Fall leaves changing at Gorhams Bluff. Photo by Rita Moritz

As is our custom, my husband Harry and I took a day trip last week to see the fall colors. We weren’t disappointed. Although I love the vibrant autumn colors of New England, I love even more the gentler, warmer colors of our “Sweet Home Alabama.”

We started out, after a Jack’s chicken biscuit and coffee, by driving back roads from Pell City to Ashville and then up to Horse Pens 40. Because Harry is a retired geologist, he was more interested in the rock formations than the leaves. At Horse Pens 40, we had both. I was both amazed and amused at the young people rock climbing. Amazed at their skill and amused at their bringing along mats to “fall on.” That was a clue: leave the rock climbing to the kids! 

The colors were beautiful and varied. After Ashville and Horse Pens 40, we took I-59 to Fort Payne. The colors along the highway were beautiful as well. And, of course, the Fort Payne area has some wonderful autumn colors.

From Fort Payne, we went up Sand Mountain, through Pisgah, to the unmatched beauty of autumn at Gorham’s Bluff. The trees along the streets at Gorham’s Bluff were almost startling in their colors, and there were enough shades of orange and red to satisfy both Auburn and Alabama fans!

The view from the Bluff itself was breathtaking. Looking out across the Tennessee River valley and seeing the river surrounded by color was amazing. If we had seen nothing else, that view alone would have been worth the trip. Trudging through leaves on our way back to the car, we enjoyed the crackle and autumn smell of those leaves almost enough to stop grieving the end of summer.

Driving home, we came through Gadsden and Rainbow City and enjoyed some more of Alabama’s colors. Although we took some pictures, they can’t really replace the experience of seeing them yourself. There’s still time for you to see some autumn colors. Before the week is over, we plan to have breakfast at Mount Cheaha and bring a close to our color watching for the year.

We’d love for you to share your autumn experiences and especially your autumn pictures. You can send your pictures as a jpg file to Urainah Glidewell at uglidewell@newsaegis.com.