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Every fall in Arkansas, the landscape starts to change in late September and continues through October. This year, because of the late heat and high temps, it might seem slower or less saturated, but it’s still happening; it’s one of the great wonders of creation!
At first, it might be a sudden arrival of red tips on the trees along a familiar road. Then a hillside that was green a week ago begins to show streaks of gold. Before long, scenic drives through the Ozarks are filled with orange, yellow, deep red, and rusty brown.
Fall foliage is one of the most anticipated parts of autumn in Arkansas, drawing visitors to scenic overlooks, hiking trails, state parks and mountain highways. But have you ever stopped to ask: What exactly am I looking at?
Which trees turn bright red? What creates those patches of gold across an Ozark mountainside? And why might fall look completely different in South Arkansas than in Northwest Arkansas?
Learning a little about the trees behind Arkansas’ fall color can make your next autumn drive even more interesting.
What Is Happening Outside?
Those changing leaves are part of a process happening inside the tree.
According to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, decreasing daylight is a major trigger for fall color. As days shorten, photosynthesis slows, and chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the green we see throughout spring and summer, begins to breakdown.
As the green fades, other colors become visible. Carotenoids produce the yellows and oranges of fall, while anthocyanins produce the reds and purples. Different tree species have different pigment combinations, which helps explain why one Arkansas hillside can become a patchwork of gold, orange, scarlet and Burgundy.
Temperature, sunlight, moisture, and the tree’s overall health can also affect the timing and brilliance of the season. Eventually, trees form a protective layer where each leaf connects to its branch. The leaves fall, and the tree settles into winter.
Instead of thinking of peak color as a date on the calendar, think of fall as a season in motion. Trees change at different times, and elevation, rainfall and temperature can all influence what you see.
Why Are the Ozarks Known for Fall Color?
Northwest and north-central Arkansas often draw much of the attention when fall foliage season arrives, and for good reason. Oak-hickory forests dominate much of the Ozark Mountains. Add maples, black gum, dogwoods, sassafras, and other hardwoods, and the result is a varied autumn palette across ridges and valleys.
The landscape enhances the view, too. Winding roads, elevation changes, river valleys, and overlooks make it possible to see layers of forest at once.
Arkansas Tourism reports that color usually begins to appear in earnest in the Ozarks around the second week of October, with peak color typically arriving in late October. Exact timing varies from year to year. But the Ozarks are only the beginning of Arkansas’s fall show. Fortunately, colors in Southwest Arkansas can linger into the week leading up to Thanksgiving.
What Color Is That Tree?
Once Arkansas fall color begins, knowing a few common trees can help you understand what you’re seeing. Some trees are known for a single dependable shade, while others can display several colors as the season progresses.
- Golden yellow: Hickories provide much of the gold seen across Arkansas’s oak-hickory forests. Black walnut can also turn yellow, and some maples add shades of yellow and gold. In towns, parks, and on college campuses, look for the brilliant yellow leaves of ginkgo trees. Gingkoes aren’t native to Arkansas, but they are commonly-planted landscape trees known for their distinctive fan-shaped leaves and bright fall color.
- Brilliant red: If you spot a flash of scarlet while much of the surrounding forest remains green, you may be looking at a black gum, or black tupelo. This Arkansas native grows statewide and is among the first trees to show fall color. Red maple, flowering dogwood, and sourwood can also add shades of red, while some oaks deepen to red and Burgundy later in the season.
- Orange and everything in between: Sugar maple and sassafras can shift through shades of yellow, orange, and red. Sweet gum, recognizable by its star-shaped leaves, may be the real showstopper of the Arkansas forest, producing yellow, orange, red, Burgundy, and even purplish foliage, sometimes on the same tree.
- Rust, bronze and copper: As fall progresses, Arkansas’s many oaks deepen to reds, rusty browns and bronze tones. Farther south and east, watch for bald cypress around lakes, bayous and wetlands. Although it looks evergreen much of the year, bald cypress is a deciduous conifer whose soft needles turn coppery orange and reddish-brown before dropping.
The most important thing to remember is that Arkansas does not have a single statewide “peak fall color” weekend. Arkansas Tourism notes that fall color typically begins in northern Arkansas in early October and moves south across the state over about six weeks. Higher elevations generally change before the surrounding lowlands.
Don’t miss our insider tips on the best places to see color in Northwest Arkansas!
Follow Fall Color Across Arkansas
One of the best things about fall in Arkansas is that the season doesn’t arrive everywhere at once. If you miss the peak color in one region, you may be able to follow it elsewhere.
The Ozarks: Northwest and north-central Arkansas are usually among the first places to watch. The Boston Mountains Scenic Loop, Pig Trail Scenic Byway, Buffalo National River country, and areas around Jasper, Ponca, and Eureka Springs offer classic Ozark fall scenery.
Western Arkansas and the River Valley: Fort Smith is a convenient starting point for exploring several fall landscapes. Head toward Lake Fort Smith and the southern Boston Mountains, follow the Mulberry River corridor, or take a day trip to Mount Magazine or Mount Nebo. Oaks, hickories, and shortleaf pine are key components of the Arkansas River Valley forest.
The Ouachitas: Scenic drives around Mena, Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Mount Ida, Hot Springs, and the Ouachita National Forest offer another mountain fall experience. Here, oak-hickory-pine forests create a mix of hardwoods and evergreen pines.
South and Southwest Arkansas: Don’t assume the fall color season is over just because leaves are dropping farther north. Pine forests provide a green backdrop for the changing hardwoods, and southern Arkansas generally experiences color later in the season. Arkansas Scenic 7 even offers a route to watch the landscape change from the Ozarks through the Ouachitas and into South Arkansas.
The Delta and Eastern Arkansas: Fall looks different again along Crowley’s Ridge and the waterways of eastern Arkansas. Oaks, maples, and other hardwoods add color to Crowley’s Ridge, while bald cypress and water tupelo are characteristic of wetter Delta forests. Scenic routes such as Crowley’s Ridge Parkway and the Great River Road offer a different perspective on an Arkansas autumn.
Look a Little Closer This Fall
Arkansas fall color is certainly worth a scenic drive, but understanding what you’re seeing makes the experience even better. Look for an early flash of scarlet from a black gum tree. Spot the golden hickories across an Ozark hillside. Watch for a star-shaped sweet gum leaf showing several colors at once. Notice the rusty oaks later in the season or the copper-colored cypress reflected in South Arkansas waters.
Then keep watching.
Maybe chasing Arkansas fall color isn’t about finding a single perfect peak weekend after all. Maybe it’s about learning to notice the show unfolding right outside.
Unless otherwise noted, the images in this story are used with permission from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
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