Natural History Wanderings

Fall Leaf Color Updates | Great Smoky Mountains has the following new posting for fall color

Fall colors are now at peak between elevations of 3,000 feet and 6,000 feet in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the spruce-fir forests at the very highest elevations, the few deciduous trees are now past peak. Colors are especially brilliant along the upper reaches of Newfound Gap Road. At elevations below 3,000 feet, where the forest is rich with maple, oak, hickory, and other hardwood trees, colors will likely peak during the last week of October and the first few days of November.

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, the Foothills Parkway East (near Newport and Cosby), the Foothills Parkway West (near Townsend), Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Cataloochee Valley.

Suggested trails and hiking destinations include Smokemont Loop, Cucumber Gap Loop, Lead Cove Trail, Deep Creek Trail, Boogerman loop, Mt. Cammerer fire tower, Spence Field, and Henwallow Falls.

Elk have been very conspicuous near Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the evenings.

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