Leaf peeping

It's about that time. Time to hike, bike, stroll and drive, oohing and aahing over the aspens and other deciduous trees that color fall with yellows, oranges, reds and browns.

Plan ahead, and you can catch the leaves and take in a fall festival or two. (And think about an overnight stay - lodging can be dead cheap in fall.)

To get your brain in gear, check out "Rush to the Gold," a brochure of eight "fall color" trips from the folks at State Parks. You can download it from the Web site or ask for a copy.

You can also track fall color at the State Parks site. As soon as the leaves begin to turn, rangers and others ad comments week by week, sometimes day by day, through the season. It's great for planning.

We'll share some favorite views by foot, bike, horseback, vehicle... in Out There. And if you've got a treasure to share, comment below or send an e-mail to Dave and dave.philipps@gazette.com.