“When will leaves peak?” is a common question for park rangers in autumn. Only Mother Nature knows for sure, but Georgia’s peak color is usually toward the end of October or early November. To help leaf peepers plan their fall escapes, Georgia State Parks has launched “Leaf Watch 2020” to track autumn color as it moves across the state.  .

Found at GaStateParks.org/LeafWatch, the travel planner is filled with top trails and overlooks, mountain cabins and campsites, fall events and safe hiking tips.  Shutterbugs are encouraged to share their favorite shots on Instagram, tagging #GaLeafWatch and @GaStateParks for a chance to have their photos featured by the park system.

With a wide variety of trails and accommodations, state parks make for the perfect fall-themed escape, filled with cozy campfires and gooey s’mores. Since parks have been especially busy during 2020, rangers encourage guests to visit on weekdays or to explore lesser-known destinations like Victoria Bryant, James H. Floyd, or Don Carter state parks.

The key for a vibrant autumn is warm sunny days coupled with very cool – but not freezing – nights. Most years, Georgia’s mountain parks peak toward the end of October. Color continues to blanket lower elevations into early November. Even some locations in southern Georgia sport beautiful hues into late November, such as George L. Smith and Providence Canyon state parks.

To keep everyone safe while social distancing, park rangers have modified fall events this year. Most programs require advanced reservations and have limited space available. Those who plan ahead can enjoy guided hikes, kayak tours, pumpkin archery, Halloween-themed scavenger hunts and more. A list of events can be found at GaStateParks.org.

Park rangers have also planned numerous events throughout autumn, including guided hikes and kayak tours, fall festivals, Halloween hayrides and campground trick-or-treating. A list of events can be found at GaStateParks.org.