Take a stroll and see the best fall foliage colors in central Illinois

It's fall, which means that the weather has become a bit cooler and the leaves are beginning to transition from a resplendent green to a cornucopia of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Those beautiful sights of fall are common around central Illinois, but people always ask questions like: what's a good place to see these colors? How do they come about? And when will we see the peak fall colors:

Here's a look at what you need to know about fall foliage and where you can find it in central Illinois:

So, why do the leaves change color in the fall?

Simply put, it's due to the fewer hours of daylight as summer changes over to fall and the lower angle of the sun as the Earth revolves around it.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that due to the decrease in production of chlorophyll in leaves during the fall, they change from their distinctive green color to a wide variety of shades, those beautiful yellows, oranges, reds, and purples. Those come about thanks to pigments like carotenoids that show up as yellow and orange and anthocyanins.

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One key factor in how those colors show up is the weather. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Albano noted that for peak fall color to show up, they would much rather see warmer, sunnier daytime hours and cooler nighttime periods without too much cloud cover.

"We do look for less clouds over a multi-week period," Albano said. "Clear, cold nights especially help those trees become peak color."

Too much cold causes some leaves to turn from green to brown quickly and die off before getting the chance to change color.

What is the current status of the leaves in central Illinois?

Depending on the area, colors in central Illinois have been somewhat subdued in the east or are beginning to move towards their peak out west.

According to the Illinois Office of Tourism, colors haven't changed drastically leading into this week in east central Illinois, with a few exceptions. Hickory, tulip, poplar, and sugar maple trees are all showing signs of peaking, along with vivid sassafras colors. Many black walnut and oaks have yet to turn, while Virginia creeper and poison ivy crops are all beginning to go deep red.

Out west in areas such as Macoupin, Greene, Pike, and Scott counties, peak colors were expected to begin this week and should continue with resplendent color over the course of the next two weeks.

All of this is expected for Albano, who said that conditions in central Illinois are getting closer to the peak period.

"We might be running just a little bit behind – about a week or so – but we're pretty close on schedule to seeing what we assume to be peak color for this time of year," Albano said.

So, where can I go and see the pretty colors?

Plenty of places across the area. In Springfield, spots like Washington Park are popular around the peak season because of the large number of trees and ample areas to walk around.

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IDNR says that any one of the state parks or recreation areas is perfect for seeking out fall foliage, making places like Sangchris Lake State Park east of Springfield, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area west of the city, Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area in Lincoln and the Pere Marquette State Park near the Metro East perfect for sightseeing, no matter what activity.

In addition, areas outside central Illinois worth seeing include Monticello's Allerton Park, home of sparkling nature hikes and trails over 1,500 acres, Lake Decatur and its beautiful wildlife vistas, along with the trails around the Illinois River in Fulton County, and the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, filled with plenty of natural resources.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: The best places in central Illinois to see colorful fall foliage