Update: Autumn Leaves Near Peak Colors On The Natchez Trace Parkway In Tennessee
...They're here!
The colors of Fall are upon us. Come along, and enjoy the view...
By the looks of things on the Natchez Trace Parkway today, I'd say we're a little over halfway into the color-changing process for the year.
The following photos were taken 12 days after these.
Enjoy!
...Don't wait much longer, or you're sure to miss the most brilliant colors!
I ended up going this last weekend - Oct 25-28. I had some commitments come up this weekend and next so I thought I better go sooner than later in case I missed it all. While the parkway is a delight to travel anytime of year there wasn't any color change as yet from Natchez to about Tupelo. From Tupelo north to the TN line I would say there was about 25-30% color and from there on up about 60-65%. I drove all the way to Nashville and then took TN route 100 west to Memphis and there was also about 60% color all along that route. Monday and Tuesday it got down to almost freezing so I would say that there should be good color this weekend along several parts of the parkway. For anyone reading this - hope you have an enjoyable drive and get to see some majestic colors.
Thanks Lynnette!
I'll keep my eyes open for any updates you add. I'm guessing there's probably 2-3 days difference in color between the top of the trace and the bottom, so when you start seeing chnages up that way I guess it's time to start heading to MS.
Thanks alot!
- Mike
Hi Mike. Yeah, I live real close to the Natchez Trace Parkway -- the northernmost point of it. I can make a trip out there tomorrow or the next day to see what things look like. (Today is a gloomy rainy day.)
My guess is it's still a tad early for "peak colors". I was just in Indiana and the colors there are SO much more prevalent than here. (Not that that has anything to do with anything :o)
I think we've got a few more good weeks of color to go. But as far as peak colors... I'll see what tomorrow looks like.
Watch for updates on this site -- I'll post photos of what I see in the next couple days.
Talk to you soon...
Hello Lynnette,
I enjoyed reading through your 2007 articles on the fall colors along the Natchez Parkway. I stumbled across your site while looking for some current info and predictions on best time to hit the parkway for color in 2008. I live in the DFW area and would like to make a 3-4 day trip to the Pkwy anytime between now and Nov 15th.
I've been on the Pkwy a couple other times but never in fall. I'm a hobbyist photographer and I usually drive over to Natchez MS and head northwest. I have made the whole drive and a couple other times have done the bottom half or 2/3rds.
Do you have any idea yet what the best time might be this year to make that journey? Sometimes I try to rely on different weather sites or Fall Color sites but many times they are not updated often and then I get there too early or too late. I know it's hard to nail down the best time because of so many different factors, and as you said yourself in your articles last year, the difference between one day can be amazing.
I'm not sure if you live right in that area or were just up there doing a story, but I thought if I could get a heads up within a day or two, I could get on the road, as it is only an 8 hour drive to Natchez, and hopefully catch some of the color between there and Nashville.
Were you planning on doing any updates this year for best times to do the parkway? If so and you can let me know where you are posting your updates, I will keep tuned in for your suggestions.
Enjoyed reading through your and Jims different articles. Sounds like you two really enjoy what you are doing and makes me wish I could do something like that too ... :-)
Take care and keep those articles coming.
- Mike