Weekly Ohio Fall Foliage Update #3, Oct 7th

By Lou Yuhasz on October 7th, 2009

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COLUMBUS, OH – Fall color is starting to come on this week with the seasonally cool temperatures. ODNR is reporting near peak fall foliage in shades of red, orange and yellow in areas throughout central Ohio.

“The bright, sunny days we saw in September are starting to pay off as radiant colors begin to blanket the diverse forest landscape,” said Casey Munchel, fall foliage expert for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. “Ohio has more than 100 hardwood tree species and the variety of species contributes to the variety of colors.”

The diversity of Ohio’s forests make autumn one of the most beautiful times to be outdoors. Maple trees produce a red pigment, anthocyanin; oaks produce a brown color from tannin, a bitter waste product; hickory and beech trees reveal yellows and golds that come from caroteniods.

Leaf peepers can expect to find peak fall color during the second and third weeks of October throughout Ohio.

Ohioans and out-of-state visitors can enjoy special events that are scheduled at Ohio state parks and nature preserves. Family-friendly activities, events and campouts are planned at the following locations this weekend:

Beaver Creek State Park, Columbiana County; Buck Creek State Park, Clark County; Caesar Creek State Park, Warren/Clinton Counties; East Harbor State Park, Ottawa County; Findley State Park, Lorain County; Guilford Lake State Park, Columbiana County; Harrison Lake State Park, Fulton County; Hueston Woods State Park, Butler County; Kelleys Island State Park, Ottawa County; Kiser Lake State Park, Champaign County; Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County; Little Miami State Park, Warren County; Malabar Farm State Park, Richland County; Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, Ottawa County; Mary Jane Thurston State Park, Henry/Wood Counties; Paint Creek State Park, Ross County; Punderson State Park, Geauga County; Shawnee State Park, Scioto County and Van Buren State Park, Hancock County.

For more about fall events, activities and fall color viewing opportunities, visit www.ohiodnr.com. Ohioans and out-of-state visitors can also find information about fall foliage by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE or visiting www.discoverohio.com/autumnadventures.

ODNR sites around the state have reported the status of fall color. Here are the most current reports from selected locations:

Location	Region	Color Condition
A.W. Marion State Park	Central	Near peak
Alum Creek State Park	Central	Changing
Beaver Creek/Guilford Lake State Parks	East	Changing
Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve	Central	Changing
Buckeye Lake State Park	Central	Changing
Dillon/Blue Rock State Parks	East	Near peak
Buck Creek State Park	West	Changing
Burr Oak State Park	Southeast	Changing
Caesar Creek State Park	Southwest	Changing
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve	West	Near peak
Deer Creek State Park	Central	Changing
Harrison Lake State Park	Northwest	Changing
Hocking Hills State Park	Southeast	Changing
Hueston Woods State Park	Southwest	Near peak
Indian Lake State Park	West	Changing
John Bryan State Park	West	Changing
Kent Bog State Nature Preserve	Northeast	Peak
Kiser Lake State Park	West	Changing
Lake Hope State Park	Southeast	Near peak
Malabar Farm State Park	Northeast	Changing
Maumee State Park/Forest	Northwest	Changing
Mohican State Park	Northeast	Near peak
Mt. Gilead State Park	Central	Near peak
Pike Lake/Paint Creek	Southwest	Changing
Punderson State Park	Northeast	Near peak
Quail Hollow State Park	Northeast	Changing
Salt Fork State Park	East	Near peak
Shawnee State Park	Southwest	Changing
Sycamore State Park	West	Changing
Tar Hollow State Park	Southeast	Changing
Triangle Lake Bog State Nature Preserve	Northeast	Peak
Van Buren State Park	Northwest	Near peak
Zaleski State Forest	Southeast	Changing

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.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Continue to look for future reports in this series of updates that will highlight some of the best locations to enjoy Ohio’s fall color season. ODNR’s web site will post updated reports each Monday. News releases will be issued weekly by ODNR to announce the reports, now through early November. Also at www.ohiodnr.com, hear fall foliage podcasts with information from ODNR’s fall color specialist, Casey Munchel.