When is peak leaf season in MS? When & where to see the brightest colors
Fall is nearly here, and that means the Mississippi trees will soon change into a display of warm autumnal colors.
The autumnal equinox will happen Monday, Sept. 22, according to timeanddate.com, but the leaves in Mississippi typically don’t start to change until late October into November.
Here’s this year’s fall foliage forecast and where you can get the best leaf-peeping views in Mississippi.
When is peak leaf season in MS?
The top half of the Magnolia State will see peak fall foliage colors before the bottom half, according to the Smoky Mountains 2025 Fall Foliage Prediction Map.
The leaves in the top half of the state will hit their peak Nov. 10, while the bottom half of the state will be nearing its peak, according to the foliage prediction.
The bottom half of the state will see peak fall colors Nov. 17, according to the map.
Three Mississippi counties — Jackson, Harrison and Hancock — will see peak fall colors later than the rest of the state. These counties will be nearing their peak Nov. 17, according to the foliage prediction map.
Where are the best places to see fall foliage in MS?
There are several places to enjoy the changing of the leaves in Mississippi, but here are some of the best spots, according to Visit Mississippi:
- Natchez Trace Parkway
- Tishomingo State Park
- Clark Creek Nature Area
- Vicksburg National Military Park
- LeFleur’s Bluff State Park
- Holly Springs National Forest
Why do leaves change colors?
The transformation of green leaves into yellow, orange, red and brown colors can largely be attributed to the decrease in chlorophyll production, according to the National Weather Service.
Chlorophyll is the chemical that absorbs energy from sunlight and uses it to produce food for trees, experts said. This process takes place in leaves.
As less sunlight hours and cooler temperatures roll in with the start of fall, leaves gradually stop making food, breaking down the chlorophyll causing the green color and allowing other pigments in the leaf to shine through, according to the NWS.
Where are the best places to see fall foliage across the US?
These are the top spots for leaf-peeping in 2025, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
- Acadia National Park in Maine
- Ozark Mountains in Arkansas
- Adirondack Mountains in New York
- Catskill Mountains in New York
- Traverse City in Michigan
- Black Hills in South Dakota
- Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina
- Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire
- Pere Marquette State Park in Illinois
- Jackson & Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
- Connecticut River Valley in Connecticut
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway in Utah
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio
- Buckhorn Lake State Park in Kentucky
- Vogel State Park in Georgia
- Door County in Wisconsin
- Poconos in Pennsylvania
- Green Mountain Byway in Vermont
- Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
- The Berkshires in Massachusetts
- Taos in New Mexico
