking
Peak	Deer Creek State Park	Pickaway
Peak	Madison Lake State Park	Madison
NORTHEAST
Leaf Drop	Punderson State Park	Geauga
Fading	Findley State Park	Lorain
Fading	Mohican State Park and State Forest	Ashland
Fading	Malabar Farm State Park	Richland
Leaf Drop	Hach-Otis State Nature Preserve	Lake
EAST
Fading	Salt Fork State Park	Guernsey
Leaf Drop	Blue Rock State Park and State Forest	Muskingum
Fading	Harrison State Forest	Harrison
Fading	Beaver Creek State Park	Columbiana
SOUTHEAST
Fading	Lake Hope State Park	Vinton
Fading	Hocking Hills State Park and State Forest	Hocking
Leaf Drop	Jackson Lake State Park	Jackson
Fading	Burr Oak State Park	Morgan
Fading	Zaleski State Forest	Vinton
SOUTHWEST
Fading	Shawnee State Park and State Forest	Scioto
Leaf Drop	Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve	Preble
Leaf Drop	Paint Creek State Park	Ross
Fading	Caesar Creek State Park and State Nature Preserve	Warren
WEST
Fading	Kiser Lake State Park	Champaign
Leaf Drop	J. Bryan State Park/Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve	Greene County
Fading	Indian Lake State Park	Logan
NORTHWEST
Fading	Van Buren State Park	Hancock
Fading	Maumee State Forest	Fulton
Fading	Mary Jane Thurston State Park	Wood
COLOR CONDITION KEY: GREEN - Still mostly green. FAIR - Beginning to turn colors. NEAR PEAK - Mostly colored. PEAK - Peak colors. FADING - Mostly colored, but fading from peak conditions. LEAF DROP - Few leaves on trees. Note that reported conditions are subject to rapid change with wind or rain.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Kendra Wecker, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-7043
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882