As autumn sets in, Five Rivers MetroParks offers some of the best locations for viewing fall color in the Miami Valley. Whether you're looking to spend some time enjoying the season with a family picnic, a walk with a friend on a hiking trail or just want to relax and take it all in by yourself, our parks provide everything you need to get your fall color fix.Why Leaves Change
The key to Ohio’s vibrant autumn color season is a combination of long, cool nights and short, sunny days in mid to late September.
Decreased amounts of sunlight in the fall trigger a chemical change in the leaves of hickory, birch and beech trees which causes them to turn various shades of yellow, brown, and orange. These colors, called carotenoids, are present in the leaves all year long, but are hidden by green chlorophylls during the spring and summer.
Additional shades of red and purple, called anthocyanin pigment, develop in late summer in the sap cells of tree leaves that are rich in sugar, including maples, oaks, sweetgums, and dogwoods.
In woodlands, where there are trees rich in carotenoids and anthocyanins, the combination of fiery reds, golds, and bronzes can light up a vista, creating the typical autumn landscape so familiar to Ohioans. With more than 100 species of trees in the state, it is no wonder Ohio’s fall color season is so spectacular.
Protect fall color for future generations! Take the pledge to "Leaf a Legacy."
Below is a list of suggested locations for experiencing fall color at its finest. Get Out and Hike in one of these parks!
Germantown MetroPark in autumn
Germantown MetroPark:
Drive the scenic loop through the park off Conservancy Road. Stop by the restroom and hit the boardwalk to the picturesque Valley Overlook. (200 yards) For a longer jaunt, park at the end of Old Mill Road and follow the Twin Valley Trail all the way to State Route 725 and back. You’ll see beautiful overlooks, mature forest, colorful prairies, the Twin Creek and a hilly landscape (4 miles).
View This Park >>
Englewood MetroPark:
Enter the park at the east end of Englewood Dam off U.S. Route 40. Park at the trailhead parking area near Patty’s Shelter and hike the 0.8 mile yellow trail to the new boardwalk through the swamp forest. You’ll get an eyeful of some of the biggest trees in the MetroParks—and maybe even an owl or two!
View This Park >>
Dull Woods Conservation Area:
Welcome to one of the “secrets” of MetroParks. This conservation area is a small (9 acres) but spectacular swamp forest. Park at the small lot for the Wolf Creek Bikeway off U.S. 40 northwest of Brookville and walk or bike south along the paved trail for a quarter mile. The entrance to Dull Woods will be on your left.
Hills & Dales MetroPark in autumn
© Andy Snow | Courtesy of Chambers Architecture
Hills & Dales MetroPark:
Park at the Paw Paw Shelter off of Deep Hollow Road and follow the Adirondack Trail through the Wetlands Boardwalk to Dogwood Pond (0.5 miles) where you’ll find spectacular photo opportunities.
View This Park >>
Taylorsville MetroPark:
If you haven’t checked out the new trails at Taylorsville MetroPark, take advantage of the beautiful fall colors while you “test hike” the trails. This is the first park to receive sustainable trail upgrades. Hike the southern loops around the orange trail to get a taste of what’s to come at a MetroPark near you!
View This Park >>
For your best fall color experience, spend some time in our Natural Area Parks! |