Natural History Wanderings

Fall Color Report for Eastern Region National Forests for November 6

SAFETY:  Remember it is hunting season so if you are in the Forest, be sure to wear bright colored clothing (such as orange) and be aware of your surroundings.

Hoosier National Forest (Indiana)

The Hoosier is now well past peak colors.  A few colors can still be found along the trails and roadways.  Even though our colors are gone, leaves are still falling making a wonderful sound as you hike the trails and skittering across the roadways.  Temperatures are below normal this week with highs in the 50 and lows hovering around freezing.  It’s still very nice for a fabulous hike through the woodlands.

Monongahela National Forest (West Virginia)

Because of the large amounts of snow on the Forest due to Hurricane Sandy (as much as 2 – 3 feet in some spots) this is the last report of the autumn season.  Trees are indeed snow covered and hanging down because of the heavy wet snow…looks more like a winter scene rather than fall!

Ottawa National Forest (Upper Peninsula of Michigan)

The only color still on the Forest at this point is the “yellow” on the tamarack trees.  Just because there is no color to see, doesn’t mean the Ottawa is quiet!  In fact, we are currently in one of our busiest times of the year, with the many different hunting seasons ongoing.  Take a walk in the woods to view wildlife that is easier to see now that the trees are bare, or go and explore some of the Forest’s waterfalls, which are seeing a good flow of water, thanks to all the recent rain.

*This will be the last fall color report of the 2012 season.  Remember that the national forests of the East offer a lot of winter recreation opportunities!

Fall Color Hotline:  1-800-354-4595