Ohio’s Fall Color Provides the Perfect Backdrop for a Fall Hike This Weekend
OutdoorHub 10.17.12
ODNR Fall Foliage Update No. 5 – Oct. 17
An array of colors from deep reds to golds will provide the perfect backdrop this weekend for hikers ready to reconnect with the outdoors, according to Casey Burdick, fall color forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“Peak fall color conditions are spreading throughout Ohio right now,” said Burdick. “Cottonwoods are showing some great yellows and golds while oaks are starting to change with deep reds and russet colors.”
Ohio State Parks are offering a variety of organized hikes that will provide an amazing perspective on some of the Buckeye State’s most spectacular natural terrains. State parks provide picturesque scenery on a normal day, and with the abundance of fall colors, these places are truly breathtaking.
There are several fun autumn events happening this weekend, along with numerous Halloween campouts at our Ohio State Parks:
Haunted Trail, Lake Milton (NE) – Oct. 19-20 from 7-10:30 p.m. Spooky scenes along the accessible paved trail located at 1979 Grandview Road. Call 330-654-4989 to learn more.
33rd Annual Fall Hike, Lake Hope (SE) – Oct. 20 at10 a.m. Meet at the beach shelter house for a sip of sassafras tea and a three-mile hike to Hope Furnace. Shuttles return hikers to their cars. Call 740-596-3030 for more information.
Fall Festival, Cleveland Lakefront (NE) – Oct. 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Euclid Beach. There will be all kinds of family fun, hayrides, activities for kids, games and crafts. Call 216-881-8141, ext. 3001 to learn more.
Fall Hike, Shawnee (SW) – Oct. 20 from 9-11 a.m. Meet at the nature center at 9 a.m. for a fall five-mile hike to please the entire family and enjoy the grand opening of the park’s new Lake Trail. Take an invigorating walk in a blaze of fall color. Call 740-858-6652 for more information.
Walk with Nature, Grand Lake St. Marys (NW) – Oct. 21, 12-4 p.m. Meet at Memorial Park in St. Marys to register, then hike the historic Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Choose from either the 3.3-mile or 10-mile options. Buses are available to take hikers to and from starting and stopping points. Call 419-394-3611 for more information.
The ODNR Fall Color website at fallcolor.ohiodnr.com 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 information 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 discoverohio.com under their Autumn Adventures feature.
Ohio’s 75 state parks, 21 state forests and 135 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to view fall foliage. To learn more about going on a fall getaway as well as overnight accommodations, visit ohiodnr.com/parks.
