Scioto Trail State Park in the Fall (photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources)
Travel

When Will Fall Color Peak in Ohio?

Peak autumn color is here across the state. It’s time to get out there and see it. 

Updated Oct. 24, 2024

Peak fall is here! The Ohio Department of Natural Resources‘ Fall Color Repo  for Oct. 23, says peak color is blanketing the state, with just a handful of places ”near peak.” This means its time to get out there and see fall color sometime between now and the end of the weekend. Good weather on the horizon should make it a nice weekend for a fall color road trip (and we have ideas below about how to make the most of it). 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Oct. 23, 2024 Fall Color Report

Fall Color Key: GREEN: Mostly green, no real fall color seen; YELLOW: Changing, still mostly green, less than 25% color; ORANGE: Near peak, significant color showing, between 30% and 60% color; RED: Peak, peak colors, as much as 85% showing; GRAY: Fading, fading from peak conditions and leaves falling to forest floor (graphic from Ohio Department of Natural Resources) 

Here are some ideas for how to take in the season as the leaves change from one end of the state to the other:

Mount Pleasant in Lancaster

Fall Color Tour: 16 Scenic Spots: From a lookout point high above Lancaster to a shot of the Milky Way across the treetops of the Hocking Hills, these 16 photographs show the Buckeye State at its most beautiful.

A trail at Mohican State Park in Loudonville (photo by  Jess Wilschek)

Ohio State Parks for Fall Hikes: Get up close and personal with fall leaves, one step at a time. These four state parks have colorful jaunts for hikers of every skill level. 

Athens aerial view in fall

Fall Road Trips in Ohio: Explore more than 580 miles of autumn adventure with these five routes that offer plenty of history, hiking, family fun and more. 

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