Natural History Wanderings

Eastern Regional National Forests have the following new fall color reports. Includes reports from Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont,  and Wisconsin

Illinois

The autumn season is one of the most popular seasons for visiting the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. The region is unique in that it is home to a variety of tree species. Currently there is still a lot of mixed color across the landscape, with some trees showing their autumn foliage and others still green. Some early turning trees still holding a lot of color are the deep crimson leaves of the dogwood and sumac trees. While the treetops of the maples, sycamore and elm have turned into a blend of orange, yellow and red. Always the last to change will be the wide variety of oak tree species, transforming into deep reds and burnt orange. Currently leaf change is at about 40% complete, with this year’s peak season likely to occur between Oct. 20 and 29.

Indiana

The Hoosier National Forest is now at about 40% color, with beautiful maples really showing off their oranges and reds.  Sycamores and hickories are yellow and dropping their leaves quickly.  The underbrush is in full color with dogwood and spicebush leaves and berries. With the storm rolling through Monday night the Forest lost many of the colors to date.  In the next few days more of those colors will start showing back up again – stay tuned!

Michigan

The last couple weeks have been vibrant here in the central Upper Peninsula’s Hiawatha National Forest, and peak colors are still holding in places along the Great Lakes shorelines.  However, wind and rain are in the forecast, so it may not last for too much longer. Plan your trip today!

Overall – we are heading quickly into full color here on the Huron-Manistee National Forest.  Along roadways, such as M-65, M-55 and M-37, you will still experience vivid colors in one mile and then pure green the next, but the areas of pure green are becoming less and less. The views from the many overlooks along River Road National Scenic Byway and along the river corridors are quickly becoming bright with color, while trails such as Highbanks River Trail and Manistee River Trail provide hikers opportunities to see areas of color deeper in the woods.  See below for detailed locale information:

• Manistee/Cadillac Area– Road corridors are at full color in most places, and the deeper you go into the woods, the less green you’ll see. The Manistee River Trail and Manistee National Recreation River are bursting with color. Overall color is still around 70-80%
• Baldwin/White Cloud Area– Color along the roadways and river corridors is becoming more intense.  Lakeshores and wetlands are still the best areas to view color right now.  Overall color is at 60-70%
• Mio/Grayling Area– Color along roadways and the Au Sable National Scenic River corridor is becoming more intense and trails are becoming more colorful. Overall color is at 70-80%.
• Oscoda/Tawas City Area– River Road National Scenic Byway and the Au Sable River corridor are popping with color.  Lumberman’s Monument, Iargo Springs and the Highbanks River Trail will provide visitors with spectacular views of the changing colors.  Overall color is at 70-80%.

The best color will probably be this weekend (Oct 17-19) and next weekend (Oct 24-26).  Depending on the weather it might stretch into Halloween weekend (Oct 31 – Nov 2)

The color on the Ottawa National Forest is “holding its own!” A drive down any forest road will definitely take you to the discovery of some golden aspen, or some dark red oaks. Certain spots such as Bob Lake Campground have maple trees that are just starting to turn yellow. In fact, a lot of the maple saplings that are close to the floor of the forest, are just turning yellow.  A walk in the woods will make you feel like you are walking through sunshine on the cloudiest of days.  You can also catch some red and orange maples. Even though we are past peak, there is still time to visit the Ottawa and take a back country drive to view some beautiful color.

Minnesota

The tamaracks are at peak right now on the Chippewa National Forest and looking bright and golden next to the green pine trees.  The leaves are dropping each day, but you can still enjoy some leaf color on forest roads and trails. The drive along State Highway 371 from Walker to Cass Lake, MN is still a bit colorful.  Take some time to enjoy the solitude of the forest trails, the beautiful lakes with loons calling and bald eagles soaring and the fresh, crisp air of autumn in the Chippewa.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area: Green trees still dominate the landscape here, which is surprising given the season. There is more color in the rolling hills east of St. Paul. Shades of yellow, gold, orange and red are starting to appear in the aspen, ash, and maple trees, with the evergreens providing a nice contrast. The oaks are just starting to show some red and brown colors.

In the Superior National Forest, aspen and birch are in full color along the shore of Lake Superior. Inland, much more of the forest is looking bare, but there are still some beautiful patches of leaves to behold.  Color is about 90-50% of peak right now, and dropping.

Missouri

See below for detailed local information on the Mark Twain National Forest:

• Cedar Creek Area (Fulton):Fall colors are going strong in the Forest’s uppermost northern ranger district. The redbuds and oak are turning yellow, while the sugar maples are a beautiful peach and red color. Some trees, such as the hickories, have already lost their yellow leaves.
• Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District(south of St. Louis) the sumac is red and maples are starting to turn. Drives down the scenic Hwy 8 are beautiful now.  While you are driving Highway 8, take a side trip down Hwy Y to the Bixby Store for an ice cream stop. Hwy 32 to Salem is a beautiful drive.  Hwy 21 is another beautiful route to drive from the Arcadia Valley to Sutton’s Bluff camp and recreation area, which also has an RV part. Hwy 32 from Farmington goes by several state parks where there are trail and picnic opportunities.  Hwy E from Fredericktown west is lovely, with Marble Creek Campground and picnic area available for a rest stop.
• Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs Ranger District(southwest Missouri) Sumac and poison ivy are hitting their color peaks here. The walnut, willow and sassafras are adding to the yellows and oranges.  Hickories are just starting to reveal their beautiful yellow and gold color.  Bright red dogwood berries show off well against the deep red leaves, while the black gum are showing little glimpses of bright red foliage. For some fun activities associated with checking out the fall color, plan to attend the Flaming Fall Review at the Glade Top Festival on Glade Top Trail October 19, 2014.

New Hampshire

Color and weather have been truly exceptional this fall on the White Mountain National Forest, and it has been the busiest foliage season in a decade! Travelers this past weekend lucked out with a second “peak” especially on the south and east sides of the White Mountain. Alas, all good things must come to an end and by next weekend most of the White Mountains will be past peak. Don’t let that dissuade you from coming though! There are always individual trees and groves that hit their stride when the main mass of foliage is past. An added perk is much less traffic and dramatic views of our mountains in places normally blocked by trees.

Pennsylvania

The trees on the Allegheny National Forest are putting on an outstanding show of color right now so get out there and take in the view!  One of the nicest scenic drives on the forest can be found by turning off State Route 59 onto Long House Scenic Byway and view the glorious colors of fall at her finest!

Vermont

Foliage is past peak at the higher elevations of the Green Mountain National Forest. The beech leaves have turned from yellow to coppery brown. There are still yellow, orange and red later turning sugar maples dispersed among the bare limbs. The foliage is fading somewhat, but still beautiful at the middle to lower elevations.

West Virginia

With the forecast calling for wind and rain, right now is the time to check out the fall colors on the Monongahela National Forest! See below for specific locale information:

• Cheat Area (Parsons):  the higher elevations are past peak and there is a lot of leaf drop due to wind and rain; basically, the foliage is pretty much over at these elevations. The lower elevations are at peak, but leaves are dropping very quickly.
• Gauley Area (Richwood): the leaves are winding down on the highland scenic highway, but on routes 39/55 (from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center) the leaves are just starting to peak. In and around the city of Richwood itself the colors are at about 60%.
• Greenbrier Area (Bartow): foliage is now at about 85% color. The past week’s wind and rain have caused a lot of trees to look pretty bare. However, some of the trees in the lower elevations are still pretty.
• Marlinton Area (Marlinton):  the foliage is 95% from Lewisburg to Marlinton, and the colors are amazing! One can behold beautiful orange and red colors with brilliant yellow flowing into the mix; this is indeed a beautiful time of the year. Plan your trip now, as colors are just past peak due to recent wind and rain.
• Potomac Area (Petersburg): fall foliage here in the Forest’s northern most district is at 40-50%. The recent fog has made it difficult to view the foliage itself, and the rain has brought some of the leaves down. Higher elevations are well past their peak and many of the leaves have already fallen. However, for the leaf peepers or color cruisers there are still plenty of beauty to see.
• White Sulphur Area (White Sulphur Springs): the southernmost district is at about 70-80% color, though recent storms have felled some leaves.

Wisconsin

Milwaukee Metro Area: It’s leaf raking time in Milwaukee.  This week’s rain and wind caused a fair amount of leaf drop, but there’s still some good color left. The yellows and golds in ash, aspen and birch trees are striking.  The oranges and reds of the maples are near peak. Oaks are turning shades of brown and red. While some trees are still green, we’re also starting to see some bare trees. We had our first light frost this past week.