While Alabama may be best known for its evergreen longleaf pines (the official state tree), we have a host of hardwoods that put on a spectacular show every autumn. Fall in Alabama brings blazing red maples, glimmering gold and amber cottonwoods and elms, blood-orange hornbeams, mustard river birches, and too many more to list. And then there are the sweetgums that display everything from purple and red to yellow and orange - sometimes all at once.

I will always love seeing changing leaves because of a thought passed on by my mother, who said fall is her favorite season simply because it’s when trees do a gracefully beautiful job of reminding us that change is necessary for the cycle of life. Considering our state is almost 70 percent forest land, we're wise to listen when they speak. So, when do leaves change in Alabama? Generally, it’s from mid-October through November's first week or two. Luckily, you can watch fall color’s progression with this fall foliage prediction map courtesy of the SmokyMountains.com.

For 2024, the leaves will change a bit later than usual. Using the interactive map from SmokyMountains.com, you can toggle the bar to determine when peak fall foliage will happen near you.

Wondering where to enjoy fall foliage in Alabama? To the far northeast, the unincorporated community of Estillfork offers the popular Walls of Jericho Trail and the new Graham Farm & Nature Preserve. Also in the northeast region are Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville, Lake Guntersville State Park, and Brow Park in Mentone.

Moving southward from Mentone, you’ll land in the painted landscapes of DeSoto Falls, DeSoto State Park, and Little River Canyon National Preserve.

A couple of tips on two of the locations included: Get trail details about the Walls of Jericho Trail and learn more about Graham Farm & Nature Preserve.

Moving into the central part of the state, favorite spots for fall foliage include Palisades Park in Oneonta, Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, and east of Talladega, Cheaha State Park and Talladega National Forest.

Further south, excellent places for catching fall colors include Tuskegee National Forest in Tuskegee and Chewacla State Park in Auburn. Alabama's southernmost national forest is Conecuh National Forest, located along the border with Florida.

For the best bird's eye views of fall color, check out our roundup of the best overlooks in Alabama. Some are within the parks noted here, and you’ll discover a few more. Let us know your favorite places for watching the leaves change in Alabama.