WHEN ARE THE LEAVES GOING TO CHANGE?

Dear friends,
Friday night I found myself watching football and a band performance at the first annual Jamboree Game at Logan High School. As the hours got later and the sun began to set over the field, I realized that I wished I had brought a sweatshirt. It was getting chilly. But wait! That can't be, it's still August!

It may still be August, but fall is just around the corner and this time of the year in the Hocking Hills is a sight to behold. The transformation from summer to fall will begin occurring soon. The days will get shorter and the nights will cool off. You will start to see the fawns that are getting big enough to venture out on their own lose their spots. The leaves will begin to change into their vivid fall colors and at least once a day I will get the question, "What are the peak dates to see the leaves?". I would love to be able to answer this question with certainty, but there is nothing certain about when and if the leaves will be at their brightest.

According to the US Forest Service, temperature and moisture are the two biggest factors in how bright the fall colors will be and when the leaves will fall. The more warm, sunny days with cool but not freezing nights we have, the brighter the colors will be when the change occurs. The bigger the spring and summer rainfalls an area has, the longer the leaves will stay green and on the trees. In other words, a warm, wet spring, favorable summer weather and warm sunny fall days with cool nights will produce the most brilliant colors.

One can usually estimate that for a few weeks in October, our leaves will be at their brightest. For those of us in the Hocking Hills this means that we will see a huge increase in traffic on the roads. Our park trails will be overflowing with people hiking and taking pictures, and our normally quiet corner of the state will be buzzing with activity.

The fall foliage will bring visitors, but there is definitely more to do than just hike. Many things are happening in our area in the coming months. There will be football games to attend, concerts in the park, dinner with the Innkeepers and wine tastings. There are hummingbirds to feed by hand. Frogs, toads and turtles are waiting to be discovered. There are late night canoe excursions and shops to explore.

If you have never experienced the beauty of the Hocking Hills in the fall, this is the time to plan your trip. Whether you only have a day to spend with us or you have a whole weekend to relax and unwind , you will leave the Hocking Hills at the end of your visit feeling refreshed and renewed. You will have seen some of the most breathtaking scenery in the midwest and you will have a new appreciation for the nature that surrounds us.

We look forward to seeing you soon,
Ellen and Terry
Innkeepers