ODNR Fall Foliage Update #5 - October 20
COLUMBUS, OH – As fall color begins to fade around the state, Ohio state parks offers additional autumn adventures with Halloween campouts, haunted trails and other great activities allowing families and friends to create long lasting memories, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“For many people, the beautiful foliage is just one part of the autumn experience,” said Casey Burdick, ODNR’s fall color forester. “They are thrilled to spend the day hiking, boating or hunting beneath the cover of the colored forests, but the experience is that much more enjoyable when they can continue with hayrides, pumpkin carving contests, costume contests and more at an Ohio State Park.”
Ohioans and out-of-state visitors looking for haunting good times can celebrate Halloween a little early with trick-or-treat events and spooky haunted trails.
Check out the following events going on this weekend at Ohio State Parks.
Halloween Campout, East Fork (SW) - Oct. 21-23. Halloween fun includes games, contests, hayrides & 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 (513) 734-4323.
Halloween Campout, Maumee Bay (NW) - Oct. 21-23. Enjoy classic Halloween activities like campsite decorating, hayrides, trick or treat, and a Halloween dance, plus crafts, games and kite building. 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 (419) 836-8828.
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, Lake Hope (SE) - Oct. 22, 2-5 PM. Enjoy the sights and sounds of fall as horse-drawn hay wagons go clippity-clop through colorful fall scenery. Wagons depart from the nature center, offering continuous 20 minute rides. For more information about the event, call (740) 596-3030.
“Hollow”een Fest, Quail Hollow (NE) - Oct. 22, 4-8 PM. Tour the spooky haunted Manor House, see the fall color on a hayride & warm up by a cozy bonfire. A $2/per person fee is charged. For more information about the event, call (330) 877-6652.
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:
|
Location
|
Region
|
Color Condition
|
|
Alum Creek/Delaware/Mt. Gilead
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Central
|
Fading
|
|
Beaver Creek/Guilford Lake
|
East
|
Peak
|
|
Blue Rock/Dillon
|
East
|
Peak
|
|
Buck Creek
|
West
|
Peak
|
|
Burr Oak
|
Southeast
|
Fading
|
|
Caesar Creek
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Deer Creek
|
Central
|
Fading
|
|
Harrison Lake
|
Northwest
|
Fading
|
|
Hocking Hills
|
Southeast
|
Peak
|
|
Hueston Woods
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Indian Lake
|
West
|
Peak
|
|
John Bryan
|
West
|
Peak
|
|
Lake Hope
|
Southeast
|
Peak
|
|
Malabar Farm
|
Northeast
|
Fading
|
|
Mohican
|
Northeast
|
Peak
|
|
Paint Creek/Pike Lake
|
Southwest
|
Fading
|
|
Punderson
|
Northeast
|
Fading
|
|
Salt Fork
|
Southeast
|
Peak
|
|
Shawnee
|
Southwest
|
Peak
|
|
Sycamore
|
West
|
Fading
|
|
Tar Hollow
|
Southeast
|
Peak
|
|
Van Buren
|
Northwest
|
Fading
|
|
Wing Foot
|
Northeast
|
Fading
|
|
Zaleski
|
Southeast
|
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.
EDITORS NOTE: This is the fifth 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 late October. 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