Nature’s autumn beauty and a bounty of festive events are the focus of the ColorFall program, now in its 22nd year. The beauty of fall in the Bluegrass State provides the backdrop that pairs the state’s Departments of Tourism and Parks. Although it has been a very dry year, spotters throughout the state will report the weekly progress of the changes in color that grace the Kentucky landscape from the Appalachians to the western lakes region.

Eastern

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 Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg, fall is looking dry and beautiful. Trees this week that are showing colors are the sourwood, poplar, sycamore, red maple, red bud, dogwood and spice bush. The peak time for this area appears to be about the second to third week of October. Make your reservations for the Elk Viewing Tours. Bull elk are bugling all throughout the hills of Eastern Kentucky and with over 100 elk being sighted each tour, it is a great time for viewing.

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.

South Central

Lake Cumberland State Resort 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 Parkin 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.

For more information on the ColorFall program, click the link below.

Why Leaves Change Colors

Each fall, leaves turn breathtaking shades of orange, purple, red, yellow and brown in a fantastic show of nature's glory. But why do leaves change color? Although Jack Frost gets most of the credit, the scientific reason for our beautiful fall foliage is a process called photoperiodism. As the sun moves further south, the hours of daylight shorten and the temperatures fall. This causes leaves to cease production of chlorophyll, the chemical that colors leaves green. As the chlorophyll disappears, the underlying colors of the leaves are unmasked. The next strongest pigment becomes dominant giving the leaves a "new"color.

FALL FOLIAGE COLORATION GUIDE

Yellows

Ash, White – Yellow
Basswood – Yellow
Beech – Yellow
Birch, River – Dull Yellow
Birch, Sweet - Yellow
Buckeye, Ohio – Yellow
Coffeetree, Kentucky – Yellow
Cottonwood, Eastern – Yellow
Elder, Box – Yellow
Elm, American – Yellow
Hazel Nut – Brownish Yellow
Hickory, Mockernut – Dull Yellow
Hickory, Pignut – Dull Yellow
Hickory, Shagbark – Dull Yellow
Hickory, Shellbark – Dull Yellow
Hophornbeam, Eastern – Yellow
Locust, Black – Yellow
Locust, Honey – Yellow
Maple, Silver – Pale Yellow
Oak, Chestnut – Yellow
Pecan – Dull Yellow
Redbud, Eastern – Yellow
Shad Bush – Bright Clear Yellow
Tuliptree – Yellow
Walnut, Black - Yellow
Walnut, White – Bright Yellow
Willow, Black – Pale Yellow

Reds

Dogwood – Crimson
Gum, Black – Deep Red
Oak, Northern Red – Rusty Red
Oak, Pin – Crimson
Oak, Scarlet – Scarlet
Oak, Southern Red – Rusty Red
Oak, Swamp Chestnut – Dark Crimson
Sourwood – Deep Red
Sumac – Brilliant Red

Browns

Oak, Bur – Pale Brown
Oak, Post – Pale Brown
Oak, Shingle - Brown
Oak, Swamp White – Pale Brown

Multi-Colors

Hawthorn – Brilliant Varying Colors
Hazel Nut – Brownish Yellow
Hornbeam – Orange, Scarlet
Maple, Red – Red, Orange
Maple, Sugar – Yellow, Orange, Red
Oak, Black – Dull Red to Orange Brown
Oak, Blackjack – Dull Yellow or Brown
Oak, White – Pink or Red
Persimmon – Glossy Green with Yellow
Sassafras – Red, Orange, Yellow
Sweetgum – Yellow, Orange, Brown
Sycamore, American – Yellow, Brown
Witch Hazel – Bright Yellow-Orange

No Change

Magnolia, Umbrella – No Change
Holly, American – No Change