Fall Color Trail

Alabama is beautiful throughout the year, but especially in the fall. As the greens of summer surrender to glittering yellow poplars, scarlet dogwoods, orange maples and golden hickories, Alabama unfolds its patchwork quilt of color.

This blend of brilliant autumn foliage, coupled with cooler temperatures and an occasional gentle breeze, makes for an unforgettable experience.

During October and November, color watchers in the north provide weekly updates on peak color, scenic drives and seasonal activities to the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel.

Click here for a suggested circle tour including many of the following fall color spots.

Alabama Fall Color Spots (Weather predictions indicate that fall colors will peak during late October and early November).
Updated: November 27, 2007
Color Legend

	Oak Mountain State Park [details], Pelham, (205) 620-2520 — Recommended viewing: Peavine Overlook and Peavine Falls. Scenic drives: AL 119 to Oak Mountain State Park Rd., then to John Finley Ave., Terrace Dr., and Peavine Rd.
	Oneonta/Blount County, (205) 274-2153 — Recommended viewing: Horton Mill, Old Easley or Swann covered bridges, Palisades Park. Scenic drives: I-59 up Whitney Mountain near Oneonta, proceed up US 231.
	Cullman/Cullman County, (256) 734-0454 — Recommended viewing: Ave Maria Grotto and the 277-foot-long, 90-foot-high Clarkson Covered Bridge. Scenic drives: US 31 and 278.
	Bankhead National Forest [details], Winston and Lawrence counties, (205) 489-5111 — Recommended viewing: Fall color cruise on the Free State Lady river boat. Scenic drives: AL 195 to Double Springs, to AL 33, then Forest Service roads 249, 262, 245, 255, CO 63, and back to AL 33.
	The Natchez Trace , Lauderdale and Colbert counties, (800) 344-0783 — Developed from a network of Indian trails between Natchez, MS, and Nashville, TN, the Trace cuts diagonally across the northwest corner of the state. Scenic drive: Entire 33 miles of the Trace through Alabama.
	Joe Wheeler State Park [details], Rogersville, (256) 247-5466 — Recommended viewing: Joe Wheeler Dam near the cabin area on the Lawrence County side. Scenic drives: After leaving US 72, there is a four-mile scenic drive into the park's resort area on the Lauderdale County side.
	Monte Sano State Park [details], Huntsville, (256) 534- 3757 — Recommended viewing: Warpath Ridge Trail and its overlooks. Scenic drives: US 72 out of Scottsboro and US 431 out of Guntersville.
	Scottsboro/Jackson County, (800) 259-5508 — Recommended viewing: Russell Cave National Monument. Scenic drives: A L 79 across Skyline Mountain; AL 279; AL 65 through the Paint Rock River Valley; US 72.
	Lake Guntersville State Park [details], Guntersville, (256) 571-5444 — Recommended viewing: See the park from the lodge atop the mountain. Scenic drives: AL 227 through the park and into Buck's Pocket State Park and nearby DeKalb and Etowah counties.
	Gadsden/Etowah County, (256) 549-0351 — Recommended viewing: Noccalula Falls Park. Scenic drives: US 278, 11 and 411.
	DeSoto State Park and Lodge/DeSoto Falls/Little River Canyon [details], Ft. Payne, (256) 845-0051 — Recommended viewing: Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. Scenic drives: Lookout Mountain Parkway, DeSoto Parkway and Old DeSoto Parkway. AL 176, part of Lookout Mountain Parkway, includes scenic overlooks of Little River Canyon.
	Cheaha State Park [details], Lineville, (256) 488-5111 — Cheaha is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level. Recommended viewing: Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails. Scenic drives: Talladega Scenic Drive, Skyline Drive, and Skyway Motorway.

Legend for Fall Colors:

	No Change (Patchy) Only occasional patches of color, not fully developed. The predominant color is still green.
	Low (10-30% change) Some clearly defined color changes can be seen, but they are not yet at their brightest. About three fourths of the foliage is still in green.
	Moderate (30-50% change) As much as half the vegetation has changed color. In the earlier changing trees, the colors are bright. Late-changing trees remain primarily green.
	High (50-75% change) There is abundant color among most trees. Some of the earlier changing trees are at peak or near-peak, having reached their brightest stage.
	Peak (75-100% change) Most trees are in full color. Deep reds and bright yellows prevail. Very little green vegetation remains. A few trees have yet to reach peak, but are showing very bright, well developed colors. These trees will peak very quickly.
	Past Peak Brightness and depth of color have begun to fade. Leaf drop has begun and will accelerate from this point.