Today is the first day of fall and already we’re seeing the beginnings of the leaf colors that make this season beautiful.  It’s a great time to plan a fall hike to the New Jersey state parks to enjoy the beauty as color peaks.

There are so many things that make fall one of the best times for hiking.  The forest is aflame with bright leaves lighting up the branches, the weather is cooler with a nice crisp breeze, and there’s a delight in the rustle and crunch underfoot that brings a smile to the face of child and adult alike.

When planning your fall hike, definitely check out the site NJHiking.com.  They have so many great resources, from records of the dates leaves changed in past years to hike sites.  Their recommendation for selecting a really nice hike is to find a location with a mountain view, or – and this is a great idea! – a location that has a lake or pond that will reflect the colors.

Another great resource is Yankee Foliage (map of foliage reports).

Photo credit: www.morguefile.com