As autumn marches on, the leaves in Northeast Ohio are getting ready to strut their stuff with a vibrant color display near Lake Erie, while the rest of the state plays a waiting game. According to a recent update from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the foliage throughout the state is changing gears, but at a leisurely pace, "The rain this past week may knock some of the leaves off trees, but fall color is slowly popping through, especially on roadways and near water," ODNR Fall Color Forester David Parrott said in a statement. He pointed out pops of yellows from goldenrods, sycamores, and cottonwoods, and for those wanting to catch the latest burst of hues, ODNR's fall color update videos on their YouTube channel offer guidance.
Not just focusing on the present, ODNR is planting seeds for the future with the Buckeye State Tree Nursery, they've got approximately 500,000 seedlings nested and nurturing across 40 different tree types and native species are their jam, favorites like buckeyes, red and white oak, and black walnut among others, are set to buttress efforts like the H2Ohio and the NW Ohio Windbreak Program, and what's more, almost 80% of these baby trees will be ready to say hello to the world in spring 2026 with the rest taking an extra year to mature, and don't forget, ODNR is working on setting up a digital storefront for public seedling purchases, this is a boon for biodiversity and a nod to sustainability.
If you're itching for an adventure this weekend, ODNR's got the scoop on where to go for a festive fall fix. You could check out the Grandma Gatewood Fall Colors Hike at Hocking Hills State Park, Shallenberger State Nature Preserve's very own fall color celebration, or maybe get a little geological at Shawnee State Park's hike, which falls right in with Earth Science Week shenanigans. ODNR's fall color website is the place to be, the go-to for leaf peepers with a NEW Fall Color Tracker Map and info on all the best viewing spots, plus there's the Digital Ohio State Parks Passport Challenge if you're digitally inclined and you can keep tabs on fall's progression through ODNR's social channels, and they're even picking out the creme de la creme of fall photos shared with their hashtags: #OhioFall25, #OhioTheHeartofitAll, and #FallinOhio.
And for those of you with a love of the land and the trees that grace it, remember, the Ohio Division of Forestry is your friend, promoting the smart use and sustainable management of Ohio's woodlands both public and private. You can follow their green-thumbed adventures on Facebook and Instagram @odnrforestry because ODNR is committed to that fine balance, ensuring we get the best of our natural resources without putting them in peril, for all their worth and for all of us to enjoy, and for everything ODNR, just head to their homepage because it's all there, ohiodnr.gov.
