As summer comes to its end, you may find yourself anticipating the impending joys of autumn. Soon, fall foliage will be everywhere you turn in Illinois. Leaves will go yellow, orange, and red, and eventually, you'll find them crunching under your feet. Thanks to researchers over at Smoky Mountains, we can loosely predict when will be the best time to take a picturesque fall hike. Curious about this year's fall foliage prediction map for Illinois? Let's see what we can expect!

Each year, the Fall Foliage Prediction Map from our friends at Smoky Mountains offers predictions for when and where to view the best foliage throughout the United States.

This year, fall foliage will be hitting Illinois a little later than usual. According to the map, Illinoisans can expect to experience changing leaves in the last two weeks of October.

Peak change for the northern third of the state is forecast to hit during the week of October 24; for those in the southern two-thirds of the state, peak fall foliage in Illinois is a week later, October 31. This is the best time to get outdoors and see for yourself.

Of course, no prediction is exact, but this should give you an idea of when to start expecting those leaves to change. Start planning your autumn excursions today.

Illinois is a beautiful place to be in the fall. Our numerous parks and state forests brim with beauty and vibrant views this time of year.

Next to visiting pumpkin patches and drinking apple cider, viewing the fall foliage in Illinois is a must for autumn. Don't miss the best views.

Now that you've reviewed the fall foliage prediction map for Illinois and know when the leaves will turn, what are your plans for the autumn? Hiking? Road trips? Bird watching? Share your favorite fall destinations in Illinois with us in the comments below!

Are you ready for the leaves to change? Share your fall foliage photos with us -- we're a bunch of die-hard leaf peepers over here!