Autumn is officially here, and we're finally starting to see those fall colors.

You've probably already spotted some red, yellow, and orange leaves in Lexington, and they're only going to become more bountiful. According to Smoky Mountain’s fall foliage predictions, leaves in the Fayette County area are starting to lose their chlorophyll — the compound responsible for their green color. This gives us a few weeks when we can see the foliage before it hits the ground.

Here’s an anticipated timeline of when Lexingtonians can expect to see the most colorful foliage:

Week of Oct. 13 — trees will have partial color, but many green leaves remain
Week of Oct. 20 — more color is anticipated, we’re approaching peak foliage
Week of Oct. 27 — peak foliage, this is the prime time for sightseeing
Week of Nov. 3 — Lexington is past its peak, but other parts of Central Kentucky will still have splashes of color
Week of Nov. 10 — the whole state is past peak foliage

Catalpa Road is looking golden. | Photo via @jennylwells

If you want to go leaf peeping, you still have time to plan your trip before the leaves fall. There are many places in the Lexington area that look just a little prettier decorated in fall colors.

The foliage tends to be on full display along the city’s hiking trails, with Raven Run Nature Sanctuary and Red River Gorge being noted for having many colorful options. Parks also make great places to catch the leaves, especially nature parks like McConnell Springs Park.

Looking for a distinctly Lexington leaf peeping experience? The historic Lexington Cemetery has over 200 varieties of trees or explore the Arboretum on UK's campus. And if you take a walk down Catalpa Road in Chevy Chase, you're golden. The Gingko trees cover the street with a unique blanket of yellow leaves this time of year.