National Forests in Alabama

Bankhead National Forest: Highway 33 from Double Springs to Moulton in Lawrence and Winston Counties and most Forest Service Roads numbered 203 to 255.

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2004

Pines dominate most mountain ridges throughout the forest; however, hardwoods in the slopes and drainages offer a spectacular display of gold, red, and yellow. Species such as sourwood and red maple begin to turn a fiery red the first of September.. but there is still more amazing color to come. Peak fall foliage viewing is normally from mid-October to mid-November.  

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest (GA)

Chattahoochee NF:Average 20 Percent.

Oconee NF: 15 Percent

• Brasstown District- Richard Russell Scenic Highway north of Helen.
• Armuchee- Cohutta- GA Highway 52 from Chatsworth to Ellijay
• Chattooga- Richard Russell Scenic Highway and 75 North
• Tallulah- 76 West, Stamp Creek Road
• Oconee- Highway 441 south of Madison, Hwy 44 East from Eatonton to
• Greensboro, all routes surrounding Lakes Oconee and Sinclair

Chattahoochee: Most districts- 3-4 week in October

Oconee: Mid-November

NA

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2004.    

Cherokee National Forest (TN)

Highest elevations: 40-100 Percent

Lower elevaitons: 35-40 Percent

• Cherohala Skyway-very nice drive
• Hiwassee River
• Ocoee Scenic Byway
• French Broad River
• Holston Lake
• Roan Mountain

Last updated: OCt.14, 2004

Northern Districts: Highest elevations have peaked. Lower elevations 35-40- percent

Southern Districts: Highr elevations could peak this weekend. Lower elevations are spotty

Daniel Boone National Forest (KY)

• KY 90 from US 25 to US 27
  KY 89 from Lamero to McKee
  Zilpo National Scenic Byway
  Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
  Wilderness Road Heritage Highway
  Country Music Highway

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2004

The cool, damp nights and warm sunny days of autumn are bringing rapid color change
to the woodland hills of eastern Kentucky. The maples are putting on rich colors
of red and gold; poplars and hickories are turning bright shades of yellow as the dogwoods
change to deep crimson. The colors are expected to peak by the end of October.

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests (SC)

Sumter 5-10 % Oconee county –25%Percent

Francis Marion 3-5 Percent

• Sumter
  • Highway 28 from Yellow Branch recreation area to Forest border.
  • Highway 107 from Mountain Rest to Jackson County line
  • Highway 25 North from Edgefield, SC to Greenwood, SC
  • Highway 230 North from North Augusta, SC. Then west on Highway 23 to Modoc.
  • State Highway 574 to Woods Ferry Recreation Area, Chester County
  • State Road 16 south out of Union County

Estimated Peak Period:

Sumter: Last week of October

Francis Marion: First week in November

Last updated: Oct.14, 2004

Sumter:Trees currently with color change are dogwood, sourwood, persimmon, and blackgum.

George Washington and Jefferson
National Forests (VA)

• 15-30 Percent.Starters - black gum, dogwood, locust, and walnut
• Some Maples

South End: 0-5 percent

• Road edges, Reddish Knob on Dry River, Sinking Creek and Peters Mt. on New Castle, High Knob Tower (Norton, VA) and Birch Knob Tower (Clintwood, VA) on Clinch

• West VA, Wardensville Rte 55W
• Harrisonburg area: Massanutten Mtn, Strasburg, Rte 55 E, Ft. Valley-SR 678, Crisman Hollow Road, Edinburg Gap Road, Squirrel Gap Road, FDR 92.
  
• Wise and Scott Counties: High Knob Tower off of SR 238, Hwy 23 Powell Mtn Overlook.

• Any road of higher elevations
• Reddish Knob

• Routes 250 & 629

Warm Springs RD: (540) 839-2521

James River RD: (540) 962-2214  

Jefferson National Forest

New Castle Ranger District: (540) 864-5195

• US 311 thru Craig County
• State route 42 from New Castle to Newport

• Route 56 and The Blue Ridge Parkway

  Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area: (276) 783-5196

 Clinch RD: (276) 328-2931

• High Knob Tower on Powell Mountain above Norton, VA and Birch Knob Tower on Pine Mountain behind Clintwood, VA.
• High Knob can be reached by traveling south on State Route 619 from Norton, turning left onto Forest Service road 238, then the next right is the tower access road.
• Birch Knob Tower can be reached by turning on the Brush Creek Road in Clintwood; soon you’ll cross the Pound River, then bear right up the hill just on the other side of the river. Follow that road for a few miles, then turn left onto Forest Service road 616; go to near the top, then stay left at the Mullins Pond sign. You’ll go another mile or so, and come to the tower parking lot. There are directional signs beginning in Clintwood.

Mid-October

Last updated: Oct. 6, 2004

Colors are NOT expected to be as vivid as they have been in recent years.   Leaves start turning in mid-September.

Land Between the Lakes (KY)

Last updated: Oct. 7, 2004

Maples are showing brilliant orange and red, sumacs are red, and blackgums are bright red. Many dogwoods are deep crimson and poplars are turning bright yellow. There are some brownouts as a result of the dry weather.

National Forests in Mississippi (MS)

10-15 percent at highest elevations

Tombigbee National Forest

North End::

•  Natchez Trace Parkway or Natchez Trace Scenic Drive around Davis Lake , MS, Hwy.15 North of Houston to MS 32 and/or the Davis Lake Road & US 45 to Tupelo .

South End:

• MS 15 – Ackerman, MS- Choctaw Lake Road to Choctaw Lake Recreation Area to Upper County Road or Sheep Ranch Road to MS 25 to Bluff Lake Road ,

Betheden and Bevil’s Hill to Morgantown Road to MS 12 at Sturgis , MS .

Holly Springs National Forest

North End:

• Hwys 4 from Holly Springs to Ashland
• Hwy 5 towards Blue Mountain
• Hwy 370 from Ashland to Falkner.

Homochito National Forest

• Hwy 33
• Forest Road 119

De Soto National Forest

• Interstate 59
• Highway 49 - Jackson to Gulfport

Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles from Natchez in southern Mississippi to a point just south of Nashville , Tenn. , cutting across a corner of Alabama .

• Boat rides showcase the beautiful fall colors on the Mississippi River .
• The Ross Bennett Reservoir along the Natchez Trace Parkway near Jackson .
• Dogwoods in bloom alongside the parkway near Tupelo , Mississippi .

• State Capitol, Jackson, and east central Miss should peak during the last weekend in October or 1 st week in November.
• The Delta region and the southwest corner of the Homochitto NF will likely peak late October to mid November. Peak color in the south-central part of the Homochitto is likely the 2nd week in November.
• Final colors in the state should peak on North end of De Soto NF around last week October-1 st week in November and finish up on the south end mid/late November to early December.

South: 50s - 60s mornings -70s - 80s afternoons

North: 40s -50s early am and 60s -70s afternoons

Last updated: Oct.15, 2004

• Greatest color will be at e levations of 300’ and above.
• Brown color changes due to extremely dry summer season.
• Cooler temperatures and rainfall may lead to more rapid color changes.

National Forests in North Carolina (NC)

25 %

Along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (U.S. 276)

For a view of color in the higher elevations, drivers can head on the byway to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where they can turn and head north to Asheville.

Mid-late October

Last updated: October 14, 2004

About 25 percent of leaves are changing, from the deep reds of dogwood, sourwood, and blackgum to the yellows of tulip poplar and black birches. Along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (U.S. 276), the understory is displaying its lemon-yellow sweet shrubs and red-orange buckberries. Yellow-brown ferns mix well with the deep greens of evergreens, and purple and white asters and lavender ginsengs are appearing below.

National Forests in Texas (TX)

Angelina  NF:
• Hwys 63, 147, and 103E
• FM 705 to Caney Creek

Davy Crockett:
• Hwys 7, 103W, and 21 to Ratcliff Lake
• FM 2262 to Alabama Creek WMA.

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2004

Due to milder than normal temperatures and shorter days, reds and golds have begun to appear in many different species of East Texas trees. Though not as dramatic as fall foliage in the northeast, Texas forests usually provide a beautiful array of color starting early-to-mid October.

Ozark-St. Francis National Forest (AR))

30-50 percent at highest elevations – black and sweet gum trees, dogwoods, maples and sumac have turned color. North facing slopes showing greatest change.

• State Highway 309 leading up to Mt. Magazine State Park; Highways 5, 9, 87, 341 leading in and out of Mountain View and forest roads around Mountain View; near Wedington in the northwest portion of the forest; Highway 7 north from Russellville to Jasper; Highway 16 to Richland Creek or Pedestal Rocks Scenic Vista; observers expect good viewing along Highways 59, 71 and 23 the weekends of Oct. 16/17 extending thru the weekend of Oct 23/24.

Last updated: October 13, 2004 .

• Forest in midst of dry spell right now. Rainfall and cool nights could lead to rapid color change.

Ouachita National Forest (AR-OK)

• Hwy 1 (Talimena Scenic Byway-Ok)
• Hwy 375 West from Mena
• Hwy 71N to Hwy 88 East
• Hwy 259 to Talihina
• Hwy 7 S from Ola to Hot Springs
• Winona and Buffalo Auto Tours
• Views from the top of Rich Mountain Fire Tower are fabulous, regardless of color conditions.
• Hwys 23, 270, and 80.

Last updated: Oct. 14, 2004

We have a report of good color along all of Highway 23 north from Waldron up into the Ozark National Forest; also the start of good colors along Highway 27 from Danville to Rover.