By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The unmistakable crisp feel of autumn has arrived in Ohio. And now is a perfect time to visit some colorful Ohio destinations close to home to enjoy the season as Ohio’s forests and fields begin their peak displays of fall colors for most of the state.

“Most parts of the state are starting to notice the first hints of fall color with yellows and oranges being reported and spots of red in the landscape showing,” said Casey Munchel, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.
“Buckeye trees are turning yellow and blackgum trees and sumac are starting to show bright red in the north along with poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines.”

Maple and ash trees have also just started to add their beautiful traditional reds and golds to the landscape according to the ODNR.
Each of Ohio’s 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 131 state nature preserves provides excellent locations to sample the fall foliage with miles of trails through some of the state’s most picturesque terrain.

Hiking provides some of the best and most intimate ways to view this annual natural phenomenon.

Some of the best views of fall foliage color can be seen when visiting an Ohio state forest and climbing up a watchtower. The towers at Mohican-Memorial State Forest in Ashland County, Tar Hollow State Forest in Ross, Vinton and Hocking counties, and Scioto Trail in Ross and Pike counties provide unique vantage points for observing Ohio’s change of seasons. These watchtowers offer great opportunities for photo lovers to take colorful panoramic pictures of the changing leaves.

Last week, most ODNR facilities reported that color was “changing,” with several locations across the state reporting near peak color conditions.  Locations with “near peak” conditions included Deer Creek Park in Pickaway County, Salt Fork State Park in Hocking County, Dillon State Park in Muskingum County, Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, Burr Oak State Park in Morgan County, Hueston Woods State Park and State Nature Preserve in Preble County and Sycamore State Park in Montgomery County.

For reporting purposes, “near peak” color is defined as forested areas having significant color showing, anywhere from 30-60 percent color. The remainder of state forests reported changing conditions, which means the forests are still mostly green with less than 25 percent color.

“It has been very nice weather for fall color. The recent onset of cool nights will help bring out the vibrancy of color,” Munchel said.
“Maples with their reds are really becoming noticeable - as are the bright yellows and golds of green ash.

However, Munchel noted that most of the spotty color is on stressed out trees from the wind storm the passed through Ohio in late September and resulted in numerous downed trees and power outages across the state.

Munchel noted that color conditions north of Interstate 70, which cuts across the state’s midsection, are generally changing and should see peak color over the weekend, while woodlands south of the interstate are still in the early stages of change.

Areas where trees are more stressed, such as along roadways and in urban areas, are showing more color.

Overall, the current color conditions can be classified as spotty, but still more vibrant than the colors seen in the fall of 2007.

When visiting state parks and other wooded recreational areas, residents and visitors are urged to take care with campfires and debris fires and observe the state’s outdoor burning rules.

In addition to providing some of the best spots in the state for viewing fall foliage color, many of Ohio’s state parks, forest and nature preserves offer seasonal activities for the entire family. Seasonal events are scheduled for Mohican State Park in Ashland County, Cliffton Gorge State Nature Preserve in Green County, Marblehead Lighthouse State Park in Ottawa County, Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County, Shawnee State Park in Scioto County, Pint Creek State Park in Ross County, Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Mary Jane Thurston State Park in Henry and Wood counties and Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County.
Weekly color updates are available from the state’s best fall viewing locations by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE or online at www.discoverohio.com/autumnadventures