It’s Saturday on a warm and sunny October morning. Which would you rather do—rake leaves or look at them?
Fortunately, vibrant colors are within an easy, one-hour drive of Harrisburg. No long sojourn up to New England is needed. The leaves here are every bit as beautiful.
According to Gene Odato, district forester for Tuscarora State Forest, three factors influence autumn colors: leaf pigment, length of night and weather.
“Chlorophyll is the most abundant pigment in leaves during much of the year, giving them their green color,” he said. “Carotenoids and anthocyanins are hidden in the leaves and will provide the various colors as the chlorophyll fades.”
As the length of night increases, chlorophyll production slows, allowing the leaf’s other pigments to show. The timing of color change varies by tree species. First, the leaves of the gum trees turn, then the spectacular colors of maples take over, and, finally, the reds of the oaks burst forth. The peak autumn colors should arrive in our area in early to mid-October.
I’ve selected three sites for the first three weekends in October so you can enjoy a succession of fall foliage. In between peeps, some excellent country festivals will add to the enjoyment of your visits.
Juniata River Valley, Oct. 3 and 4
The Juniata River Valley is slightly north of the two other sites I’ve included, so the leaves there will begin turning a little earlier, and you’ll be there to watch it happen.
“Jacks Mountain is a great place to start,” said Jenny Landis, project director for the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. “You can see Big Valley on one side of the road, and, by crossing the road, you can gaze out over Ferguson Valley and enjoy those colors at the same time.”
As a bonus, you may be able to talk with members of the hawk watch on the mountain, dedicated birders who count the number of migrating birds. Jacks Mountain is a migration highway for hawks and golden eagles, said Landis.
The other place she suggests is along the south side of the Lewistown Narrows of the Juniata River along Route 333. This is a gorgeous drive, full of switchbacks. For motorcycle buffs, this stretch of road was listed on motorcycleroads.com as a great place to ride.
Sherman’s Valley, Oct. 9 to 11
On the following weekend, head over to the Tuscarora State Forest west of Blain on Route 274. The forest comprises almost 96,000 acres and was named for the Iroquois nation that once inhabited this area.
If you make it there on Oct. 11, you can take a staff-guided tour of the forestland. In addition to seeing magnificent trees, this is a great place to picnic, camp or take a hike with the family.
There are two trails of note. The tunnel trail is 1-mile long and leads to the ruins of two narrow-gauge railroads. The Iron Horse trail provides a 10-mile loop between the Big Springs Picnic Area and the Eby Cemetery along Route 274. Keep your eye out for bears, bobcats, grouse, turkey and even some turtles.
“One of my favorite things to do is to visit the many vistas in the Tuscarora Forest that provide breathtaking views of the foliage,” said Odato.
The easiest one to reach is the Hickory Ridge Vista, he said. Take a left from PA 274 at the Big Springs State Forest Picnic Area and follow Hemlock Road. A number of other vistas are shown on the map of the forest, which you can find on the forest website.
The same weekend, Sherman’s Valley Heritage Days will be held nearby at the Blain picnic grounds. From Friday through Sunday, you’ll be able to participate in 19th-century demonstrations ranging from leatherwork to cider pressing and blacksmithing. In addition, there will be activities for the kids and live music each evening. Best of all, you can taste country cooking such as chicken barbecue, open kettle soups, fresh apple cider and homemade pies.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival, said Kate Moose, a member of the planning committee. Originally just one day, it has now expanded to three days with an estimated attendance of 11,000 to 13,000 people.
“I hear from people as far away as California, who plan their vacations around the dates of the festival so they can do their Christmas shopping early, watch the leaves change and see old friends,” she said. “We’re very proud of our program.”
Little Buffalo State Park, Oct. 17 and 18
A trip to Little Buffalo State Park, just west of Newport, rounds out the leaf-peeping season northwest of Harrisburg.
The cool, clear water of Little Buffalo Creek has been attracting visitors for years. American Indians frequented the area on hunting trips. Today, people visit Little Buffalo State Park to picnic, swim, fish, hike and experience nature and history. But this weekend is special. Not only will the forest be in full fall dress, but a number of special events are planned.
“The restored, 19th-century Shoaff’s Mill will be running both days on this weekend, with ongoing tours throughout the day,” said park Naturalist Ben Ranney. “And this is the only time we sell cornmeal ground at the mill.”
In front of the mill, the Perry Historians, a local genealogical and historical organization, will host an old-fashioned apple butter boil, complete with copper kettles, an open fire and long stirring paddles. Bring your own jars, as the apple butter will be available for purchase, but come early as the supply sells out quickly. Afterwards, relax in front of the mill and listen to country/bluegrass music.
“The Perry Historians offer a stand with all types of yummy baked goods, including hot dogs, sausages, homemade soups, cider, apples and various drinks,” said member Jean Tuzinski.
The festival lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, but the park remains open with many trails to explore and the beautiful Holman Lake to visit.
So, pick your weekend, or maybe all three, and enjoy the colors along with some hiking, fun and good home cooking. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Going There
Jacks Mountain and the Juniata River Valley:For the latest on leaf peeping and local attractions, call 717-248-6713 or visit www.juniatarivervalley.org.
Sherman’s Valley Heritage Days:Located in the town of Blain, Perry County, the festival runs Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11. Admission is $2, but free for children 12 and under. For more, visit svheritagedays.org or call 717-536-3347.
Tuscarora Forest:For more information about the guided tour of the forest on Oct. 11, call 717-536-319, email nrfd03@pa.gov or find them on Facebook.
Little Buffalo State Park:The Apple Butter Festival takes place Oct. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the park’s east picnic area. Admission is free. For more information, contact the park office at 717-567-9255 or visit www.dcnr.state.park.us/littlebuffalo.
Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His novel, “Devil’s Den,” was selected as a finalist in the 2013 Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was selected as the best suspense/thriller at the 2015 Indie Book Awards. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com.
