National Forest·Mississippi·532,432 acres
De Soto National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Roadsides and wetland edges turn first, and the woods behind them run a few days later.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at De Soto National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at De Soto National Forest around Nov 18, and the four days to aim for are Nov 17 to 20.
That's 5 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest |
|---|---|
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Starting to turn |
| Nov 9 to Nov 15 this week | Nearly peak |
| Nov 16 to Nov 22 | Peak color |
| Nov 23 to Nov 29 | Just past peak |
That’s 5 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Tuesday, November 17 to Wednesday, November 18
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- What turns
- blackgum, water oak, sweetgum, red maple, bald cypress
What turns, and when
- blackgum17%
- water oak17%
- sweetgum17%
- red maple17%
- bald cypress17%
- willow oak8%
Also named across Mississippi, outside what the canopy read measures here: Hickory, Tulip Poplar.
Sweetgums provide the best color in Mississippi, turning vivid red and purple, while bald cypresses go copper along the rivers and hickories fade to gold in the uplands.
Across Mississippi as a whole: Late October in the northeast hills, mid-November elsewhere.
Questions people ask about De Soto National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at De Soto National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at De Soto National Forest around Nov 18, and the four days to aim for are Nov 17 to 20.
- Where is the best fall color at De Soto National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is nearly peak. Nearby, Tombigbee National Forest is at peak.
- How long does peak last at De Soto National Forest?
About four days at the top, Nov 17 to 20, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive.
- Is De Soto National Forest past peak?
No. On Nov 10 it's nearly peak, and peak is around Nov 18, 8 days away.
- What trees turn color at De Soto National Forest?
Sweetgum, Red Maple, Hickory, Bald Cypress, Tulip Poplar. Sweetgums provide the best color in Mississippi, turning vivid red and purple, while bald cypresses go copper along the rivers and hickories fade to gold in the uplands.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 7 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 13 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
Gulf Islands is on the map above, with its own date.
- Peak Nov 15 best Nov 14 to 17
- Peak Nov 16 best Nov 15 to 18
- Peak Nov 17 best Nov 16 to 19
- Peak Nov 14 best Nov 13 to 16
- Peak Nov 11 best Nov 10 to 13