EDITORS NOTE: This is the fifth 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 last week of October.
COLUMBUS, OH -- Fall Color viewing remains strong in scattered locations around Ohio. And while recent winds and rain have brought rapid change to Ohio's woodlands, there's still plenty of good color to be seen in virtually every region of the state, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
"Pockets of good Fall Color can be seen in northern and central Ohio and the oaks are turning red and russet in the south," said Bill Schultz, Fall Color spokesman for the ODNR Division of Forestry.
Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County is reporting peak color for Saturday's Rural Ohio Appalachia Revisited (ROAR) Day. Crafts, music and food are planned for the dining lodge and nature center of nearby Lake Hope State Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also on Saturday, Pike Lake State Park in Pike County will hold a Buckeye Trail Hike from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. with hikers choosing either a two-mile or six-mile trek.
Cleveland Lakefront State Park in Cuyahoga County will host a Fall Festival at the Euclid Beach Pavilion from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume for an evening of family fun with a beach bonfire, haunted hayride and storytelling.
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 126 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample Fall Color. Here are the most current reports from selected locations: