TUPELO,MS-In middle to late October, 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.
If you want to see fall colors this weekend the northern end of the parkway is the place to be. With cooler temperatures in the northern end of the park this past week the colors have started to show through. The fall colors are showing from the Meriwether Lewis site (milepost 385.9) north with colors at about 50-55%of their peak color. This is quickly approaching peak color for this area. From Colbert Ferry (milepost 327.3) north into Tennessee trees are about 30% of their full color.
The Tupelo area is still only showing a low percentage of color change with light yellows and reds along the Parkway.
Please remember that colors can change rapidly, and leaf color will vary widely along the 444-mile length of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/fall-colors.htm
Media Release/Natchez Trace Parkway
