Kentucky ColorFall 2007
October 24 - 30, 2007
Welcome Leaf Peepers!
Color was a little slow coming this year, but it has arrived! Parks across the state are reporting good color for this week, so make you plans now to attend an outdoor event and take in the beauty of nature and the outdoor adventure that is everywhere in Kentucky. For more information on “what’s happening”, call our travel consultants weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at 800-225-8747.
Eastern Kentucky
The colors have finally arrived at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill. As you drive through the park, the maples, dogwoods and hickories color the landscapes with yellow, orange and red. The park is almost at peak although the rains this week may cause many of the leaves to fall.
At Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin, the overall color display is not the normal quality, but there is some brilliant color in some individual trees. Bright red color can be seen in maples, sweet gums and sourwoods. Some nice golden color is showing in the hickories and redbuds. The overall peak will be this week.
Greenbo Lake State Resort Park in Greenup is about at peak with over 50 percent of trees turned. The brilliant oranges, yellows and reds can be seen around the lake and on the hillsides. The trees with color include maples, hickories, pawpaws, sassafras, oaks, redbuds and black gums. Don’t miss the Camper Halloween and Haunted Trail Oct. 26-27.
At Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, the forest’s fall color display has really popped and will peak during the next couple of weeks. Currently Natural Bridge and the surrounding area have an approximately 50 – 75 percent color change. The hickories are now adding beautiful golden yellow hues to the hillsides and most of the sugar maple are vibrant orange. Many of the oak species are still green, but several such as the white oak and scarlet oak are beginning to turn. On the ridge tops beautiful shades of red can still be seen on the sourwood, red maple, black gum and sassafras. The red maples are especially vibrant at this time.
At Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville, the rains at the end of last week dramatically accelerated the turning of leaves and the current color change is varying from 50 to 65 percent. Though the cloud cover anticipated this week will likely mute the color display, the best show of autumn’s remaining pageantry will occur over the next ten days and will encompass the peak for all coloration for southeast Kentucky. Even after that time, there is still likely to be isolated color among the protected coves and ravines of the mountainous region for an additional week.
North Central Kentucky
At Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary near Frankfort things have changed dramatically in the past few days. There is lots of brilliant color now with golden maples and crimson sassafras, maples, Virginia creeper and poison ivy. The deep yellow hickories, hackberries, box elder and service berries, rusty oaks and plenty of greenness highlight the contrast. With approximately 80 percent change, color is predicted to be spectacular through October.
South Central Kentucky
Lake Cumberland State Report Park in Jamestown is now at peak color. Showy reds and yellows can be seen on the maple, hickory, dogwood, black gum, tulip tree, sassafras, pawpaw, sumac and beech. The oaks should start changing by week's end. Come enjoy the color on the park's two nature trails, Lake Bluff Trail and Baugh Branch.
At Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park in Burkesville, the cooler days and rain have brought on a beautiful 70 percent color change in the leaves. The best place to enjoy the yellows, oranges, browns and reds is at Eagle’s Point. Hike this moderate trail for a gorgeous view. Don’t forget to attend the Haunted Hollow Hotel Oct. 27. There will be a campsite decorating contest, mini-jack craft, tie dying t-shirts, trick-or-treating, hayrides, free live animal program, costume contest and owl prowl. For more information call 800-325-2282.
Mammoth Cave National Park is at about 50 percent fall color. The cooler weather and rain have been a welcome relief in this dry year. Visitors are reminded to be careful with fire in the park; a campfire ban continues in the backcountry and smoking is prohibited on all park trails. Groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the visitor center renovation was Oct. 23; half of the building will still be in use for visitor information and cave tour ticket sales. Please excuse our construction!
Western Kentucky
At John James Audubon State Park in Henderson autumn is settling into the woods at last. The first week of color is proving to be glorious. The Kentucky coffee trees, sycamores and tulip poplars are changing their colors to golden yellow and the dogwoods and sassafras are now regal in red. The sweet gum and the sugar maple leaves are glowing the brightest in their many shades of red, orange and yellow. With the cool nights and warm days, the color outlook for Audubon Woods is magnificent. Audubon has a triple-Halloween-treat for all guests: From 10:30 am to noon on Oct. 27, children age 3-6 can have a Hoot of a time at the Halloween Bash in the Museum. Come costumed and prepared for art, games and treats. Trick-or-Treating is safe and fun when it is done in the Audubon Campground! Come dressed in your favorite costume from 1:00–5:30 pm on Oct. 27. And coming soon to Audubon Woods will be the “Hoot & Howl Woods Walk,” a non-frightening and all-enlightening Halloween event on Oct. 26 -27 from 5:30–9:00 pm.
At Ballard Wildlife Management Area in La Center there is a subtle change of approximately 25 percent. Sweet gum has turned a brilliant purple with hickories, oaks and sycamores just turning faint hues. Poison ivy is showing the most color with brilliant purples, reds and yellows. The peak should occur the last week of October. The first waterfowl arrived mid October and wildlife viewing opportunities are available on the two-mile drive thru loop on Ballard – waterfowl, bald eagles and whitetail deer can be observed both early morning and late afternoon.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park in Cadiz is showing more and more fall color, thanks to the storms of recent days. The canopy of trees offers vibrant reds in the Virginia creeper vines, persimmons and sassafras. Yellows can be seen in hickories, tulip poplars and sycamores. The expected peak color for the season is still in weeks to come – just in time for Lake Barkley’s fall backpacking trips during the first and third weekends of November. Registration is now open and limited! Call 800-325-1708 for details.
At Pennyrile Forest and Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park in Dawson Springs the sumac, sassafras, sourwood, black gum, Virginia creeper and poison ivy are a brilliant red; while hickories, tulip poplars and maples are showing off yellow hues. A beautiful dark purple can be seen in the small tree called devil’s walking stick. The forest interior is slowly changing from its summer green, but along the edges of the Pennyrile Lake many trees have changed to their beautiful fall foliage. Make plans to attend Pennyrile’s Halloween Campout Oct. 26-28.