Many Areas Across the State Now Reporting Near Peak Conditions

ODNR Fall Foliage Update #3 – October 6

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, gold and yellow in areas throughout Ohio.

“Pockets of color are becoming more noticeable in both the rural and urban 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 carotenoids.

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

Fall wild turkey hunting opens in 48 Ohio counties on Saturday, October 9 and continues through Sunday, November 28.  Ruffed grouse hunting season also starts Saturday, October 9 and runs through January 31, 2011.  For more info on fall wild turkey or ruffed grouse hunting, go to www.wildohio.com.

This coming weekend, check out one of the following events at one of your Ohio State Parks…

Halloween Campout, Paint Creek (SW) - Oct. 8-9. Campsite decorating and costume contests, hay rides & trick or treatl. (937) 981-7061 or (937) 393-4284.

Halloween Campout, Lake Loramie (NW) - Oct. 8-10. Pumpkin carving, campsite decorating, trick or treat, movies, games & a potluck supper.  (937) 295-2011.

Fall Color Walk, Malabar Farm (NE) - Oct. 9, 10 AM-Noon. Meet at the visitor center. 2-mile hike. (419) 892-2784.

Fall Festival, Punderson (NE) - Oct. 9. Costume and pumpkin contests, trick or treat, hayrides, games & a campfire.  (440) 564-2279 or www.friendsofpunderson.com.

Fall Color Canoe Tour, Van Buren (NW) - Oct. 10, 2-3:30 PM. $10 donation per canoe benefits the friends of Van Buren State Park. Pre-registration required by Oct. 8. (419) 348-7679.

To find out more about these and other events, visit www.ohiodnr.com. The site will serve as a premier guide to Ohio’s fall color season. Its pages provide information for travelers who want to map a scenic road trip, adventurers who are refreshed and energized by the cool autumn weather, vacationers who seek places of solace to enjoy the changing seasons and even the students who need a resource for leaf collection projects. Ohioans and out-of-state visitors can also find information about fall foliage by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE or visiting www.discoverohio.com/autumnadventures.

Ohio's 74 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:

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

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.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third release in a 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 Wednesday. News releases will be issued weekly by ODNR on Wednesday mornings to announce the reports, now through early November. Also online see fall foliage video reports with information from ODNR’s fall color specialist, Casey Burdick.

For further information, contact:
Casey Burdick, ODNR Division of Forestry
614. 212. 3286
Jason Fallon, ODNR External Affairs
614. 265. 6842