Take a walk and enjoy autumn hues

It's a cool, crisp fall day and perfect for spending time outdoors.

You can't use football as an excuse for not wanting to take a walk in the woods today. Alabama and Auburn both play evening games and UNA played its game Thursday.

Don't try to use being afraid of getting rained on as an excuse either. There's only a slight chance of showers early today.

The cool temperatures and trees that are starting to take on their autumn hues make for a perfect day to spend some time in the woods.

The nature trails on the Tennessee Valley Authority's Muscle Shoals Reservation are a good place for a fall hike that is close to home for Quad Cities

residents.

Rock Spring and other nature trails along the Natchez Trace Parkway are a good place to enjoy an autumn day in western Colbert and Lauderdale counties. For east Colbert and Lauderdale residents, the trails at Joe Wheeler State Park are perfect for a fall nature walk.

For Lawrence County residents and those from the Shoals who don't mind driving a little, Bankhead National Forest is filled

with trails. Just driving through the forest that spans portions of Franklin, Lawrence and Winston counties is a good way to enjoy nature and see the colors of fall.

Each weekend for the coming month should

be increasingly colorful around the Tennessee

Valley.

If it continues to rain as it has the past few weeks, the fall foliage season across north Alabama could be a short one this year. Once the leaves take on their fall colors, they can be knocked from the trees by heavy rain.

To ensure you have an opportunity to enjoy the

colors of fall in the

Tennessee Valley, why not plan on at least one nature walk every weekend from now until the colors disappear?

No matter if you like to see the colors of autumn by walking or by driving, get outdoors during the coming weeks and see some of the colorful foliage that is spreading across north Alabama.

Staff Writer Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@

TimesDaily.com.