This Little-Known Scenic Spot In Alabama That Comes Alive With Color Come Fall
By Lisa Battles|Published October 05, 2023
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Lisa Battles
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Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
Are you looking for a scenic spot for foliage in Alabama that’s a little less crowded? Northeast and east-central Alabama’s Appalachian Mountains and foothills regions get the most love for fall foliage. However, I am planning to drive to both corners of the state for my fall color fix. Here’s why: Colbert Ferry Park along the Alabama section of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
The site is more than a Tennessee River crossing. It's an intersection of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and significant history dating back more than two centuries. Those qualities all seem more poignant when leaves begin to change.
Imagine it's the turn of the 19th century as you gaze upon the trees simultaneously cast their dazzling colors toward the skies and down upon the vast expanse of water.
In the early 1800s, Chickasaw Chief George Colbert negotiated a treaty with the US to operate a ferry crossing. At the same time, the federal government began building the Natchez Trace. Colbert also operated a stand, or inn, for travelers along the important trade route. A sign marks the site today.
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While the John Coffee Memorial Bridge did not enter the picture until 1965, the bridge's namesake speaks volumes about the land's long history.
Gen. Coffee commanded troops under US General Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. When the men returned to Tennessee from the Battle of New Orleans and the war's conclusion, they took Colbert's ferry. Coffee returned many times in the years after, ultimately settling his family near Florence in 1919. There, he established Hickory Hill Plantation.
Across the bridge in Florence, you'll find an overlook and marker that tells of the site's significance in the Trail of Tears in 1838 and 1839.
The U.S. Indian Removal Act ultimately relocated the Cherokee people and four other southeastern tribes to Oklahoma. Approximately 2,800 Cherokee people made the trip by water, with three separate detachments passing this point. By this time, George Colbert had moved to Indian Territory in 1837, where he died in late 1839.
While on the Florence side of the river, keep going to Milepost 330.2 for a magical .6-mile loop that is the Rock Spring Nature Trail.
Rock Springs Nature Trail, Rock Spring, Florence, AL 35633, USA
Besides the color of changing leaves, look for flashes of iridescent greens and ruby red, too. In early fall, hundreds of ruby-throated hummingbirds stop here on their way further south.
And last, if you stick around for sunset, you'll get even more color in a natural light show that beats any modern production.
Check out this article with more details about the Rock Springs Nature Trail if you’re planning to include it in your visit.
The Natchez Trace Parkway stretches 444 miles from Tennessee to southern Mississippi and is an excellent route for more extensive road-tripping. If you choose to make the journey, be sure to use our road trip essentials packing list before you go.
Have you experienced all or part of the parkway? If so, tell us about your favorite stops and scenic views.
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