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A range of colors pop out in the fall foliage along the St. Marys Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Cooler temperatures this weekend will likely help shepherd in beautiful fall foliage across the state, and the colorful showcase will be on display in several spots in Mercer and Auglaize counties in the coming weeks.
Although patches of red and orange have begun to pop up in the past two weeks, the area landscape remains largely green. At the same time, the lack of rain may cause leaves to dry up and fall off trees before reaching peak color.
Leaves in the region are anticipated to be near their peak fall colors during the week of Oct. 16, and prime-time leaf peeping should start around the week of Oct. 23, according to SmokyMountain.com's annual U.S. fall foliage prediction map.
"We continue to see changing conditions statewide with a couple staff reporting Near Peak conditions," said David Parrott, fall color forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, in a news release. "This week we are definitely seeing above average warmth, however it looks like the weekend is ushering in much cooler and moderate temperatures. Current changing trees include black walnuts and honey locusts showing their yellows while dogwoods are showing brilliant reds and purples. It looks like sweetgums are just now starting to turn with yellows and reds."
A variety of colors can be seen in this single leaf at Baker Woods.
Fallen leaves cover a trail at Dr. Elizabeth Kuhl Kuffner Nature Preserve.
Leaves begin to change color in the fall as days grow shorter and nights become longer and cooler. The green hue comes from chlorophyll, the key component in a plant's ability to turn sunlight into nutrients.
As the night lengthens and temperatures drop, trees stop making chlorophyll, eventually revealing the "true" color of the leaf.
Mercer and Auglaize counties are home to beautiful nature preserves, parks and walking paths that will burst with color in the coming weeks. They are free and open to the public, perfect for planning a weekend trip, picnic or stroll to enjoy nature and its true hues.
Greater Grand Lake Region Visitors Center Director Donna Grube said some of the best places to view leaves include Windy Point State Park in Celina, the West Bank trail in Celina, the Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve in St. Marys and the Miami-Erie Canal walking path, especially heading north of St. Marys.
Colorful leaves dress the entrance at Kuffner Nature Preserve in St. Marys.
Colorful leaves cover a trail at Baker Woods.
Other places to enjoy the fall landscape are the East Bank trail in Celina, hiking trails at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park in St. Marys, the Towpath Trail in St. Marys, the Celina-Coldwater bike path, Baker Woods in Coldwater and the Kuenning-Dicke Natural Area in New Bremen.
To stay up-to-date with fall color, visit ODNR's fall color website at ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/fall-color, which features weekly color updates and information to help plan a fall color adventure, overnight accommodations at Ohio State Parks and events happening around the state.
For more information on area parks, visit the visitors center's website at seemore.org or the Heritage Park Trails District at www.htparks.org.
A red leaf at Baker Woods on St. Anthony Road near Coldwater.
Red leaves pop out against the unchanged green leaves at Kuffner Nature Preserve.
