Some Patches of Fall Color Still Evident Across the State
ODNR Fall Foliage Update #6 - October 26
COLUMBUS, OH – As fall color season comes to an end, some pockets of color are still noticeable around the Buckeye State, according to Casey Burdick, fall color forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“We are still noticing some color around the state however the windy and rainy conditions of the last week blew a lot of the leaves off of the trees,” said Burdick. “Late changers like the hickory, oak and sweetgum are still holding some color as well as a few hardy maples. Overall we had a vibrant fall color season. Peak colors were about a week early in some locations and lasted around two weeks.”
Although the leaves are falling, there are still great opportunities to enjoy outdoor fun at Ohio state parks, wildlife areas, forests and nature preserves. Amission to these scenic venues is free and available to all Ohioans and visitors who want to spend some free time hiking, paddling, fishing, golfing or horseback riding. This is a great time to take in the scent of the woods, crunch of the leaves, and rush of crisp, fresh air. And don’t forget the season for three of Ohio's popular upland game species – ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, and bobwhite quail begins Friday, November 4.
This coming weekend, check out the following events at one of your Ohio State Parks.
Halloween Campout, Dillon (SE) - Oct. 28-29. Join fellow campers for seasonal fun including Costume and campsite decorating contests, pumpkin decorating & trick or treat. All reservable campsites are booked for this event; however, a limited number of non-reservable campsites are available on a first-come first served basis. Check campsite availability at www.ohiostateparks.org. For more information about the event, call (740) 453-4377.
Halloween Campout, Deer Creek (C) - Oct. 28-30. Family fun for campers includes hayrides, trick or treat, crafts, games & campsite decorating. All reservable campsites are booked for this event; however, a limited number of non-reservable campsites are available on a first-come first served basis. Check campsite availability at www.ohiostateparks.org. For more information about the event, call (740) 869-3124.
Haunted Hocking, Hocking Hills (SE) - Oct. 28-30 at the Old Man’s Cave campground. Celebrate Halloween with campsite and pumpkin decorating, hayrides, trick or treat & movies. All reservable campsites are booked for this event; however, a limited number of non-reservable campsites are available on a first-come first served basis. Check campsite availability at www.ohiostateparks.org. For more information about the event, call (740) 385-6841.
ROAR Day, Lake Hope (SE) - Oct. 29, 9 AM - 3 PM at the shelterhouse and Hope School. ROR stands for Rural Ohio Appalachia Revisited. Celebrate southeast Ohio’s rich heritage with Appalachian crafts, food and entertainment, plus Halloween treats. For more information about the event, call (740) 596-3030.
The ODNR fall color Web page is the premier guide to Ohio’s fall color season, posting weekly color updates and information to help plan leaf-peeping adventures. Weekly videos from Fall Color Forester Casey Burdick will highlight color hot spots around the state and provide informative tidbits about some of Ohio’s 100-plus tree species. This page also offers helpful links for leaf collecting tips, scenic road trips, and more. Looking for some great fall getaway ideas? The Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism has numerous itinerary ideas at www.discoverohio.com under their Autumn Adventures feature. And don’t forget to follow ODNR on Facebook and Twitter all season long.
Ohio's 75 state parks, 21 state forests and 134 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to view fall foliage. Here are the most current reports from selected locations:
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Location
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Region
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Color Condition
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Alum Creek/Delaware/Mt. Gilead
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Central
|
Fading
|
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Beaver Creek/Guilford Lake
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East
|
Fading
|
|
Blue Rock/Dillon
|
East
|
Fading
|
|
Buck Creek
|
West
|
Fading
|
|
Burr Oak
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Caesar Creek
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Deer Creek
|
Central
|
Fading
|
|
Harrison Lake
|
Northwest
|
Fading
|
|
Hocking Hills
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Hueston Woods
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Indian Lake
|
West
|
Peak
|
|
John Bryan
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West
|
Fading
|
|
Lake Hope
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Malabar Farm
|
Northeast
|
Peak
|
|
Mohican
|
Northeast
|
Peak
|
|
Paint Creek/Pike Lake
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Punderson
|
Northeast
|
Fading
|
|
Salt Fork
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Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Shawnee
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Sycamore
|
West
|
Fading
|
|
Tar Hollow
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Van Buren
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Northwest
|
Fading
|
|
Wing Foot
|
Northeast
|
Fading
|
|
Zaleski
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
COLOR CONDITION KEY: Changing – Still mostly green, less than 25 percent color. Near Peak – Significant color showing – anywhere from 30 to 60 percent color. Peak – Peak colors – as much as 85 percent showing. Fading – Fading from peak conditions and leaves falling to forest floor.
EDITORS NOTE: This is the sixth and final update that will highlight some of the best locations to enjoy Ohio’s fall color season. Also online see fall foliage video reports with information from ODNR’s fall color forester, Casey Burdick.
For further information, contact:
Casey Burdick, ODNR Division of Forestry
614. 212. 3286
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614. 265. 6842 |