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Fall is one of the most anticipated and busiest times of the year in Brown County, the leaves paint colorful landscapes across the county and the weather brings a new crispness to the air. Brown County is a major destination during this time of year offering back roads tours, events, outdoor activities, shopping and tours. Brown County State Park, the largest state park in Indiana is bursting with campers, horseback riding, nature center programs and activities at the Abe Martin Lodge including a new aquatic center. Pumpkin patches and haunted events and activities, such as haunted houses, hayrides, and corn mazes provide some great family time activities.
 The Leaf Cam, coming September 18th, provided by the Indiana Office of Tourism offers visitors a daily view of the vibrant colors. Perched high above one of our magnificent overlooks, it captures the ever changing show of the leaves. Our most anticipated and frequently asked question is: “When is the peak time for the leaves to change?” If only we knew! Weather plays a major role in the changes each year, so as the weather is never the same, the time of the year the leaves change always varies. Typically the second and third week of October are the peak times, but as early as late September or the early part of November you can still find a wonderful array of color. 
Travel Tips
Overnight accommodations are limited on the weekends, traveling during the week is recommended and will provide you with a wider selection of lodging opportunities and weekday tours of For Bare Feet sock factory, Camp Atterbury, TC Steele State Historic site and the Nashville Express Train. The Visitors Center staff is ready to assist you with lodging availabilities, live entertainment show times, tour tickets and answer any questions you may have about the area.
How the leaves change color?
Trees are very important, they serve numerous purposes, yet their most important function is taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen. Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes leaves green, and it's responsible for absorbing sunlight. This makes the energy needed to change carbon dioxide and water into food for the tree. When fall arrives, colder temperatures and  longer nights cause the leaves to stop making food, and the chlorophyll disappears. Once the chlorophyll is gone, out come the beautiful colors! After the color change, the leaves die, the stem becomes frail and they fall to the ground...
Did you know you can identify a tree from its leaf colors?
Oaks: red, brown or russet
Hickory: golden bronze 
Dogwood: purple-red
Birch: bright yellow
Poplar: golden yellow
Maple trees show a whole range of colors:
Sugar Maple: orange-red
Black Maple: glowing yellow
Red Maple: bright scarlet
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