Fall in Wisconsin is a season of rare, natural beauty. Travelers savor mild weather, festive events, bountiful harvests and a wide variety of recreational activities, all set against a magnificent backdrop of autumn hues. And with more than 16 million acres of forests, the vibrant hues of crimson, gold and orange create quite a backdrop. While tourists can enjoy the state's woodlands year-round, the season that is perhaps most associated with them is fall. While summer is still the state's largest tourism season in terms of economic impact, fall travel has grown consistently during the last decade and Wisconsin is now viewed as one of the nation's top destinations for fall color viewing.
The chemistry of fall color
The coloring of Wisconsin's leaves during autumn is a fascinating study in chemistry. The shortening of daylight hours and cooling of the air starts this process. During growing season, the leaves are filled with green chlorophyll and pigments. In September, when nighttime temperatures drop to just above freezing, chlorophyll production stops and the color pigments are unmasked. Add sunny days to the fall color mix, along with a seasonal pinch of rain, and a brilliant palette of deciduous forest begins to take shape.
Sunlight converts sugars that have been trapped in certain leaves into anthrocyanins - reddish or bluish pigments. The more anthrocyanins a leaf has, the deeper its red and purple hues. These brilliant shades are outstanding in Wisconsin maples and sumacs. The crisp yellows of poplar, some beech and most birches, on the other hand, reveal a lack of tannins in the leaves, so the yellow pigments shine through. An abundance of these brownish tannin compounds will cast a yellow-brown color in certain species of oak and beech trees.
With the exception of tamarack, Wisconsin's abundant conifer trees remain green during the fall, providing a dramatic counterpoint to the deep reds and oranges and bright yellows so prevalent throughout the forest palette. Willows, alder, elder and some oaks also provide a counterpoint, as their neutral shades add a rich dimension of depth.
2004 fall color forecast
According to Kirsten Held, forestry outreach specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, "The forests of Wisconsin are poised for an excellent fall color season. Wisconsin will again be one of the premier states for viewing fall leaf color."
Although the fall foliage season is hard to predict exactly, the DNR's Division of Forestry is anticipating that the peak fall color season in far northern Wisconsin will be during the last week of September and first week of October, though significant color should begin appearing in isolated, lower lying areas by mid-September. Peak color should occur in central Wisconsin during mid-October and in southern Wisconsin during the later half of October.
Travelers can get the latest updates on peak colors and locations in a fall color report provided by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism by calling at 1-800-432-TRIP/8747, visiting travelwisconsin.com or by subscribing to the weekly fall color report e-newsletter. The report provides the latest current percentage of color, projected number of days/weeks until color peaks, colors currently appearing and the color quality, scenic drives, colorful parks, fall vistas, areas of interest, and a map indicating peak color locations and timing. For other free Wisconsin travel-planning guides and information, including the 2004 Fall Sampler, the public can call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's 24-hour, live-operated toll-free number at 1-800-432-TRIP/8747 or visit travelwisconsin.com. Visitors can also obtain guides and information at the Wisconsin Travel Information Centers, which are located in select state-border cities.
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