Fall Colors Peak Around Central Ohio

As fall color peaks around the state, Ohio State Parks offer autumn adventures which include Halloween campouts, haunted trails and other family-friendly activities, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

“This will be the best weekend to see fall color in the majority of the state,” said Casey Burdick, ODNR’s fall color forester. “People that spend the weekend hiking, biking or hunting not only have the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful fall foliage, but many Ohio State Parks are hosting campouts, hayrides, pumpkin carving and costume contests.”

Some of the events happening this weekend at Ohio State Parks include:

• Not-Quite-Halloween Campout, East Fork State Park (SW) – Oct. 18-20. Hayrides, campsite decorating and costume contests, entertainment and trick or treat. For more information, call 513-734-4323.
• Fall Hike, Shawnee State Park (SW) – Oct. 19, 9 a.m. Take an invigorating walk in a blaze of fall color. To learn more, call 740-858-6652.
• 34th Annual Fall Hike, Lake Hope State Park (SE) – Oct. 19, 10 a.m. Three mile hike. For more information, call 740-596-4938.
• Halloween Campout, Rocky Fork State Park (SW) – Oct. 19-20. Campsite decorating and costume contests, silent auction, games and a haunted trail. For more information, call 937-393-3210.
• Perimeter Trail Hike, Caesar Creek State Park (SW) – Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join us for a 13-mile guided hike around the southern shore of Caesar Creek Lake. Pack a lunch, water and camera for a scenic hike through colorful fall foliage. For more details, call 513-897-2437.
• Walk with Nature, Grand Lake St. Marys State Park (NW) – Oct. 20, 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 3.3-mile or 10-mile options. Buses are available to take hikers to and from starting and stopping points. For more information, call 419-394-3611.

People interested in finding out where the most captivating leaves will be throughout the upcoming fall color season should check out fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov, ODNR’s guide to Ohio’s fall color season.

This website includes:

• Weekly color updates and information to help plan a fall color adventure.
• Weekly videos from Burdick that will highlight color hot spots around the state and provide information about some of Ohio’s 100-plus tree species.
• Links for fall activities, scenic road trips and more, including unique overnight accommodations at Ohio State Parks.

ODNR encourages people to take fall color photos and upload them to social media using ODNR’s hashtag, #ohiofallcolor2013. Follow @ohiodnr on Twitter and Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Facebook to see more fall color photos.