Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Tallahassee Democrat
No need to go far: 8 places to see fall foliage in Florida
By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida,
1 days ago
Fall is getting closer ! The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are getting... well, still hot, but they'll get less-hot, probably. And brilliant bright colors are about to burst out all over the country.
Yes, even in Florida.
The Sunshine State isn't famous for its fall foliage, since we traditionally tend to slide from summer directly into winter with a weekend nod at autumn. When photo book site Mixbook surveyed 3,000 people last year for the " best under-the-radar destinations " for color-change tourism, the first Florida site on the list (Falling Waters State Park) didn't show up until #33. We're not on the Farmers' Almanac's "Top Destinations for Viewing Fall Leaves" list at all.
But the leaves of Florida maple, sweetgum, crape myrtles, blackgums, correl and cypress trees all change colors , with general peak times in mid-to late November . Most of the fall colors can be spotted in the Panhandle and North Florida area, although there are scattered fall-color spots farther south.
This scenic spot west of Tallahassee boasts "the finest display of fall color found in Florida." Southern sugar maple, sweetgum and sourwood trees start to blaze in late October. The park, more like a misplaced chunk of North Carolina than the normally-flat Florida, is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that grows only on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River and is known for high plateaus, steep bluffs and deep ravines as well as hardwood forests of southern sugar maple, sweetgum and sourwood trees bursting with autumnal colors.
WHERE: 2576 N.W. Torreya Park Road, Bristol
ENTRY FEE: $3 per vehicle, $2 per pedestrian or bicycle ( more info )
Falling Waters is best known for it's, well, falling waters. Trails lead to a boardwalk overlooking a 74-foot waterfall, the highest in Florida, and there are hikes over rolling hills and a 100-foot-deep sinkhole with a cave at the bottom. But there are also brightly-colored leaves this time of the year. "Its off-the-beaten-path charm, combined with the rarity of fall colors in Florida, offers a distinctive opportunity for nature enthusiasts to witness the changing seasons in a tranquil and lesser-explored setting," Mixbook said.
WHERE: 1130 State Park Road, Chipley
ENTRY FEE: $5 per vehicle (2-8 people), $4 (single-occupant vehicle), $2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass. ( more info )
The park is on Lake Seminole an hour away from Tallahassee, almost in Georgia, and boasts wildlife, migratory birds, a boat ramp and "some of the best freshwater fishing in the state," according to the site. But you can go hiking and look for brilliantly-colored oaks, maples and deep-red pine trees.
WHERE: 7908 Three Rivers Park Road, Sneads
ENTRY FEE: $3 per vehicle (2-8 people), $2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass. ( more info )
Now we're getting into old Florida. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakula Springs south of Tallahassee is full of cypress swamps and historic sites and home to one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs, featured in the 1954 "Creature of the Black Lagoon" and the 1941 "Tarzan’s Secret Treasure." Leap off the diving platform, watch for manatees and alligators, and check out the red sugar maples, beech trees and even beautyberry bushes that turn purple in cooler weather.
WHERE: 465 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs
ENTRY FEE: $6 per vehicle (2-8 people), $4 single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrian. bicyclist or extra vehicle occupant ( more info )
"This verdant forest surprises with its subtle blend of changing colors, predominantly seen in the sweetgum and cypress trees," Mixbook said. "The meandering Blackwater River adds to the ambiance, reflecting dappled sunlight and shimmering leaves. Its relative obscurity ensures a unique setting for those seeking a different take on the beauty of fall." One of the largest state forests in Florida, Blackwater is known for longleaf pine and shifting-sand streams.
Locals and bikers know that the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail in Ormond Beach, north of Daytona Beach, offers 30 miles of old Florida beauty in a double loop that goes through four state parks and six local parks for a breathtaking view of red maples, pignut hickory trees and oaks along creeks, marshes, beaches and the Halifax River.
WHERE: The Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail is a series of roadways that can be joined at multiple locations. Here's where to start .
This area of nearly 11,000 acres in Inverness near Orlando has 22 miles of multi-use trails, lakes, fishing, marshes, primitive camping, and hunting, and it permits horseback riding and horse-drawn buggy use. Hardwoods and cypress trees start to change in late October. This area is a site on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail .
Micanopy is a quiet little gem near Gainesville with antique stores and farms and a prairie with herds of wild horses and bison because Florida likes to mix things up. Eight trails, including the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail , let you see deer. alligators and nearly 300 species of birds, and a 50-foot-high observation tower will show you the colors.
WHERE: 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy
ENTRY FEE: $6 per vehicle, $4 single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrian. bicyclist or extra vehicle occupant ( more info )
From Mixbook: "This preserve presents a mosaic of hues, particularly in its marsh grasses that turn a golden bronze come autumn. The expansive vistas across the prairie, with its diverse wildlife create a unique tableau. It's another superb spot to appreciate Florida's more subtle autumnal transformations."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
