Track Autumn Online with the Fall Color Report

V1 Staff, photos by Taylor Smith |

Interactive technology too often keeps kids (and – let’s be honest – grownups as well) sedentary and glued to our screens. But it can also be helpful in getting us into the great outdoors. If you need motivation to get you driving, hiking, or paddling out in Wisconsin’s annual autumnal explosion of color, check out Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report (www.travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report).

With the help of 100 color spotters across all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, the Department of Tourism creates an ever-changing, clickable map to help users discover when and where leaves are reaching their colorful crescendos. As of late August, the most spectacular displays were expected in the Chippewa Valley during the third week of October, while the peak was predicted a week or two earlier around northwoods communities such as Cable and Hayward.

In addition to pointing out peak color, the website also allows users to find nearby events, activities, restaurants, and lodging. You can also sign up for email alerts, so if you’re hitting the road, don’t “leaf” home without your smartphone. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)