Fall Colors Are Finally Showing Up In Southwest Oklahoma

For weeks now, the fate of Southwest Oklahoma's fall colors has been uncertain. We've experienced a deep and historic drought this year. Crops dried up, trees shed leaves early, and fissures opened up in our backyards. It's been crazy enough that experts predicted a lack of fall foliage, but as I went to lunch today, I spotted plenty of it along my way.

The time of fall foliage in our part of the country is now... Right on schedule with the history books.

Pretty soon, the ugliest stretch of Cache Road will be the prettiest part of the city, even if for only a short while.

If you'd like to take in the beautiful vistas of fall, take a little advice on where to find it. If your first instinct is to drive out through the mountains, it's a bust.

The Wichita Mountains are a beautiful place any time of year, but during the fall, because the forestry crews have done such a good job ridding the refuge of invasive species, all of the trees tend to just turn brown. You'll still see some warm reds and oranges along the roads, but they're mostly ground-level bushes and such.

Instead, go a little further and take in the scenic byway around the mountains. That's where you'll find the best colors of fall in our part of the state.

All the same, if you really want to see something spectacular, take a day trip to Talihina. It's unanimously the prettiest drive to take in Oklahoma this time of year. A tapestry of trees paints a very vivid and varied wheel of colors, even if it is hours and hours in the car to get there.

Even so, there are other less spectacular places you can travel to in the state to see some really stunning vistas. Pick one and go explore it while you can.