Ohio’s Fall Colors at Peak Conditions

Time is growing short for anyone that wants to enjoy Ohio’s beautiful fall colors. Right now, pockets of spectacular fall color remain scattered throughout the Buckeye State, but peak season is beginning to fade, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Now is the time to get out and savor some of Ohio’s best fall color, and enjoy the orange, yellow and red swatches that highlight the peak of the season.

“We are still noticing lots of color around the state, however, the windy and rainy conditions of the last week blew some of the leaves off of the trees,” said ODNR Fall Color Forester Casey Burdick. “Late changers like the hickory, oak and sweetgum are still holding some color as well as a few hardy maples.”

There are several fall events this weekend, including Halloween campouts at some of the Ohio State Parks, including Lake Alma, Dillon, East Fork, Deer Creek, Mohican, Caesar Creek and West Branch. Go to fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov to learn more about fun fall activities at Ohio State Parks.

There will also be a harvest barn dance at Malabar Farm State Park on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7-10 p.m. There will be live music and a caller at the main barn for round and square dancing. Beginners are welcome, and food will be available. Admission is $1 at the door. Malabar Farm State Park is located at 4050 Bromfield Road in Lucas.

People interested in discovering where the most captivating leaves will be throughout the fall color season should check out fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov, ODNR’s premier guide to Ohio’s fall color season. This website includes:

• Weekly color updates and information to help plan a fall color adventure.
• Weekly videos from Burdick highlighting color hot spots around the state.
• Links for fall activities and overnight accommodations at Ohio State Parks.

Looking for some great fall getaway ideas? TourismOhio has numerous itinerary ideas and a list of attractions at discoverohio.com under Autumn Adventures.

ODNR and TourismOhio encourage people to take fall color photos and upload them to social media using the hashtag, #ohiofall14. Follow @ohiodnr, @OhioStateParks and @DiscoverOhio on Twitter and Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Parks and Discover Ohio on Facebook to see more fall color photos.

New this year, ODNR is offering a Best of Ohio Fall 14 Photo Contest on Ohio State Parks’ Instagram (@OHstateparks). Post your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #ohiofall14 and automatically be entered into the contest. Prizes include a four-person tent from REI, a Hocking Hills Canopy Tours Zip Line Adventure and overnight stays at many of our state park lodges.