Wind and Storms Put Damper on End of the Fall Color Season

ODNR Fall Foliage Update #6 – October 27

COLUMBUS, OH – Leaf gazers were blown away this year by the seasonal colors of Ohio’s parks, nature preserves and forests, but windy and stormy conditions are bringing the fall foliage season to a close this week.

Recent rain and winds have been bringing down a lot of leaves across the state over the last week. Most Ohio state parks and forests are reporting that peak fall color is over and leaves are expected to start or continue falling this weekend.

“This year’s fall color season was much different than what we normally expect,” said Casey Burdick, fall foliage expert for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. “Ohio started with drought stressed trees in mid-September showing early color, then nearly the entire state peaked showing a brilliant display around the second week in October.  Lack of rain and strong wind events have shortened our usual five to six week fall color season.”

Although the leaves are falling, there are still great opportunities to enjoy outdoor fun at Ohio state parks, forests and natural areas. These scenic venues are 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, the crunch of the leaves and the rush from the crisp, fresh air.  And don’t forget the season for three of Ohio's most popular game species - ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit and bobwhite quail - begins Friday, November 5. 

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

Halloween Campout, Deer Creek (C) - Oct. 29-31. Hayrides, trick or treat, crafts, games & campsite decorating. (740) 869-3124.

Halloween Campout, Dillon (SE) - Oct. 29-30. Costume and campsite decorating contests, pumpkin decorating & trick or treat. (740) 453-4377.

Haunted Hocking, Hocking Hills (SE) - Oct. 29-30 at the Old Man’s Cave campground. Campsite & pumpkin decorating, hayrides, trick or treat & movies. (740) 385-6841.

ROAR Day, Lake Hope (SE) - Oct. 30, 9 AM-5 PM at the shelterhouse and Hope School. Appalachian crafts, food & entertainment plus Halloween treats. (740) 596-3030.

Hayride & Moonlight Tour, Malabar Farm (NE) - Oct. 30-31, Noon-8 PM. Continuous 30-minute hayride tours include hot cider and a bonfire. Hayrides are $3/person. Bromfield “Big House” tours are offered at 6 PM and 7 PM at the regular fee. (419) 892-2784.

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

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth and final 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