There’s nothing like a beautiful hike on a crisp fall day that leads to a breathtaking view. Here in Ohio, we have several treetop adventures and canopy tours that give you an opportunity to get up close and personal with the changing colors of fall. Sometimes, it’s best to take it all in with a bird’s eye view and a wide camera lens that truly captures the variety of color, however. The following are 6 towers scattered throughout the Buckeye State that you can climb for beautiful fall foliage views.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark Tree Tower (Dayton)
May-Ree N/TripAdvisor
Malori Thornsburg/Google Maps After you’ve explored the specialty gardens, butterfly house and nature trails, climb the 65-ft. observation tower at this underrated metro park. You’ll take in stunning fall color and get a great view of the whole park. From April 1 – October 31, you can visit Cox Arboretum from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Lake Erie Bluffs Observation Tower (Perry)
Barry Noble/Google Maps
Linda Alderton//Google Maps This stunning beachfront metropark features 600 acres, including 40-foot-high beach bluffs. The 50-ft. coastal observation tower offers 360-degree views and is open daily (weather permitting) during regular park hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. At night, the tower lights up. (Please note: The tower will be closed during the winter season.)
- Holden Arboretum Emergent Tower (Kirtland)
Erik Drost/Flickr
Erik Drost/Flickr The Judith and Maynard H. Murch Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum is a 500 ft. long elevated walkway suspended 65 ft. above the forest floor. The Kalberer Family Emergent Tower (pictured) takes you up 120 ft. above the trees, where you can see for miles and miles. Tickets for both the canopy walk and emergent tower are $14 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 - 18. (Children 5 and younger are free.) You can visit during the fall season until November 1.
- Ash Cave Lookout Tower (Hocking Hills State Park)
KECournoyer/TripAdvisor
Haushold/TripAdvisor Follow the trail beyond Ash Cave to climb this massive tower, which features colorful views of the stunning Hocking Hills region in October. It reaches 80 feet high and was built in the 1930s. If you’d rather not hike to the tower, there is a parking area by the tower at the corner of State Route 374 and Chapel Ridge Road.
- Marblehead Lighthouse State Park (Marblehead)
Steve5863/TripAdvisor
Oliver S/TripAdvisor The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the United States side of the Great Lakes is a beautiful sight to behold. Since 1822, this lighthouse has been an active aid-to-navigation. Today, you can climb the lighthouse for a small fee, observe the museum in the keeper’s house and explore the grounds of the park. It’s even more magical in the fall time.
- Mohican State Park Lookout (Mohican-Memorial State Forest)
BrianD317/TripAdvisor
Mwietro/TripAdvisor If you’re feeling up for an adventure, take the Mohican Hog Hollow Trail, which starts at the park’s beautiful covered bridge and leads to the fire tower. The trek is 4.6 miles out and back and the tower stands more than 1,000 feet tall. The fall foliage views make it more than worth the climb.
Have you climbed any of these towers before? If so, share your thoughts, photos and experiences with us!
May-Ree N/TripAdvisor
Malori Thornsburg/Google Maps
After you’ve explored the specialty gardens, butterfly house and nature trails, climb the 65-ft. observation tower at this underrated metro park. You’ll take in stunning fall color and get a great view of the whole park. From April 1 – October 31, you can visit Cox Arboretum from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Barry Noble/Google Maps
Linda Alderton//Google Maps
This stunning beachfront metropark features 600 acres, including 40-foot-high beach bluffs. The 50-ft. coastal observation tower offers 360-degree views and is open daily (weather permitting) during regular park hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. At night, the tower lights up. (Please note: The tower will be closed during the winter season.)
Erik Drost/Flickr
Erik Drost/Flickr
The Judith and Maynard H. Murch Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum is a 500 ft. long elevated walkway suspended 65 ft. above the forest floor. The Kalberer Family Emergent Tower (pictured) takes you up 120 ft. above the trees, where you can see for miles and miles. Tickets for both the canopy walk and emergent tower are $14 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 - 18. (Children 5 and younger are free.) You can visit during the fall season until November 1.
KECournoyer/TripAdvisor
Haushold/TripAdvisor
Follow the trail beyond Ash Cave to climb this massive tower, which features colorful views of the stunning Hocking Hills region in October. It reaches 80 feet high and was built in the 1930s. If you’d rather not hike to the tower, there is a parking area by the tower at the corner of State Route 374 and Chapel Ridge Road.
Steve5863/TripAdvisor
Oliver S/TripAdvisor
The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the United States side of the Great Lakes is a beautiful sight to behold. Since 1822, this lighthouse has been an active aid-to-navigation. Today, you can climb the lighthouse for a small fee, observe the museum in the keeper’s house and explore the grounds of the park. It’s even more magical in the fall time.
BrianD317/TripAdvisor
Mwietro/TripAdvisor
If you’re feeling up for an adventure, take the Mohican Hog Hollow Trail, which starts at the park’s beautiful covered bridge and leads to the fire tower. The trek is 4.6 miles out and back and the tower stands more than 1,000 feet tall. The fall foliage views make it more than worth the climb.
For more fall foliage adventures in Ohio, check out our previous article: Take A Canopy Tour At Tree Frog Canopy Tours In Ohio To See The Fall Colors Like Never Before.
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Address: 2901 Clark Rd, Perry, OH 44081, USAAddress: 6733 N Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449, USAAddress: Ash Cave Lookout Tower, South Bloomingville, OH 43152, USAAddress: 1012 O D N R Mohican Rd 51, Perrysville, OH 44864, USAAddress: Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, 110 Lighthouse Dr, Marblehead, OH 43440, USAAddress: Judith and Maynard H. Murch IV Canopy Walk, 9526-9582 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094, USA
