Eastern Region

Date:  October 6, 2010
Description: Recent rains throughout the area have slowed the progress of the leaf peeping season but there are pockets of gorgeous color still to be found.  On the southern section of the forest color is at about 80% with the peak to be expected around October 15.  In the Northern section of the forest the maples, birch and cherry will be reaching their peak color sometime around the Columbus Day week-end.  No matter where you travel on the forest you are sure to find many opportunities for fall foliage photos. Take State Route 666 west from Sheffield to the Minister Creek Campground and take the short hike up the trail to the scenic overlook for a beautiful view of fall in the valley below.

No report.

Date: October 1, 2010
Description: The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest employees are gearing up for what is expected to be the peak of the foliage season in many parts of Vermont and New York in the coming week. Brilliant shades of red, pink and orange are already dominating the leaves of most hardwood tree species in the higher elevations. Traveling to view the vibrant fall colors has been a life-long tradition for many Vermonters and visitors of the Green Mountain and Empire States. The roughly 416,000 acres of public land in the two states has developed a reputation for providing some of the most spectacular foliage view sheds in the nation.

Date:  October 6, 2010
Description:  This week is peak color in the Central U.P.  Areas along Lake Superior are in full color.    It is expected to be gorgeous all week and through the week-end.  After that it will be patchy.

Date:  October 13, 2010
Description:  The Hoosier National Forest is about 40% of fall color this week.  The brilliant oranges and yellows are tantalizing our eyes with joyful colors.  While we still have a considerable amount of green, the maples are still the ones to enjoy.  Although many of our normally beautiful trees are dropping leaves quickly this year due to the ‘summer of dry’, there will still be enough color to watch for as you drive along our many country roads.  While you are in the area don’t forget to seek out the local fall festivals with their pumpkins, cider and sweet treats for the hikers, bikers and horseback riders to enjoy after a day on the trails.  The Hoosier is under a ban on any burning.  No campfires are allowed under any circumstance.  We are also into deer hunting season.  Be careful while you are in the forest to wear colorful clothing.  Link to Hoosier NF website:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/fallcolor.htm. 

Date:  October 13, 2010
Description:  Fall colors are at their peak in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula.  Color displays include predominantly crimson, oranges and yellows with a sparse scattering of reds.

Date: October 6, 2010
Description:  Leaves are changing on Mark Twain National Forest and local events highlight fall color.  Forest visitors should notice the beginning of fall color throughout Mark Twain National Forest while attending local area events, including:  50th Anniversary of Glade Top Trail Flaming Fall Review on October 17, 2010 on Mark Twain National Forest’s Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District. For more information about this event: http://www.avachamber.org; and  5th Annual Ozark Regional Timberfest” October 8-9, 2010 in Ripley County on Mark Twain National Forest’s Eleven Point Ranger District. Starting from now and expanding over the next couple of weeks, hues of red, gold, and orange will appear through Mark Twain National Forest. Missouri’s true fall color doesn’t usually fully appear until middle October.

Date:  September 22, 2010
Description: 

North Zone (Cheat-Potomac, Greenbrier Ranger Districts)

South Zone (Gauley, Marlinton-White Sulphur Ranger Districts)

http://www.pocahontascountywv.com/planningyou/upcomingeve.aspx
http://www.wvtourism.com/
http://www.greenbrierwv.com/home/index.asp
http://www.wvparks.com
http://www.blackwaterfalls.com
http://www.canaanresort.com

This is the first report of the fall foliage season.  Not too much color change is occurring on/around the Monongahela National Forest this week, as yet – but with the cooler temperatures both at night and in the early morning hour’s change will be happening.  Happy leaf viewing this autumn!

Date:  October 6, 2010
Description:  The color season is past the peak here on the Ottawa National Forest, but there still is enough color to "wow" our visitors!  There are still a very few small stretches where the color is in the beginning stages.

Date: October 13, 2010
Description:This second full week and coming weekend of October should be an excellent time to view the colors on the Shawnee National Forest. The colors have exceeded expectation even with the extreme dry weather southern Illinois has experienced. 

Date:  October 13, 2010
Description:  Running through the autumn woods is a dog.  Kennel-free, he has a dream of eating squirrels and chasing Rabbits – anonymous.  Dogs and autumn seem to go together.  Driving through the late autumn, you see trucks pulled over to the side, and you know that hunters are abroad in the forest - and they’ve brought their humans with to drive them around and shoot the grouse.  You can hear the person’s steps as they crunch in the leaves, and you can hear the dog’s as well as he bounds free from the leash into the undergrowth - then suddenly, you can’t, as the animal switches to stealth mode and an animal weighing 60 pounds becomes an invisible autumn wraith.  The air seems sharp and clear and you can almost, almost, get an idea as to what smells a dog can sense but which will always be mysteries to us short nosed primates.  The leaves are gone from the trees, almost a week to two weeks earlier than last year.  It is still warm, almost hot, in the forest.  Maybe the warm weather has speeded up the chemistry that causes the aging of the leaves as warmth speeds up many biological processes.  Maybe it is the dry weather, but whatever the reason, this was a short but sweet fall color season.  The woods are still lovely though, particularly if you stop, quit looking with your eyes at the sere brown landscape, and instead be a dog for a while and inhale deeply the smells of the season.  Maybe, if you’re patient enough, you’ll even smell a grouse.

No Report.

No report.