Whether you’re walking or running, biking or hiking, there is no more colorful time to get outside in the Miami Valley than fall.

Warm reds, crisp oranges and rich purples have enveloped the area, making October the perfect time to take in the autumn beauty.

“We are just about at peak color,” said Cris Barnett, Greene County Parks and Trails chief naturalist. “The big concern we had this year was the dry summer, but all the rain and cool nights we had in September really helped. This might be one of the most beautiful years we’ve had in a while.”

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, southwest Ohio will likely experience its color peak in mid-to-late October.

“The cool nights and bright sunny days in September have been the perfect recipe for great and vibrant fall color,” said Casey Burdick, fall color forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

So, whether you’re up for a challenging hike or a leisurely stroll, the Miami Valley is packed with parks where you can enjoy a burst of autumn color.

Easy trails

Andy Niekamp likes nothing better than taking a hike. But Niekamp, a group organizer with the Dayton Hikers and lead adventurer of the Outdoor Adventure Connection, a Dayton-based outdoor adventure company, is the first to admit you don’t have to be a veteran hiker to enjoy area parks.

With the help of other members of the Dayton Hikers, Niekamp compiled a list of 15 of the top spots in the area to take in the fall color. The sites span seven counties.

“All of the parks have very easy trails,” Niekamp said. “You don’t have to do a difficult hike or a strenuous hike to enjoy them.”

Good angle

The key to getting the most out of your autumn trek is your viewing angle.

In the midst of a heavily wooded area it might be difficult to get a good look at the full spectrum of colors. Finding an overlook or gorge will help optimize viewing but Niekamp has another tip.

“My biggest tip is to find a meadow,” he said. “They are generally flat and you will get to see a variety of fall flowering plants plus you get to see the trees from all sides. It’s really beautiful.”

There are plenty of trees to see as, according to Barnett, there are at least 15 different family species in the area and some of those, like the oak, have as many as 30 different varieties.

“It’s really the whole spectrum of color,” she said.

No time to waste

Those colorful fall leaves will soon be falling, so there is no time like the present to get out and enjoy.

For more information about fall events across the state or to read the fall color report, visit the ODNR website at http://fallcolor.ohiodnr.com. The office of TourismOhio also has a variety of autumn adventures available online at http://consumer.discoverohio.com/autumnadventures.

With 8 million acres of woods across the state, there are plenty of opportunities to soak in the color of the season.