Midwestern Foliage...How Crowded ?

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

I wondered if any WTW folks from the midwest can offer insight on Fall Foliage .?...in terms of how crowded it might be.

Thinking in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas ?

We need to come out from Oregon to visit a family member near St Louis and thought we would try to see some of the hardwoods as they turn for the Fall.

Are public lands, the National forests and etc very crowded since the pandemic...as they were in the west ?

Many thanks for your thoughts.

David Graves

 

[Foy]

David Graves,

I'm not from the Midwest but I have lots of experience with Leaf Peeping in the Atlantic Coast states. Couple of thoughts:

The nicest views are typically where there is some topography involved in order to give the viewer "more canvas" on which to view Nature's artwork. That probably eliminates Kansas and all but southwestern Illinois. The Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas should be much like the Appalachians, or at least the foothills of the Appalachians.

With regular leaf-peepers, I'll wager the public lands will be rather heavily used, at least those reasonably close to STL and particularly on weekend days. You might keep your eye on regular rifle deer season dates in AR and MO, as public lands can get crowded in those seasons, as well.

Best of luck!

Foy

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy Foy

Yep we are from Virginia....thinking the Shawnee National forest in S Illinois/ Missouri

Along with whatever hardwoods we can find around the numerous little lakes in OK and KS.

David