Fall brings colorful changes in your Metro Parks

TINA FRONK
Social Media Specialist

Fall offers crisp morning air, bright blue skies and breathtaking vistas bursting with brilliant colors. It’s the perfect time to lace up your hiking boots and explore the splendor of fall in your Metro Parks.

Look for goldenrod and New England asters blooming at Blacklick Woods. Photo Cody Berkebile

BLACKLICK WOODS

Behold the beauty of fall at Blacklick Woods. Park at the nature center and hike the Multipurpose Trail. The prairie along the trail is spattered with purple New England asters and stunning goldenrod. As you walk the 2-mile trail, you’ll pass through a maple forest full of fiery red, orange and yellow foliage.

Treat yourself to the golden hour before sunset and look for deer passing through the prairie as the sun illuminates their silhouettes. Blacklick Woods offers a tranquil walk through the woods with spectacular displays of color so come out to the park and catch a glimpse of fall.

Blendon Woods offer various trails blanketed in fall color. Photo Earl Decker

BLENDON WOODS

Blendon Woods is home to some of the best fall color in your Metro Parks. Hit the trails and admire the changing hues of nature or soak in fall from the comfort of your car.

In October, the park opens the road to the Sugarbush Day Camp for its annual Fall Driving Tour. Visitors can ooh and aww over the spectacular colors hanging from the trees along the route.

Look for turkeys strutting their stuff in the open fields or along the roadways or head over to Thoreau Lake and watch as the trees slowly change from vibrant greens to deep reds, purples and oranges.

Start your day with a spectacular fall sunrise over Schrock Lake at Sharon Woods Metro Park. Photo Ramesh Rangaswamy

SHARON WOODS

Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy a picnic at Sharon Woods. Bring your blanket and surround yourself in color as maple trees turn bright red, orange and yellow. Stop at the Schrock Lake picnic area and watch for wildlife scurrying about or flying above. Visit the park at sunrise or sunset to see the color really shine.

If you’re up for a hike, take a leisurely stroll on the Edward Thomas Trail where you’ll see mature oak trees, goldenrod and New England asters.

The trails are chocked-full of fall colors, so add Blacklick Woods, Blendon Woods and Sharon Woods to your list of must-see parks this fall.