October

Fantastic foliage

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Posted: October 6, 2009 at 2:24 p.m.

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The amazing resilience of the Ozark Mountains forests to heal and hide the scars of devastating weather and storms continue to raise hopes every autumn for once again seeing the hills ablaze in glorious fall colors.

Many longtime residents who say fall is their favorite of our four seasons welcome the return of cool breezes and the pending bracing weather. But it's the sheer beauty of the multicolored forests that makes the most difference.

A weekend drive or hike are popular pastimes in late October for those who like to see the spectacular colors of the mountains.

In the normal progression of unfolding fall foliage, the reds appear first, starting with scarlet leaves of the black gums and soon followed by the dogwoods and maples. The yellows soon appear in the walnuts, elms and sycamores to come together in a crescendo of oranges and golds of the oaks and hickories.

The degree of color, of course, varies from year to year. Warm, wet and cloudy conditions instead of cool, dry and sunny weather can dull the foliage. Strong winds at the wrong time can cause the peak of color to fade in a day's time.

However, the potential for a colorful fall begins with generous rainfall in the spring, allowing the trees to store up the nutrients that include the pigments of color. Top colors are fostered during summer, provided there isn't a prolonged drought.

This year's wet spring and normal summer not only helped the trees recover from January's ice storm, but have set the stage for what could be a fall to remember.

From year to year, the most brilliant fall colors are often seen in individual trees growing in favored locations within the borders of our cities and towns, such as gorgeous maples seen in parks and cemeteries and along residential streets.

But what's most pleasing to the eye are the broad panoramas of mountains and hollows stretching across the Ozark National Forest and throughout our rural counties.

All it's going to take is some cool nights and bright, sunny days during October to make it all shine.

Insider Tips

For drivers

1. One of the best choices turns out to be the road most traveled - Interstate 540 from Fayetteville to Fort Smith. The heart of the route, between West Fork and Winslow, is lined with one vista after another as it passes through the Boston Mountains and the region's highest elevations.
2. For a slower pace, drivers can leave the interstate for the parallel route on scenic U.S. 71, stopping for a spectacular view at Artist's Point.
3. A convenient loop with many beautiful panoramas begins by taking U.S. 62 from Rogers to Eureka Springs - a slow, winding road that follows the tops of ridges with big views on either side. From Eureka Springs, follow Arkansas 23 south for 11 miles to Arkansas 12 leading back to Rogers.
4. From Fayetteville, a classic scenic route runs east on Arkansas 16 through the White River Valley to the Scenic Pig Trail Byway (Arkansas 23), then south through the Boston Mountains to Cass.
5. From anywhere in Northwest Arkansas, any route leading to Boxley Valley and the Buffalo National River is a prime choice. Reaching the valley from either Kingston or Jasper and driving along the valley floor provides many postcard panoramas.

For hikers

1. One of the closest hikes is the Yellow Rock Trail in Devil's Den State Park near West Fork. The short trail starts with a great overlook and soon leads to more panoramas along the rim of a bluff.
2. The area classic is the short Hawksbill Crag Trail in the Upper Buffalo River Wilderness Area near Boxley. Within a half-mile of the trailhead, the trail comes out along the top of a bluff line, providing a half-mile of grand vistas.
3. Hikers can hardly go wrong with any of the trails along the Buffalo National River - from Boxley to Ponca to Jasper. The Buffalo River Trail from Steel Creek to Kyle's Landing is a favorite. Another good choice is the short Centerpoint Trail to Goat's Bluff, the loftiest point along the river.

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