Falling for Fall

There are many things to love about the fall season. The sounds and smell of dried leaves on the forest floor, cooler nights and warm days, the changing color of Iowa’s trees, and the southward migration of many birds and insects.

Fall at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, Maxwell, Iowa

Shorter days and cooler nighttime temperatures trigger many of these changes. Tree leaves start to change colors when the green chlorophyll breaks down inside the leaf, the yellow, orange, and red colors become visible. The richness of red and purple colors depends on the weather conditions and the amount of sugar left in the leaf.

Yellow Banks Park

There are some fantastic areas to view fall colors in Polk County. Yellow Banks Park offers some wonderful views from the bluffs overlooking the Des Moines River Valley. Take a stroll through the oak hickory woodland at Thomas Mitchell Park that is rich with yellows, oranges, browns, and reds. Jester Park is also another great place to see a sampling of fall colors.

Thomas Mitchell Park

Jester Park

It’s difficult to predict when fall colors will peak. Typically, central Iowa has prime colors the first to third weeks in October. Take a look at the Best Fall Color Viewing Times Guide via the Iowa DNR.

 Share the photos you take in our parks and trails this fall by tagging us on Instagram @PolkCountyConservation or on Facebook!