Natural History Wanderings

Updated

Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors Tracker has a new detailed fall color report today. They report peak color through the middle of the Parkway. They give a description of what you will find at many of the mileposts at Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors Tracker .

Asheville NC Fall Foliage Color Leaf Report 2013 has updated their fall color report  today for the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains:

Looks like peak color over most of the mountains will be a little later than usual (great news for procrastinators). Best color is above 3500 feet elevation. Chilly temperatures arrive for the weekend, so bring a jacket! Great drives this weekend will be NC Highway 215 and US 276, the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. Much of the Blue Ridge Parkway will have the best color for the next two weeks. And the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have peak during the next week!

Great Smoky Mountains Association

Fall colors are now at peak at the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains. They are especially brilliant along Newfound Gap Road between Chimney Tops overlook and Newfound Gap. At elevations below 3,500 feet, where the forest is rich with maple and oak trees, colors will likely peak in six to 10 days.

The fall color display is very good to excellent this year with some good reds among the rich golds. Suggested drives include Little River Road, Cades Cove, Greenbrier, the Foothills Parkway East (near Newport and Cosby), the Foothills Parkway West (near Townsend), and Cataloochee Valley.

Suggested trails and hiking destinations include Smokemont Loop, Cucumber Gap Loop, Old Settlers Trail, Deep Creek Trail, Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail, and Henwallow Falls.

See older reports at Fall Leaf Color Updates | Great Smoky Mountains Association.