Natural History Wanderings

Eastern Region National Forests has a Fall Color report for September 25, 2013 for the following National Forests

• ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST (PENNSYLVANIA)
• CHEQUAMEGON-NICOLET NATIONAL FOREST (WISCONSIN)
• CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST (MINNESOTA)
• GREEN MOUNTAIN & FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FORESTS (VERMONT & NEW YORK)
• HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST (INDIANA)
• HURON-MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST (MICHIGAN)
• SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST (ILLINOIS)
• SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST (MINNESOTA)
• WAYNE NATIONAL FOREST (OHIO)
• WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (NEW HAMPSHIRE)

Click read more to see reports

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST (PENNSYLVANIA)
The hillsides in the northern section of the Allegheny are painted with bright hues of red, yellow, and orange. While the southern portion of the Forest isn’t changing as rapidly, there is still a pop of color, especially red! A drive around the Allegheny Reservoir or along the Tionesta Creek offers a pallet of watercolors pleasing to the eye. Peak color viewing is expected to occur mid-October.

CHEQUAMEGON-NICOLET NATIONAL FOREST (WISCONSIN)
The Chequamegon-Nicolet continues to be pretty green, with the red maples being the only trees that are pop-ping with color. Forecasts estimate more trees should be joining them by the weekend. For a glimpse of what’s to come, check out the area surrounding Langley Lake near the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station. Or survey the scene from above on the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District’s Mountain Fire Lookout.

CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST (MINNESOTA)
Visitors to the northern portion of the Chippewa will see a noticeable change in colors over the last week. Trees lining highway 371 and portions around Blackduck and Marcell are definitely starting to turn up the col-or volume! Birch, basswoods and ash trees line the roads with a warm yellow, and the maples and oaks are definitely starting to flag red in the upper branches. The southern edge of the Forest is just hinting at yellow in the aspens, with a few red and orange flagged maples to have us looking forward to the full color season! Su-mac, alder and even the poison ivy is adding a little color to the Walker area. Purple asters are still in full bloom!

GREEN MOUNTAIN & FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FORESTS (VERMONT & NEW YORK)
Leaves in Vermont and New York are now beginning to show very nice shades or red, yellow, orange and pink. Cooler nights and shorter days have brought increased color to the higher elevations in the past week. Some parts of the Green Mountain National Forest will be near peak foliage this weekend and next.

HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST (INDIANA)
In the past week, the fall color has begun with random spots of color throughout the Forest. Blackgum, maple, poplar and sumac are turning wonderful colors along with poison ivy (believe it or not!) and Virginia creeper. As you drive/hike through the Forest you will find a nice splash of color. The weather into the week-end is predicted to be beautiful (low to mid 80s with a slight chance of rain). There are many local festivals going on throughout the rest of September and all of October. Now’s the time to take a drive, go for a hike or enjoy a campout! For a view from the top, check out the Fire Tower Lookout on the Brownston Ranger District, take a walk along Mill Creek on the Tell City Ranger District, or take a drive in Northern Perry County along Or-chard and Opera roads near the Oriole Trails.

HURON-MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST (MICHIGAN)
Across the entire forest a few trees along roadways have turned vivid orange and yellow along roadways; but most trees are still green. It will be another week or two before we see the high color. The best color right now is along M-55 between Cadillac and Manistee. For the hikers…catch a glimpse of fall overhead on the North Country National Scenic Trail/Sawdust Hole near the Manistee River or the Caberfae Trailhead.

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST (ILLINOIS)
The foliage in southern Illinois has just begun to turn! Red is showing up on the tips of maple tree leaves, and a hint of yellow is gracing the leaves of the hardwoods. Daily temperatures are in the mid 80’s, lows in the 60’s; the crisp, cooler air is aiding in the arrival of fall color to the region.

SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST (MINNESOTA)
Things are changing rapidly, from last week; the Forest has become firmly rooted in autumn. The woods are bathed in yellow-green with bits of burnt umber, bittersweet, and maize, against a cornflower blue sky. Nearly all the leaves are different somehow, but still mostly green. Now’s the time to find a good spot where you can grab some cider, and sit and watch fall unfold before you!

WAYNE NATIONAL FOREST (OHIO)
Autumn color is just starting to show in the hills of the Wayne, with only 5-10% of the main canopy showing any real color change. As geese start noisily winging their way overhead, the sounds and smells of fall are evident. For example, the spicebush adds a rich fragrance to a fall hike, while the bright red berries and yellow leaves add color to the understory. The sumac and dogwood are a brilliant red, while the poplar, ash, and maples are a sunny yellow. The cooler evening temperatures predicted for this week will surely be brining on color quickly. In the meantime, the goldenrod, ironweed and black-eyed Susan’s along the roadside and in forest openings add bright color to a fall drive. For a fantastic view from above, check out the Forest’s Snake Ridge Lookout Tower, or take a stroll along the boardwalk surrounding Lake Vesuvius near Ironton, Ohio.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST (NEW HAMPSHIRE)
Many parts of the White Mountain are really beginning to show off New England’s famous fall foliage! Peak though, even at the highest points, is still some time in the future–at least a full week. Higher terrain on Rt 16, Rt 3 and the Kancamagus Hwy is beautiful with lots of red, gold and a full backdrop of green. At lower elevations and in the southeast corner of the Forest, colors have barely started. This means that visitors have a long window to enjoy fall colors because when they’re “past” up high, they’re stunning down low. Now’s the time to plan a scenic drive on the Kancamagus Hwy; be sure to stop for a photo op at the C L Graham Wangan Overlook, and take a stroll around Lily Pond