Central Iowa’s fall colors are at their peak

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CLIVE, Iowa – As the seasons change from summer to fall, the leaves change from green to vibrant shades of yellow and red. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources believes now is the time to look at leaves before they turn brown and fall to the ground.

Iowa DNR map of autumn colors features the middle third of Iowa — roughly the area between Highway 20 and Interstate 80 — in its peak season from the first through the third week of October. The northern third of Iowa is coming out of its peak fall season, while the southern third’s peak season will last until the end of October.

The Clive Greenbelt Trail is one of the many places in metro Des Moines to see the leaves change. Sunday has become a popular day to enjoy fall colors, as temperatures in central Iowa are expected to drop into the 40s on Monday and Tuesday.

Trail users like Todd Kite said they enjoy the leaves on the trees while they’re still here.

“Back in grade school biology class, they said all the oxygen comes from leaf photosynthesis,” Kite said. “All the oxygen from these trees is nourishing and refreshing.”