EDITORS NOTE: This is the third in a series of fall color updates highlighting some of the best locations to enjoy Ohio's fall foliage. Updated reports are available from ODNR each Thursday through the end of October.
COLUMBUS, OH -- Foresters with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) are revising their earlier Fall Foliage Forecast, predicting peak color conditions will not arrive in most of Ohio's woodlands for another week to 10 days.
Late September's unusually warm nights delayed the chemical change that brings out vibrant colors in most trees, said Bill Schultz, fall color spokesman with the ODNR Division of Forestry. While many trees are showing small amounts of gold and yellow, about 70 percent of the state's forested areas remain green this weekend.
Now that the nights are growing cooler, the changes that create the best colors should accelerate, Schultz noted. He added that a bonus of this year's delayed transition could be an extension of good fall color viewing into the first week of November - especially for southern Ohio.
Special fall color events are scheduled this weekend for the following: Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County, Marblehead Lighthouse State Park in Ottawa County, Mary Jane Thurston State Park in Wood County and Beaver Creek State Park in Columbiana County. Fall campouts are slated for nine other parks, including John Bryan State Park in Greene County, Findley State Park in Lorain County and Harrison Lake State Park in Fulton County.
To help Ohioans and out-of-state visitors make the most of this popular outdoor season, weekly updates are available from the best fall color viewing locations across the state by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE. Users can also find fall color information on the Internet at ohiodnr.com .
Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 124 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample the fall foliage. Here are the most current reports from selected locations:
REGION CONDITION 10/03/02
CENTRAL
Alum Creek State Park (Delaware County) Fair
Mount Gilead State Park (Morrow County) Fair
Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve (Licking County) Fair
Deer Creek State Park (Pickaway County) Fair
NORTHEAST
Punderson State Park (Geauga County) Fair
Mohican State Park and State Forest (Ashland County) Fair
Findley State Park (Lorain County) Fair
Malabar Farm State Park (Richland County) Fair
Hach-Otis State Nature Preserve (Lake County) Fair
EAST
Guilford Lake State Park (Columbiana County) Fair
Blue Rock State Park and State Forest (Muskingum County) Fair
Fernwood State Forest (Jefferson County) Fair
Beaver Creek State Park (Columbiana County) Fair
Harrison State Forest (Harrison County) Fair
Salt Fork State Park (Guernsey County) Fair
SOUTHEAST
Lake Hope State Park (Vinton County) Fair
Hocking Hills State Park and State Forest (Hocking County) Fair
Jackson Lake State Park (Jackson County) Fair
Burr Oak State Park (Morgan County) Fair
Tar Hollow State Forest (Ross County) Fair
Zaleski State Forest (Vinton County) Green
Scioto Trail State Forest (Ross County) Fair
SOUTHWEST
Shawnee State Park and State Forest (Scioto County) Fair
Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve (Preble County) Fair
Paint Creek State Park (Ross County) Fair
Caesar Creek State Park and State Nature Preserve (Warren County) Fair
Little Miami State Park (Warren County) Fair
WEST
Kiser Lake State Park (Champaign County) Fair
J. Bryan State Park/Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve (Greene County) Fair
Indian Lake State Park (Logan County) Fair
NORTHWEST
Van Buren State Park (Hancock County) Fair
Maumee State Forest (Fulton County) Fair
Harrison Lake State Park (Fulton County) Fair
COLOR CONDITION KEY: GREEN - Still mostly green. FAIR - Beginning to turn colors. NEAR PEAK - Mostly colored. PEAK - Peak colors. FADING - Mostly colored, but fading from peak conditions. LEAF DROP - Few leaves on trees. Note that reported conditions are subject to rapid change with wind or rain.