Foliage map › Destinations › Alabama › Mentone
Mentone, Alabama fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Mentone area peaks around October 29, with the best viewing from roughly October 28 to November 5.
- Typical peak
- October 29
- Best viewing
- Oct 28 – Nov 5
- Color starts
- Around Oct 17
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 11
- Elevation
- 1,700 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 29. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Mentone on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Mentone
Mentone sits on the brow of Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, where the color comes later than in the higher Appalachians. Just south of town, DeSoto State Park follows the Little River through the woods, and DeSoto Falls drops over a high ledge into a deep pool. Farther down the river, Little River Canyon National Preserve protects one of the deepest canyons in the Southeast, with overlooks along the rim.
Scenic drive
The Lookout Mountain Parkway follows the top of Lookout Mountain from Gadsden, Alabama, past Mentone and DeSoto State Park, north toward Chattanooga. Near Fort Payne, the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway follows the edge of the canyon with overlooks into the gorge.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome), TN (136 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 22 days earlier, and Highlands, NC (139 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 12 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Head lower
Birmingham, AL (101 miles away, lower down) typically peaks about 6 days later.
Nearby destinations
- Chattanooga, TNTypical peak Nov 2, 4 days later. 36 miles away.
- Atlanta, GATypical peak Nov 2, 4 days later. 89 miles away.
- Birmingham, ALTypical peak Nov 5, 6 days later. 101 miles away.
- Helen, GATypical peak Oct 30, about the same time. 106 miles away.
- Cades Cove, TNTypical peak Oct 28, 2 days earlier. 123 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Mentone?
In a typical year, fall color in the Mentone area peaks around October 29, with the best viewing from roughly October 28 to November 5. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Mentone?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 17, and most leaves are down by about November 11.
What trees color up around Mentone?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, sourwood, shagbark hickory, and black gum. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.