I was out at the park the other evening, about the time light settles into the shadows for the night. It reminded me of hunting deer with my father at dusk; feeling the excitement lurking at the edge of the woods. Every shadow looked like a ten-point buck. And sometimes it actually was, much to my delight.
About this time, our golden-retriever was feeling his own excitement. Riley wears his emotions on his tail, with each new discovery bringing a wag. He galloped back and forth, thrashing though the brush, hot on some fresh scent. It could have been a deer or a rodent, no matter; his tail beat faster than a base drummer.
Fall in Driftless Wisconsin brings this sort of excitement. The leaves keep you in suspense, wondering what part of the spectrum of colors they will visit next. Red sumac accents every scene. Every setting surprises you, whether a deer coming out for feeding or a squirrel scampering through the leaves. Of course, knowing the difference between the sound of an approaching deer or a scampering squirrel proves a challenge, especially to this hunter.
Driftless Wisconsin is bursting with places to enjoy the fall colors. My favorite places are along the back roads, undiscovered valleys with low traffic counts and high rewards. Granted, you can get lost on some of these roads, but given the scenery, who wants to be found?
Pick any road labeled with a letter rather than a number and you’re on your way to discovery. County Road P in Vernon County features Amish crafts along the way; stop in for a look as long as it’s not a Sunday, a day of rest for the Amish. County Road E in Crawford County gives you a tantalizing glimpse of the Mississippi River while traveling west; the sort of jaw-dropping view that has you reaching for your camera.
Parks, State Natural Areas, and overlooks offer more opportunities to get out of the car and into the color, up close. Parks provide developed trails while Natural Areas allow for spontaneous exploration. Just bring along your sense of wonder.
October is peak color season, but trying to predict the exact day is rather like forecasting the weather; you have a “chance” of peak on any given day from early to mid-October. Best to just come and jump into the mix. The excitement is building.