Falling for our region’s beauty

We sometimes take our beautiful region for granted, but fall reminds us of the colorful area in which we live. Listen up, leaf-peepers: This fall could be one for the ages, according to official forecasters.

They tell us that we are in for one terrific fall this year because of just-right conditions leading up to autumn.

Abundant rainfall and warm days during the past several months come together to ensure that this year’s leaf-peeping will be excitingly out of the ordinary.

From the Poconos to Lehigh Gorge, from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the Broad Mountain, our area will be awash in color during the next several weeks. Jim Thorpe has been called “the prettiest county seat in America,” according to The Atlantic magazine.

When the countryside comes ablaze in crimsons, scarlets, reds and yellows, and thousands of people come to enjoy the scenery and activities that accompany it, our county seat shows why it is so beloved by so many visitors, especially at this time of year.

The normal regional peak of fall color begins the first week of October across the northern tier of the state and in the upper Poconos. By mid-October the peak glides into the region starting around Stroudsburg, extending west through State College and expanding north and south as it continues west to Pittsburgh and Erie.

Finally, in latter October, south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania residents typically enjoy peak colors.

A lot of this depends on weather conditions during the next few weeks. The almost record-shattering heat we had recently will be replaced by cooler days and nights, which should add to Mother Nature’s vibrancy.

This follows on the heels of above-average rainfall across the state during the spring and summer — actually, almost double the annual average until the last several weeks.

This sets the table for what could be an unparalleled and spectacular display.

We have some incredible vistas throughout our five-county region where this bounty will be on full display. Among them are Hickory Run State Park near White Haven, 15,990 acres with 44 miles of trails and 373 campsites, and Locust Lake State Park near Frackville with 1,772 acres, a 52-acre lake, nearly 7 miles of trails and 282 campsites.

There are any number of ways to be a leaf-peeper. One of the coolest is to ride a vintage coach built as early as 1917 from Jim Thorpe into the breathtaking Lehigh Gorge State Park. The narrated 70-minute, 16-mile round-trip ride follows the Lehigh River through Glen Onoko and into the park.

If you’re willing to travel an hour north, there is the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, which offers seasonal weekly short train rides around Scranton (the “Scranton Limited”) and special excursions to destinations such as Gouldsboro, East Stroudsburg and the Delaware Water Gap. On some Sundays, the “Scranton Limited” transforms into the “Nay Aug Gorge Limited,” with an expanded ride east to the 755-foot Nay Aug Tunnel.

Heading an hour in the opposite direction, there is the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary near the Lehigh-Berks counties border. The 2,600-acre preserve offers not only a unique educational experience but also spectacular trails where hikers can view the surrounding mountainside. Note: There is a trail fee.

We often hear about those who want to “commune with nature.” Well, this fall will be an extraordinary time to do so. In the process, we should remember with pride that we live in a beautiful area where the changing seasons give us variety, and, yes, occasional challenges.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com