Kentucky ColorFall Week 6 – October 29 – Nov. 4, 2008
Colder weather has arrived in Kentucky, but there are still areas of the state that report good color for this weekend. Check out your favorite area below or pick a new spot to explore and plan weekend activities. For event information 24/7, log onto www.kentuckytourism.com or call our travel consultants any weekday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 800-225-8747.
Eastern Kentucky
Although the rain last week at Carter Caves State Resort Park near Olive Hill has caused many of the brown leaves to fall, the cool nights have caused the oaks leaves to change quickly. Many trees are without leaves but the remaining ones are showing great orange, yellow and red color; making this the best overall color of the season. It’s a great time to take a hike on a trail or a drive through the park.
Mark your calendars for November 14 and 15 to enjoy the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, "Bullets for Broadway", a new musical comedy mystery spoof! "It's the Sopranos meets the Producers!" Book and lyrics by David Landau and the production is presented by Fantastical Theatricals. The cost for the buffet dinner and show is $34.95 plus tax, per person. Overnight packages including lodging, dinner and show are available
At Jenny Wiley State Resort Park near Prestonsburg the color has increased due to some much-needed rain received last week. Some trees have lost a significant amount of leaves, but there is still some good color. Trees with good color include: sourwood, red maple and sugar maple. White oaks and hickories are also showing some color. Peak color should be good for the next 10 to 14 days. Don’t forget to make your reservations for the elk viewing tours offered during November and the early months of the year.
At Natural Bridge State Resort Park, near Slade, the forest’s fall color display is close to peak at about 70-90 percent color change. On the ridge tops shades of red can still be seen on sourwood, red maple and black gum. Lower in the valleys, the white oaks, southern black-haws, and sumacs are displaying the best red hues. Hickories and sugar maples are currently producing the most vibrant yellows and oranges. The peak of fall color at Natural Bridge will be within the next week or so. Bring the whole family and join special guest performers, John Tierney and Anne MacFie on Thursday, October 30, at 8 p.m. for “Spooky Songs and Scary Tales” in the activities center.
Although autumn colors were muted this past week with only yellow, brown and gold as the primary colors on display at Pine Mountain State Resort Park near Pineville, significant brightening is occurring at this time. Flashes of red, yellow and orange are now observed where there are an abundance of maples on steep, rocky slopes with thin soils. Rainfall at the end of last week helped to diminish drought effects and the remaining green leaves are now beginning to turn. Evening temperatures are continuing to creep downward, making a hard frost likely in the next couple of evenings. The peak of fall color for the park and much of the southeastern mountain region is likely to occur this coming weekend (November 1 and 2). There are likely to be small pockets of color scattered across the mountains through November 9.
Autumn has arrived at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin with approximately 85 percent color change. Especially vibrant this year are the bright orange-red to solid red of the red maples and the golden color of the hickories. Many trees have held their leaves this year and there is still great color.
The park will be hosting the annual Moonbow Trail Trek on Saturday, November 1. Hikers have a choice of a 4.5 mile or 10.8 mile self-guided hike. Pre-registration required. Registration fee is $15 per person. Registered hikers receive a ride to the trail head, a t-shirt, snack, and will pass checkpoints along the way.
North Central Kentucky
At Big Bone Lick State Park, in Union, the colder weather is causing a steady drop of many of the leaves. Presently the most colorful leaves can be found on the tulip poplars and sweet gums, and the oaks still have a decent amount of color. Get to the park soon, as the last of the fall colors are rapidly disappearing for another year.
Recent chilly temperatures have brought crisper air and a stronger show of fall color to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont. Outstanding autumn color includes the yellow and golden-yellow leaves of mockernut hickory and American yellowwood trees, respectively. The leaves of the sugar maple trees range in color from yellow to yellow-orange to pumpkin-orange. Flowering dogwood leaves are a rich burgundy color and the sassafras trees are displaying red-orange leaves. Still persisting are the stunning scarlet leaves of the red maple and black tupelo trees. It won’t be long before the ginkgo leaves turn a buttery yellow color. Nothing else brings as much high drama to the season as fall color at Bernheim. Peak color at Bernheim should be next week.
South Central Kentucky
At the Lake Cumberland State Resort Park area, near Jamestown, there is about 60 to 65 percent change in the fall foliage. Here you see some yellows and browns in the tulip, maple, beech, hickories, walnut and paw paws. Some red and browns can be spotted in the dogwood, maple, black gum, oaks and sumac. With the predicted hard freeze forecasted this week, this should be the best chance for a peak in the ending fall foliage.
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, near Burkesville, has approximately 85 percent color change. Right now you can view every color imaginable found in the fall season. Bright yellows, vibrant oranges, deep burgundy reds, and browns with a variety of hues brighten the forests. Some trees have completely changed and turned to brown and other trees are just beginning to show their color. Make plans now to visit while you can still see all these beautiful colors.
Although most of the leaves have faded and fallen at Mammoth Cave National Park, it’s always a good time for a hike or to explore the underground world of the park. November 7-9, it's Roots in the Cave, a genealogy weekend that celebrates the family heritage of those who called the Mammoth Cave area home before it became a national park. Portions of the event are free and open to the public; meals and overnight accommodations are available through Forever Resorts (270-758-2225). For information about Roots in the Cave, call Mary Anne Davis at 270-773-5099.
Western Kentucky
Ah-h-htum is settling into the forests of John James Audubon State Park in Henderson at last! The first week of color is proving to be as glorious as Monsieur Audubon’s palette! 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 glow the brightest in their many shades of red, orange and yellow. With the cool nights and warm days, the color outlook for the next few weeks in the Audubon Woods is magnificent!
This weekend, peek inside nature’s bag of seasonal tricks during “Fall Foliage Fiesta.” Naturalist, Julie McDonald will present this interesting and timely program at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1 in the Audubon Museum Gallery.
Other upcoming events include mother and daughter artists, Elizabeth Davis and Lisa Heichelbech featured in the Museum Gallery starting November 13. Their exhibit is titled “Close to Home.” An opening reception will be on November 13 at 6:00 p.m. December 20 at 2 p.m. explore some of Nature’s mysteries with Naturalist Julie McDonald in the museum gallery. This free program will help you celebrate the season in a relaxing way.
Peak of the fall color season has arrived at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park and the surrounding Pennyrile State Forest, near Dawson Springs. The hickory trees of the forest have begun to sport a variety of yellows. Many of the maples, elms, sycamores, paw paws and tulip poplars are still showing off their yellows. Much of the red color that can be seen in the forest is coming from black gums, maples, sumac, and sassafras. Two vines are also showing some beautiful shades of reds - poison ivy and Virginia creeper. Devil’s walking stick and dogwood are two other small trees that are turning yellow, purple or pink. The many oaks of the forest are beginning to turn a variety of colors and are expected to still have color into early November.
This weekend, October 31-November 2, enjoy a Halloween campout. During this spooky campout all registered campers will receive two nights camping for the price of one. A full schedule of Halloween programs will be available for the weekend including costume contests for adults and children and a campsite decorating contest. Don't forget to bring your own pumpkins for the pumpkin carving contest.
At Land Between the Lakes, leaves cover the ground with the assortment of colors and the great cool fall weather leads to great hiking. Hikes along Honker Lake or Hematite Lake will give you a wonderful blend of golden oaks and yellow hickories with outstanding views of the reflective blue waters. Many kinds of waterfowl are filtered in to add an extra set of excitement. A hike along the Kentucky Lake shoreline will allow a visitor to have a birds-eye view as they walk south from the north welcome station on the North South Trail. On this hike, watch for Bald eagles, as they are often seen in this location.