Autumn is officially here — but fall colors, we’re just starting to spot you.
If you’ve been on the lookout for red, yellow, and orange leaves in Louisville, you won’t be waiting too much longer. According to smokymountains.com fall foliage predictions, leaves in the Louisville area are starting to lose their chlorophyll — the compound responsible for their green color. Here’s a timeline of when to expect the best colors:
- Week of Oct. 6: Leaves have begun to change, expect sporadic fall colors
- Week of Oct. 20: The leaves will be nearing their colorful peak
- Week of Oct. 27: The best time to see fall colors in Louisville
- Week of Nov. 3: Louisville’s fall colors will be past their peak.
If you’re planning to go leaf peeping, you still have time to plan your trip before the leaves fall. There are many places in the Louisville area that look just a little prettier decorated in fall colors.
The foliage tends to be on full display along the city’s hiking trails — the Anchorage Trail is lined with pumpkins this time of year for an added autumnal attraction.
Local parks are also great areas to find foliage. Pro tip: Enjoy the canopy from below with Cherokee Park’s car-free Sundays on the last Sunday of each month. Sunday, Oct. 27 will be the perfect time to see the colors on foot without any vehicle traffic to worry about.
Locals often use the foliage as an excuse to hit the road and check out scenic destinations near Derby City. Popular nearby spots include Skyline Drive ~14 miles away, across the river in Southern Indiana, or — if you’re up for a longer road trip — it’s all aboard for a 14-mile train ride at Kentucky’s Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns, Kentucky.
