TAMPA, Fla. — As fall starts up, you might be wondering if you will be able to see any changing leaves.
While it might not feel like fall with temperatures still being warm, there are a few places in the Sunshine State where you can find fall foliage. While most of these places are in the panhandle and northern Florida, one is a little closer to the Tampa Bay area for people who don't want to travel too far.
Forests of hardwood trees provide the finest display of fall color found in Florida. The park is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that grows only on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River. Bird-watching is also a popular activity. Over 100 species of birds have been spotted in the park.
The upland habitats in the park are maintained with prescribed fire, which results in a beautiful display of wildflowers in the fall, including pine lilies, terrestrial orchids, Florida paintbrush and blazing stars.
Falling Waters is famous for protecting Florida's highest waterfall, which plunges into a 100-foot-deep sinkhole. Surrounding this unique feature are some of the best-maintained upland pine forests in the state. Wildflowers flourish in the open spaces and rolling hills of these forests, making the trails at Falling Waters some of the best spots to find fall flowers.
October through March are the best months to enjoy the trail. The practiced eye can spy both terrestrial and epiphytic orchids along with other beautiful wildflowers in season.
The Nature Trail leads through Southern hardwood forests and maple-cypress habitats. Several state and national champion trees (the largest for their species) mingle with other forest giants. A bridge over the Sally Ward Spring Run provides access to the upland hardwood forest on the north side of the Wakulla River.
Saturday, Oct. 19 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
The event is free with park admission of $5 per vehicle. There will be a self-guided scavenger hunt and a ranger-led hike about some of the native fall wildflowers in the area.
The scavenger hunt will be up for the entire week from Oct. 12-20), but the ranger-led hike will take place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19.
