A Blazing Trail
October 2022
BY AMITY MOORE JOYCE
Alabama has all the golds, oranges and crimsons you need for a perfect autumn road trip. Follow the Circle of Colors Trail, a loop that travels primarily through North Alabama.
Ashville and Oneonta
One of the more stunning places to view fall foliage is in the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama, Blount County. There are three covered bridges in the area: the Easley, Horton Mill and Swann are open to the public. Begin your journey in Ashville on U.S. 231 N and travel to Oneonta to see covered bridges the way they were meant to be seen—against a rainbow of fall hues.
Cullman and Double Springs
Continue following the Circle of Colors Trail by picking up U.S. 278 W to Cullman and Double Springs and on to Bankhead National Forest, where you can see the forest AND the leaves. Don’t miss the Natural Bridge of Alabama, a selfie-worthy stop.
Hamilton and Hodges
At Hamilton, take U.S. 43 N to reach Dismals Canyon and Rock Bridge Canyon in Hodges.
Florence
The highway intersects with U.S. 72 and crosses over the Tennessee River into Florence. Stop at Joe Wheeler State Park, where a riverboat tour shows off the state park and Wheeler Lake in their fall finery.
Scottsboro and Lake Guntersville
Continue east on U.S. 72 to Huntsville and then onward to Scottsboro, not far from Lake Guntersville. This lake is known for bird watching, and the fall migration does not disappoint. For more twists, turns and stops on this fall-color tour, visit Alabama Travel, where you can find a timeline of the predicted peaks for fall color up and down the state.
Mentone and Fort Payne
Continuing east, take I-59 in Hammondville to visit the mountain town of Mentone for antique shopping and log cabins on top of Lookout Mountain. Take Lookout Mountain Parkway (CO 89 and AL 176) to DeSoto State Park. Detour at AL 35S to the AL 176 section that weaves along the rim of Little River Canyon located in Fort Payne.
Oxford and Anniston
Leaving Little River Canyon, stay on AL 176 W, and then take AL 68 E to Leesburg and Cherokee Rock Village to hit US 411 N to Centre. From there, get on AL 9S in Lineville and take AL 49 N then AL 281 S to Cheaha State Park, the state’s highest peak. Scenic views of fall foliage are breathtaking.
Pelham
Your journey continues when leaving Oxford on I20 W towards Birmingham. You will take I-459 S to Pelham hitting I-65 S and pick up 119 N to Oak Mountain State Park.
NOTE:
If you’d like to make this journey in a full circle, then begin at Oak Mountain State Park, reverse, then go to Ashville and Oneonta.
