Click on the magic dogwood leaf to reveal the progress of leaf changes across the country.
NPS / Jane Farmer
Tell Me about the Fall Colors
"Can you gaze into your crystal ball and tell me when leaf colors will be happening on the Natchez Trace Parkway?" a park visitor asked.
The ranger rubbed her temples. "Perhaps it would be better to check the web," the ranger replied.
"What web page could I visit?"
"Click on the Magic Dogwood Leaf to be transported to a web page that will reveal the progression of fall color change all over the country."
Click on dogwood leaf to see color progress across the country.
Fall Color Reports 2024
Fall is beginning to show its colors!
Up north, dry August conditions brought early, rapid color and dropping leaves. Now green and naked branches are the beginning of fall in middle Tennessee.
Around the Tupelo area, we're starting to see some yellows and browns show up.
Near Natchez, the colors have not started changing yet. We are still seeing the impacts of heat dropping some of the leaves. They are still mostly green.
North District: Rainy conditions and cooling temperatures are signaling to our trees it's the start of fall showtime! Trees along the northern Parkway are taking the message and subtlety sliding out of their marvelous monochromatic hues with 5% changes into limey greens, yellows and browns.
Central District: Now that we’ve finally got some rain here in north Mississippi the trees have perked up again, but fall colors remain elusive. Some of the drought-impacted trees have begun to change, and we’ve spotted a red leaf here and there on the tupelo trees. For the most part, however, green is still the predominant color along our stretch of the parkway.
South District: Summer clings on near Natchez. The trees don’t seem to be even thinking about autumn yet.
To leaf or not to leaf, that is the question!
North District: In middle Tennessee, trees along the Parkway are edging evermore slightly into fall. Their color variations include surprise pops of reds bursting through the wash of deep and light greens, yellows, and browns.
Central District: Small patches of red, yellow, and orange sprinkle the leaves near Tupelo, MS. As more leaves realize what time it is, we expect to see the colors change more rapidly by the end of October.
South District: While green leaves persist closer to Natchez, MS, some yellows and reds have broken through to lead the other leaves in changing with the season.
Temperatures are dropping and colors are popping!
South District: It is still pretty green, but we are starting to see some hints of color—yellows and oranges were spotted north of the Rocky Springs Campground.
Central District: The trees around Tupelo have finally gotten the message that it’s October, and we are beginning to see bits of color here and there. Our namesakes, the tupelo trees, are really starting to show off those reds!
North District: In the upper Parkway, leaves are inching further into a cornucopia of colors adding more yellows and oranges to compete with the majority of green left over from summer.
Leaves are falling all around!
North District: Like Dolly Parton’s coat of many colors, the north section of the Parkway is a patchwork. While some sections hold their grip on green, other areas are flaunting flashy reds, oranges and yellows.
Central District: Pops of color are beginning to appear—you can finally tell it’s fall in Tupelo. Most of the trees remain green, however, and many of the drought-stricken trees have already shed their dead, brown leaves. Here’s hoping the lack of rain in northern Mississippi doesn’t continue to impact the glory of fall colors along the Trace!
South District: The leaves on the south end of the parkway are still mostly green, but they are starting to get some yellow, rust, brown and red mixed in.
Happy Halloween!
North District: Dancing, lazy leaves sway as they fall to the ground on the northern Parkway. Vibrant colors are losing their brilliance as deeper, golden hues overtake the green presenting a 50% green and 50% golden tapestry mix of trees.
Central District: Brown leaves are covering the ground in the Tupelo area. We are seeing large patches of yellow, orange and red leaves throughout the section in northern Mississippi. Close to 40% of leaves have changed so far.
Southern District: Fall is beginning to take hold with some oranges and yellows, especially north of Port Gibson, but in the southern most part of the district summer still stubbornly hangs on with mostly greens though there are some yellows peaking out on the tops of some of the trees.
Fall has been windy and rainy along Natchez Trace Parkway this week!
North District: Rustling winds and rain are beginning to wipe trees of their drying foliage in preparation for stick season. Some trees hold their green-to-brown leaves, while others are baring their skeleton of branches.
Central District: Pockets of red, yellow and orange decorate the green landscape along the roadway in North Mississippi. The changes are speeding up due to the temperature changes, rain and windy conditions. This is a great time to see the colors change in North Mississippi before all of the leaves drop to the ground!
Southern District: Higher than average temperatures and a very wet rainy few days have not helped the color change down here, it remains much the same north of Port Gibson with oranges and yellows, several trees have already given up their last leaf and stand bare for the winter, south of Port Gibson it is still very green with only minor changes to yellows and oranges starting to show.
Come one! Come all! See the leaves change this fall!
North District Fall Color Report: As seasonal fall foliage shifts from vibrant colors to muted, rusty browns, some trees are retaining their deep greens, declaring, "My leaves aren't dead yet!" Here's to the Monty Python of holdouts on the northern Parkway.
Central District: Poet William Cullen Bryant described autumn as “…the year’s loveliest, last smile.” This is the perfect description of the colors here in Northern Mississippi this week. The trees are looking sparse after last night's rainstorm, but there are a few oranges and yellows still holding on.
Southern District Fall Color Report: With a windy rainy last few days a lot of the trees south of Port Gibson have started to give up their leaves and are looking pretty bare, the ones that are left are showing colors anywhere from green, to bright yellow, with the occasional orange thrown in. North of Port Gibson the yellows and oranges are more vibrant with less green and a fair number of trees have given up their foliage for the winter.
Thank you for following our fall color report this year! We will back with our next report in September when fall comes back around again. Here is our final report for 2024:
North District: Tennesse was the first section with fall colors on the Parkway, and now it's the first for the curtain of foliage to fall away. We see peak-a-boo views of the topography hidden by summer’s lush forests. Though fall is winding towards winter’s starkness, there are always gifts during any season on the Parkway.
Central District: Poet and novelist Mary Ann Evans (writing under her pen name George Eliot) described the end of fall as a “still melancholy,” a term that could be used to describe the central section of the Trace right now. Most of the leaves around Tupelo have fallen and faded to brown, leaving only the recent memory of their vibrancy.
South District: Our southern colors look like they still yearn for the balmy days of summer to stick around a bit longer, with mostly greens and some yellows down here below Port Gibson. Some of the trees north of Port Gibson are look like sticks, with few leaves of any color!
The Old Trace Drive, at milepost 375.8 is a great place to see fall colors in mid to late October.
NPS Image
In middle to late September, the maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees begin to change colors and visitors have the opportunity to view the brilliant fall foliage along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Each fall, as sunlight decreases, it signals the plant to stop producing chlorophyll. The best conditions to create fall color are when the autumn days are mild and sunny, and the evenings are cool and crisp, but not freezing. Ideal foliage is sparked by a warm, wet spring, a typical summer, and sunny autumn days with cool nights. While it is impossible to predict the peak time to see colors along the Natchez Trace Parkway, the following locations and reports may help you plan your trip.
Locations to Enjoy the Fall Color in Tennessee:
The Old Trace Drive (milepost 375.8) provides spectacular overlooks of a hardwood forest.
Metal Ford (milepost 382.8) provides a quick stop to view the fall colors.
The views at Baker Bluff Overlook (405.1) offer a nice view across the local area in Tennessee to see the changes.
Leisurely walks at Meriwether Lewis (milepost 385.9) or Fall Hollow (milepost 391.9) are great locations to enjoy the colors.
Those interested in seeing the colors more closely may find a day hike along the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail from the Garrison Creek Trailhead (milepost 427.6), or the Old Trace Trailhead (milepost 426.3) a rewarding experience.
Locations to Enjoy the Fall Color in Alabama and Mississippi:
The Freedom Hills Overlook (milepost 317.0) provides a spectacular overlook of a hardwood forest.
A short leisurely walk on the Rock Spring Nature Trail is an easy way to get out and see the colors more closely.
The view from Little Mountain Overlook in the Jeff Busby Campground (milepost 193.1), provides a wonderful quick stop to view the fall colors.
Those interested in seeing the colors more closely may find a day hike along the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail from the Old Town Overlook Trailhead (milepost 263.9), or the Beech Springs Trailhead (milepost 266.0) a rewarding experience.
800 305-7417
The Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo, MS, is open 9am-4:30pm seven days a week. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st.
