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North Carolina offers one of the world’s most colorful and long-lasting fall foliage displays from the last week in September through October. The annual show of vibrant reds, oranges, and gold begins in the higher elevations, such as Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain, and works its way down the mountains to the foothills and then the Piedmont.
Predicting “Peak” Color Times
Peak color times vary each year and depend on temperatures and precipitation during the summer months. Forecasting fall color is always an inexact science, with differing opinions on when to expect it.
Autumn days that are cool and sunny and where the temperatures do not go below freezing at night bring the best colors. The most colorful autumns usually happen when the mountains get sufficient rain in the summer.
Also affecting leaf color is the amount of rain, wind, and heat the high country receives during September and October.
Best Fall Foliage Color Drives
Blue Ridge Parkway
From Winston-Salem, the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct (near Banner Elk) is a popular one for fall leaves that will not disappoint.
Asheville also boasts a 5,000-foot elevation change within 50 miles of the city, making the Blue Ridge Mountain range one of the longest-lasting fall foliage color displays in the country.
Winston-Salem
Right here in Winston-Salem, be sure to make the drive down Reynolda Road under a canopy of reds and golds by Reynolda House of American Art and Reynolda Village, as well as in Old Salem. A walk around Salem Lake will showcase the finest in fall color as it reflects off the shimmering waters.
Take a short drive and make a loop west down U.S. 421 to U.S. 601 near Yadkinville, to Highway 89 toward Walnut Cove, then U.S. 311 toward Walkertown; another lovely drive is up Highway 52 and travels the rural roads to Hanging Rock State Park.
Bakersville To Roan Mountain – Appalachian Trail
Another beautiful fall color drive, according to Fall Color Forecaster Dr. Howard Neufeld, is to drive “up NC 261 from Bakersville/Spruce Pine to Roan Mountain.” Where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road there, you can hike in the forest and see spectacular views.
Fall Foliage Train Ride
A great way to see the brilliant red, warm oranges, and bright yellows is to ride on one of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) trains. The large picture windows or the open-air cabins will allow you to view the countryside in all its glory while you relax and enjoy the ride.
Two excursion routes leave from Bryson City, Nantahala Gorge, and Tuckasegee River. Each offers the promise of stunning foliage and a pleasant trip on the rails. In addition to their regular daily runs, The GSMR offers a sunrise and sunset excursion along the routes for a truly awe-inspiring experience.
The Nantahala Gorge Excursion is a four-and-a-half-hour round trip of 44 miles that carries you to the Nantahala Gorge and back. It offers a unique, moving dining experience if you select first-class tickets and have a meal in the dining car. Or you can pre-purchase one of the boxed lunches. There is a one-hour layover at the gorge for sightseeing before the return trip.
The Tuckasegee River Excursion is a four-hour round trip of 32 miles, traveling to the historic town of Dillsboro and back. You’ll travel through the man-made Cowee Tunnel and pass the famous movie set of The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford. There is a one-and-a-half-hour layover in Dillsboro before the return trip. This break gives you plenty of time to explore the town, with its unique shops and great restaurants.
Tickets for all the trips sell out quickly, especially weekend excursions. So, if you are interested, now is the time to reserve your spot. See the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad website for details and tickets.
Apple Festival At Bethabara Park
One of our biggest and most-loved events is the Apple Festival! Join us Saturday, Sept 28, 2024, 10am – 4pm, as we celebrate the arrival of fall in all of its apple-filled goodness. Meet local artisans selling their wares while listening to music and enjoying a meal from one of our many food trucks. Don’t forget to buy a bag of apples from a local orchard on your way out! The perfect souvenir for this family-fun event.
Why Do Leaves Change Color
We probably all know that chlorophyll is what gives leaves their green color. Trees make chlorophyll during spring and summer because the trees use it to make food. It is cold, dry, and not as sunny in the winter, so it would take too much energy for trees to keep their leaves healthy. As it starts to get cold, trees begin the process of dropping their leaves. They stop making the chlorophyll pigment and reabsorb it. This saves the tree energy. Other pigments show through in the leaves, like carotenoids, which are yellow and orange. The tree also begins to produce anthocyanins, which are pigments only made in the fall to protect leaves from sunburn and from being eaten. Anthocyanins are red, pink, and purple in color. So the different colors in leaves are caused by changes in the pigments. Eventually, all the leaves drop, and the tree goes dormant for the winter months.
Dry weather is best for fantastic fall colors. Rain and wind during the season can knock down leaves and shorten the color viewing time. Wet weather has been known to mute color as well. Some of the best color displays have followed warm sunny days and clear chilly nights. Let’s all hope for that this fall!
Suggested 2024 Fall Color Viewing Schedule
Here is the fall color viewing schedule broken down by elevation, according to “Blue Ridge Mountain Life.”
These time-frames are estimated based on prior years and current weather and soil conditions.
Actual peak times may vary from this forecast.
September 25-October 2: 6,000 feet elevation. Colors will be muted and spotty, and views will be primarily green because of areas viewed from lower elevations. Graveyard Fields and Rough Ridge, both off the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn early, with Graveyard Fields showing incredibly vibrant colors because of the type of foliage there. There are lots of vivid reds and oranges during peak.
October 2-9: Peak color for areas above 5,000 feet. Peak areas would include Clingman’s Dome, Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Waterrock Knob, Graveyard Fields (the first location on the Parkway to turn), and Beech Mountain, NC. Also included are the higher elevations of The Blue Ridge Parkway (between Asheville and Cherokee) and Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
October Week 9-16: Peak color for elevation 4,000-5,000 feet. This would include almost all Blue Ridge Parkway locations and most of the higher elevation area of the Great Smokey Mountains State Park. Also included is the Linn Cove Viaduct, which is gorgeous in the Fall.
October Week 16-23: Peak time for lower elevations 3,000-4,000 feet, in places like Pisgah National Forest, which includes Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls, Dill Falls, Wildcat Falls, and many other waterfalls. Other areas include Linville and Nantahala Gorge, Cataloochee Valley, Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville, NC. Upper elevations of Skyline Drive in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains are also included.
October 23-30: The colorful show will reach 2,000-3,000 feet and be vibrant in Asheville, Brevard, Bryson City, Burnsville, Cherokee, Hendersonville, NC, and many other cities. Places of interest include Dupont State Forest, Biltmore Estate, Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway, and Cades Cove.
October 30-November 6: The peak time for remaining locations, including Gatlinburg, TN; Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure, NC; Helen, GA; Ellijay, GA; Blue Ridge, GA; and other remaining lower elevation mountains.
When Is Leaf Pickup?
Now that you’ve admired the beautiful leaves out and about, you’re home and realize there’s plenty in your yard as well! Find out when the city is due to pickup your leaves curbside with our leaf pickup schedule.
Autumn is my favorite season. What is yours and why? Tell us in the comments.
