Forest Fall

Fall marks the end of summer and signals the end of the year but it is a fantastic time of year to get out and enjoy forests such as the Ottawa National Forest, Michigan. With golden aspen and tamarack to brightly colored northern hardwoods all interlaced with evergreens, the Ottawa Forest is said by many to offer some of the most spectacular fall colors available in the USA; though this shot of the Vermont Fall by Gary Cowles, shows that there is plenty of competition for the crown.
A fall color hotline can be called at 1-800-354-4595 to hear which national forests are at their peak and there is also a web site devoted to National Forest Fall Foliage Hotspots both provided by the the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, established 100 years ago, to manages public lands in national forests and grasslands with the declared objective of providing the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run.


A colorful autumn shot of Kent Falls in Connecticut; Photo by Jim DeLillo.

National forests and grasslands encompass 193 million acres of land, which is an area equivalent to the size of Texas.

A free brochure entitled "A Guide To Your National Forests" shows forest locations along with contact information.

Detailed maps are available to purchase from individual forests, the National Forest Store and many retail outlets. The most comprehensive source being the US Geological Survey.