Area on track for a vibrant fall
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.comcom
A country lane in North Union Township is lined with trees colored with vibrant autumn shades.
National Road/Route 40: Following this historic road, visitors can drive from Somerset County, across Fayette County and into Washington County.
Route 381: This route offers a lovely country drive that goes through Ohiopyle State Park and by Frank Lloyd Wright’s acclaimed Fallingwater. Another Wright home, Kentuck Knob, is located nearby on Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road.
Route 711: Take this route from Connellsville into the colorful mountains. Drivers can turn left onto Route 381, then right onto Indian Head Road, right onto County Line Road and right onto Water Wheel Drive to reach Seven Springs Resort.
Route 119: This highway travels through Connellsville, Uniontown, Smithfield and Point Marion but includes countryside where colorful trees can be spotted.
Route 21: This highway runs from Uniontown past Masontown and into Greene County with colorful foliage found along the way. Go through Waynesburg and follow Golden Oaks and then Bristoria Road to reach Ryerson Station State Park.
Route 43: This highway provides another engaging drive through the countryside from Washington County, through Fayette County and south into West Virginia. Drivers can take the Fairchance-Smithfield exit to visit the Fright Farm.
Route 51: This highway travels through beautiful countryside from Uniontown to Perryopolis and into Westmoreland County. Drivers can visit Harry Sampey Park and Washington’s Grist Mill in Perryopolis during the day and take a ride on Allen’s Haunted Hayride in Smock at night. Linden Hall is located in nearby Dawson.
Route 201: You can take this scenic drive and stop at a variety of towns, beginning at Connellsville and continuing through Vanderbilt, Fayette City, Belle Vernon and onto West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
The Youghiogheny River gorge, viewed last year from Ohiopyle State Park, is blanketed with yellow, orange and red autumn foliage.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Brilliant reds and yellows paint the trees at Jumonville Christian Camp & Retreat Center early last fall.
With a few days of autumn already under the belt, the colors of fall have already begun to peek through across the district.
Fans — oftentimes called leaf peepers — can expect plenty of vibrant color this season thanks to summer’s plentiful rainfall.
“With the amount of rain we had this summer, the trees are entering fall pretty healthy,” said Dave Planinsek, forester with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry.
Planinsek works out of an office in Laughlintown, Westmoreland County, which manages Forbes State Forest that consists of 60,000 acres in Fayette, Westmoreland and Somerset counties.
Planinsek said, “Plants need sunlight, water and nutrients from soil. We had ample rainfall throughout the summer, so they should be able to maintain photosynthesis and tree health. Water is one of the essential things they need.”
Add to that recipe sunny days and cool crisp nights that can be found this time of year.
“We’ve had nights in the 40s and days in the 60s and sunny,” said Planinsek. “That adds brilliant color to fall foliage.”
He noted, “We’re certainly on track for a really good fall.”
Fall brings local residents outdoors and people from other states to Pennsylvania where a diversity of topography and forests mean a long fall foliage season.
In fact, the state Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources talks about how special the state’s foliage is on its website that includes pages for the Bureau of Forestry.
“Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation — or anywhere in the world. This is no empty boast. Only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color: eastern North America; the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe; northeastern China and northern Japan. Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers,” reported the website, noting the state includes 134 species of trees as well as shrubs and vines that contribute to the autumn color.
The website also noted, “Pennsylvania is the meeting ground of northern trees that flourish only on mountain tops farther south and southern species that are at the northern limits of their range. Gray and paper birch, mountain maple and mountain-ash from the north share Penn’s Woods with southern red oak, sweetbay and umbrella magnolias, sourwood, persimmon and sweetgum from the south.
“Ohio buckeye, bur oak, and shingle oak, common to the Mississippi Valley, have eastern outposts on the Allegheny Plateau.”
Autumn drives through the mountains and countryside can take tourists through a variety of these woods and near a number of attractions. Those planning trips should keep in mind that forests in the mountains will peak in mid-October while the lowlands, which includes western Fayette, Greene and Washington counties will peak a week later.
Trees responsible for some of that color include the black gum, which is one of the first leaves to turn and stands out as scarlet red.
“Maples are a prominent species that are probably some of the most colorful in the fall and pretty common in the forest,” said Planinsek, naming the sugar maple and red maple trees that turn yellow, orange and red.
The oaks are the final species of trees to turn with leaves that range from yellow to brown to bronze. Planinsek said they hold on until the third week of October.
Planinsek said the western section includes poplar trees that turn bright yellow and hickory leaves that turn golden yellow.
While these are especially prominent in Washington and Greene counties, these species can be seen throughout the area.
The Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources website offers more insight on local forests as well as a weekly foliage report that begins this week.
The address is www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry. The report will explain how much of the forests have turned color and when the peak is expected for each region. While on the webpage, find the menu on the left and click on “Find a forest,” which will lead viewers to a map where they can pick out Forbes or other forests.
DCNR also has pages on its website for the state parks at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks. There is also a “Find a park” spot as well as events and advisories.
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau also maintains a website (www.laurelhighlands.org) that includes information on fall foliage in the area.
such as suggested drives and activities.