A Riot of Color
A Riot of Color
Around the world, autumn is marked by the slow, beautiful change of green foliage to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. As the green fades, pigments known as carotenoids are revealed in the leaves blah, blah, blah…
Wait! Wait! Wait!
Please stop!
I don’t want to know why leaves change colors. I just want to marvel at their beauty.
So, let’s capture the moment. Let’s admire the truly amazing canvas of color. Let’s marvel at the beauty of autumn.
Or do you call it fall? Truth is, autumn and fall are interchangeable terms, but who cares?
It hardly matters, so long as we agree that it’s the best time of the year here in central Wisconsin.
Especially if you take the short drive to nearby Roche-A-Cri State Park. Established in 1948, the park is known for a conspicuous and beautiful rock outcropping that rises out of the Central Sands plain. The distinctly shaped mound, with a summit at about 300 feet, offers spectacular panoramic views of the magnificence below. An art exhibit unrivaled by any museum, created by Mother Nature herself.
Then there’s Cranberry Highway. Winding its way through the fields and farms of central Wisconsin, the Cranberry Highway reveals some of the best fall colors you’ll see anywhere. This self-guided tour curls past red-ripe cranberries, abundant in their bogs, coupled with the blazing colors of fall as the perfect backdrop for almost 50 miles - from Wisconsin Rapids to Warrens.
Again, Mother Nature just showing off.
And mark your calendar to visit Tri-Norse Park in Nekoosa which will host a spectacular “peak-of-color” event again this fall. Dubbed Colorama, this mid-October event will offer unparalleled views of the changing colors in all their glory. Hike or take the shuttle to the highest point in the park, and you’ll be able to see the spectacle play out in all four of the surrounding counties, each unknowingly competing in this annual beauty pageant.
Of course, there are zillion other places to see the changing leaves in and around the town of Rome, but maybe you don’t know when they’re at their absolute peak.
Well, check this out.
Go to visitromewi.com and scroll half-way down the home page. There you’ll find a great tool with everything you need to know about the changing colors of fall – not only in central Wisconsin, but throughout the state. This weekly “color forecast ” will let you know where and when to actively seek out nature’s beauty.
Don’t want to work that hard?
That’s Ok.
Simply stop what you’re doing and look around. Just stop. Just for a minute. And look around. You’ll be glad you did.
And don’t worry about why the leaves are changing. Leave that for the uninspired. Or if you must know, ask Siri later. After the sun goes down. She’ll tell you all about it.
For now, just enjoy the riot of color that awaits outside.
For more information on Roche-A-Cri State Park, Cranberry Highway, Tri-Norse Park, and other ideas on where and when to get the most out of fall’s splendor, check out these links.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/rocheacri
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=183
https://www.visitwisrapids.com/cranberry-highway
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/tours/cranberry-highway-198552
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/wisconsin/wi-cranberry-highway/
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/education/fallcolors
Written by: Lydell Capritta