Most people mark the changing seasons by the changing leaves, a drop in temperature or the decreasing daylight.

Those are all hallmarks of the transition from summer to fall, sure. But for me, one of the best indicators of autumn's arrival is the departure of that buzzing beast that is a perennial summer nuisance: the mosquito.

With the bugs gone and temperatures nearly perfect for hiking and sleeping, plus the at-times-overwhelming beauty of fall foliage, it's one of my favorite times of year to backpack and camp.

"The cool temperatures make for great campfires," said Ken Severn, the park manager at Harrington Beach State Park in Belgium. "You see a lot of people doing that in the evening. Of course the colors and the wildlife — you have the deer and the turkey and you can hear the coyotes at night, owls and all of that. It's so much quieter, and of course it's darker ... you get to see the night sky like nothing else."

Harrington Beach added a campground in 2009, and while visitation has increased steadily since then, traffic to the campground is still slower in September and October compared with the peak months of July and August, Severn said.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spokesman Paul Holtan said camping overall has been up at state parks over the past few years.

"In general, we have continued to see an increase in camping at our facilities, and part of that is associated with getting more of our facilities onto our online reservation system," Holtan said. "We think that's helped, but also we think with the economy, camping in state parks — even with the fee increase this year — is still a pretty good bargain."

If you want to camp during peak color, you'll have to time your visit.

Kirsten Held, a DNR forestry outreach specialist, said barring any high wind or major rain events, color should reach peak in central Wisconsin around the middle of October and in the south by the end of October.

Holtan recommends fall campers keep an eye on the weather and be prepared for cool nights with warm sleeping bags and clothing. He also said campers should watch the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report (travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report) to see where and when colors are peaking.

Here are some options for camping among the colors this fall. Note that many campgrounds shut down their shower buildings and dump stations when the weather gets cold, usually around Oct. 1.

End of September

Chase colors and waterfalls at Copper Falls State Park near Mellen. The park has two campgrounds, waterfalls and an observation tower with fall-color views all the way to Lake Superior on clear days.

The 232,000-acre Northern Highland American Legion State Forest includes more than a dozen campsites open through at least Columbus Day. Crystal Lake west of Sayner is a great option, with the campground hugging the pristine 93-acre lake and also providing access to the 23-mile paved Heart of Vilas County Hike and Bike Trail.

Campgrounds in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest are often small, rustic and easy to snag a spot at on short notice, especially in the fall. Try Luna-White Deer Lake (open through Oct. 15), nestled between two lakes near the Headwaters Wilderness east of Eagle River.

Make the long drive and two-ferry-ride trip to Rock Island State Park off the tip of Door County and you'll be rewarded with a remote camping experience and some of the best stargazing in the state. Hike about six miles around the 912-acre island and climb the lighthouse tower for views of the rest of the Grand Traverse Islands chain and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Beginning to middle of October

Devil's Lake near Baraboo, with its towering quartzite bluffs, is a state-park favorite year-round, and fall is no exception. The same applies to Mirror Lake State Park just south of the Dells, where campsites are heavily wooded and well spaced, providing maximum fall color exposure and minimum exposure to other people. Hike or paddle along the glassy lake before heading to Ishnala Supper Club for an old-fashioned and dinner served up with terrific views of the lake.

Head to High Cliff State Park, on the quieter side of Lake Winnebago in Sherwood, for up-high views of the lake from an observation tower and hikes along the Niagara Escarpment. The park's campground is surrounded by maples, oaks and other hardwoods that put on a gorgeous yellow-orange display in fall.

For a quieter Door County camping experience, skip the state's most popular campground at Peninsula State Park and head across the county to Newport, the state's only wilderness park offering 16 hike-in sites along Lake Michigan. Look for yellow beech and colorful sugar maples mixing with evergreens along the shore in fall, and enjoy stargazing from one of the darkest spots on the peninsula.

The drive to Wildcat Mountain State Park near Ontario is almost as great as the park itself. Tucked into Wisconsin's rolling Driftless Region, the park is perched high on a steep ridge next to the twisting Kickapoo River, great for a fall paddle. Some walk-in sites (carts are available) are perched on the ridge, offering terrific views of the changing colors.

Middle to end of October

Also in the Driftless Region, Governor Dodge's heavily wooded sites and miles of hiking trails make for an ideal fall camping trip. The state park near Dodgeville also features two lakes and a small waterfall.

Views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers at Wyalusing State Park south of Prairie du Chien are especially stunning in the fall. But for a quieter experience, head south to Nelson Dewey near Cassville. Holtan said that park offers views that are just as good but is much less busy in the fall.

The magnificent maples of the Kettle Moraine State Forest's northern unit put on quite the show in fall. Choose a site at Mauthe Lake or Long Lake, or reserve a backpacking shelter along the Ice Age Trail. The forest's Pike Lake unit also offers great fall camping through the end of October.

RELATED:See fall colors in Wisconsin from above on these observation towers