As peak approaches, check out these spots to observe fall colors around southern Indiana

As the nights get longer and days get colder, folks around the area will be searching for the hues of fall colors around the region.

With the numerous parks and forests in Southern Indiana, there are plenty of places for local folks to see the different shades of leaves around the area, without breaking the bank on gas.

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According to the smokymounains.com fall foliage map predictor, the peak of the fall colors will occur in southern 2/3rds of the Hoosier state later this month.

Brown County State Park, Nashville, Indiana

Brown County State Park in Nashville, Indiana is arguably the most famous spot to view the fall colors in the state.

Often referred to as the "Little Smokies" after the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, Brown County State Park offers ample opportunities to view Indiana's native trees.

There several vistas in the park with views that last for miles.

The park also has both the West Lookout Tower and North Lookout Tower, which gives park-goers a view of the park from an elevated spot.

The Friends Trail, located near the park office, is a easy, short and paved trail for visitors to enjoy.

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The park also offers 12 additional hiking trails that vary from moderate to rugged.

Brown County State Park has two entrance gates. The west gate is located at 1405 W. State Road 46, Nashville while the north gate can be found at 1801 E. State Road 46, Nashville.

Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell, Indiana

Spring Mill State Park is known as a place where history and nature collide.

From its Pioneer Village, walking trails and Spring Mill Lake, the park offers several options for those wanting to get a view of the autumn hues.

The park's Trail 6 is a quarter-mile long accessible hike that begins near the park office and Grissom Memorial.

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The entrance for Spring Mill State Park can be found at 3333 E. State Road 60, Mitchell.

McCormick's Creek State Park, Spencer, Indiana

McCormick's Creek State Park is Indiana's oldest in the system and is covered by trees.

The park, located at 250 McCormick's Creek Park Road, Spencer, includes two nature preserves for folks to walk through.

There are 10 hiking trails at the park ranging in difficulty from easy to rugged.

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The 0.6-mile Trail 6 path and 1.2-mile Trail 9 route are both considered easy while the 0.7-mile-long Trail 8 is considered accessible.

Lake Monroe, Bloomington, Indiana

While many people may think of Lake Monroe more for its fishing and boating, the property offers multiple options for those wanting to check out the fall colors.

Fairfax State Recreation Area is home to the 1.75-mile-long moderate Big Oak Trail.

Paynetown State Recreation Area is home to the 1-mile-long Whitetail Trail and 1.25-mile-long Blue Bird Trail — both of which are considered moderate.

The Tree Trek Trail, located at Paynetown, is a 0.5-mile-long easy hike.

Allen's Creek State Recreation Area is home to the 1.75-mile Turkey Trot Trail.

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Loake Monroe is located at 4850 S. State Road 446, Bloomington.

Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Martinsville, Indiana

Morgan-Monroe State Forest straddles the borders between Morgan and Monroe counties.

The property is home to nine hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged.

The park's Hike-Bike Trail is a 5.2-mile paved trail marked as easy.

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Morgan-Monroe State Forest is located at 6220 Forest Rd., Martinsville.

The park is also home to the 1-mile Tree ID Trail and 0.5-mile Pathfinder Orienteering Trail.

Yellowwood State Forest, Nashville, Indiana

Yellowwood State Forest is home to seven horse, six hiking and five biking trails for folks to see the fall colors.

The property also includes the Yellowwood Lake, which has two boat ramps for those looking for a spot to fish.

The state forest is located at 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd., Nashville.

Hoosier National Forest

Hoosier National Forest is operated by the United States Forest Service, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The property is home to more than 200,000 acres of forested lands.

Some of the amenities in the forest include hiking, horse and mountain bike trails.

Other places to visit

The region is also home to Ravinia State Forest located on North Duckworth Road near Paragon, Indiana in Morgan County.

Ravinia State Forest is one of the state's newest state forests, having been dedicated in 2020.

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Another state forest that was dedicated in 2020 is Mountain Tea State Forest located on Pumpkin Ridge Road in Nashville.

Owen-Putnam State Forest offers three horse trails and two hiking trails including the 1.2-mile-long Poplar Top Trail and 0.3-mile-long Fish Creek Trail.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Fall foliage Indiana: Brown County, McCormick's Creek among highlights