October 21, 2005

OHIO FALL COLOR UPDATE #4
Fall Color Site

	REGION CONDITION 10/21/05
	PARK/PRESERVE/FOREST	COUNTY	STATUS
	CENTRAL
	Alum Creek State Park	Delaware	Near Peak
	Mount Gilead State Park	Morrow	Near Peak
	Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve	Licking	Near Peak
	Deer Creek State Park	Pickaway	Peak
	NORTHEAST
	Mohican State Park and State Forest	Ashland	Peak
	Malabar Farm State Park	Richland	Peak
	Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve	Portage	Peak
	EAST
	Guilford Lake State Park	Columbiana	Near Peak
	Salt Fork State Park	Guernsey	Near Peak
	Blue Rock State Park and State Forest	Muskingum	Near Peak
	Beaver Creek State Park	Columbiana	Near Peak
	SOUTHEAST
	Lake Hope State Park	Vinton	Near Peak
	Hocking Hills State Park and State Forest	Hocking	Near Peak
	Jackson Lake State Park	Jackson	Changing
	Burr Oak State Park	Morgan	Changing
	Tar Hollow State Forest	Ross	Near Peak
	Lake Alma State Park	Vinton Jackson	Near Peak
	SOUTHWEST
	Shawnee State Park and State Forest	Scioto	Near Peak
	Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve	Preble	Peak
	Paint Creek State Park	Ross	Changing
	Caesar Creek State Park and State Nature Preserve	Warren	Near Peak
	WEST
	Sycamore State Park	Montgomery	Near Peak
	J. Bryan State Park/ Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve	Greene	Near Peak
	Indian Lake State Park	Logan	Near Peak
	Buck Creek State Park	Clark	Near Peak
	NORTHWEST
	Van Buren State Park	Hancock	Peak
	Maumee State Forest	Fulton	Peak
	Harrison Lake State Park	Fulton	Peak
	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 – Fall Color is peaking across the northern one-third of Ohio this weekend, while the middle section of the state is experiencing near peak conditions, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). In southern Ohio, bursts of color are appearing at a number of state parks and forests, but peak conditions there are still at least a week or so away.

“Mother Nature has really kept us guessing this Fall Color season,” said Casey Munchel, fall color spokesperson for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Color appears strongest in the northwest and northeast corners of the state, with orange, red and yellow being the dominant hues.”

 “That means Ohioans could quite likely enjoy the Fall Color viewing season into early November,” said Munchel. “But as Fall Color peaks in the weeks ahead, leaf peepers will want to get out quickly to enjoy it before winds and rains bring down the leaves.

Trees that have peaked, such as the locust, ash and sycamore will most likely drop their leaves before the oaks, maples and hickory have reached their peak color, Munchel noted.

Color conditions are peaking at Mohican-Memorial State Forest in Ashland County where a ceremony will mark the reopening of the historic fire tower from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. The tower offers one of the most spectacular vistas of the Mohican River Valley and is the only state forest fire tower that is open for public viewing. Directions to the tower: From Interstate 71, go east on State Route 97 to Natural Resources Road 1, turn left and follow signs to the fire tower.

Additional seasonal events are scheduled for Saturday, October 22, at Cleveland Lakefront State Park and Quail Hollow State Park in Stark County. Special campouts are set this weekend for Lake Alma State Park in Vinton County, Stonelick and East Fork state parks in Clermont County, Beaver Creek State Park in Columbiana County and Forked Run State Park in Meigs County.

To help Ohioans and out-of-state visitors make the most of this popular outdoor season, weekly updates are available from the best fall color viewing locations across the state by calling

1-800-BUCKEYE. Users can also find fall color information on the Internet at ohiodnr.com or discoverohio.com.  Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 130 state nature preserves provide excellent locations for viewing fall color up close. Here's a list of recommended areas: