Fall is this girl’s favorite time of year. Temperatures cool, rain happens (I love the rain!) and the riot of colors on the trees are dazzling. Yes, definitely dazzling. We are going to visit 4 states in the fall to experience what fall is all about.

We will start near Umpqua River Haven with some October photos. This first one is in the McKenzie River Valley not far from home.

This next one is taken in the Siuslaw River Valley between Florence and Eugene.

Here at http://www.umpquahaven.com we have our own kind of fall colors. This is our resident park maple tree. It’s the one the hummingbirds like to nest in summers.

Our resident blueberry bushes at Umpqua River Haven turn into the most beautiful colors anywhere.

Even Oregon’s Black Bears enjoy the fall colors in the forest.

Next, we will visit the road out of Soda Springs, Idaho and into the Caribou National Forest. These first few are between Soda Springs and the Caribou. The Aspen groves are endless!

Wouldn’t you love to live here??!!

And into the Caribou National Forest which is in both Idaho and Wyoming.

The Caribou is one of the world’s all-time most beautiful places. You can drive through here past the 15-foot snow posts and not pass a vehicle!

This one is from a remote town in Wyoming—in the middle of nowhere.

This post serves a duo purpose this week. Both Oregon and Cleveland (and points between) are included. Cleveland has a large, natural area surrounding it. At one time it was referred to as “The Valley.” Today it is part of the Cleveland Metroparks System. Locally known as the “Emerald Necklace,” you can enter on the west side from the Lakewood entrance into the Rocky River Valley, follow the meandering Rocky River, and drive for miles. The Metroparks comprise 21,000 acres with most of that acreage being in the Emerald Necklace surrounding Cleveland. There are hundreds of miles of hiking, cycling and horse trails to discover. The parks have much more to offer but we are here for the fall colors. The necklace extends south to Brecksville and then north to Chagrin Falls, on the Chagrin River, and eventually to the east side of Cleveland at Euclid. The leaves were just starting when I took these photos. The Valley becomes a fairyland when the multi-colored leaves drift down like gentle rain, but quiet as snow, as they ‘ripen.’

There were a few places where many leaves had fallen leaving a carpet of color blanketing the ground.

Some of the trees were breath-taking!

There is a lot of history here, some of which you may recognize from previous Cleveland Rocks posts. Washington Tyler was born in Ohio City in 1835. He founded the Cleveland Wire Works and became one of the richest men in the city. Instead of building on “Millionaire’s Row,” he built on 200 acres and put his summer home up over-looking the Valley. Woodside Farms was a working farm but considered a ‘gentleman’s hobby.’ As you travel through the Valley, you will come across this restored barn known as “Green Barn.” The barn is marked with a historical marker.

Our last photo shows one of the many crossings of the Rocky River as it winds around through the Valley. If you get to Cleveland in October, do not miss fall in the Emerald Necklace!