Great Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage
The annual Great Smoky Mountains fall foliage show starts in late September and spreads across the Great Smoky Mountains towards early November. While traveling in the Great Smoky Mountains in the autumn there will always be an opportunity to view scenes of leaves changing colors somewhere. This area is fortunate to have about 6-8 weeks in the autumn to undergo this show of nature as the warm days of summer transition into the cold days of winter. Each year the mountains put on a beautiful show of fall foliage. With all the different elevations in the various mountain regions of North Carolina and Tennessee, there are a lot of areas to travel to in October to view the beautiful autumn colors.
Fall Foliage Reports 2024 and Weekly Updates
10/24/24: Fall Foliage Report: The Great Smoky Mountains are full of gold and yellow fall foliage! The highest elevations (above 4000′) have already had snow and below-freezing temperatures. The trees in these areas are mostly without leaves. The middle elevations are full of color, but not peak yet. Peak is expected next week. The lower elevations are about 60% color. Across the Smokies this year the predominant colors are yellow and gold. Cades Cove and Little River Rd are still changing. Roaring Fork Motor Trail in Gatlinburg has lots of color. The traffic on Cades Cove Loop Road this week had long delays. This will continue, especially on the weekends until colors peak late next week and the first weekend of November. The Little River Gorge Rd. and Laurel Creek Rd. are great places to visit the next several days.
GSMNP Fall 2024
This week, this weekend, and next are great times to view fall foliage along Newfound Gap Rd. Long-range views from the overlooks on Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome Rd), Newfound Gap Rd, and the Foothills Parkway have great views now. Cherokee, NC and Bryson City, NC are great locations to visit now. A ride on Tail of the Dragon is another good place. The Little River Gorge Rd. and Laurel Creek Rd. remain a nice ride for seeing fall colors this late in October. Temperatures will remain mild for another 10 days. for the remainder of this month. Little to no rain is expected.
Traffic in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, and Newfound Gap Rd will be very busy. Remember, the interstates to the east of the Great Smokies are still closed due to damage from Helene. Routing around the mountains continues to be a problem for travelers and truckers. Use online maps and travel assistance to plan your route. Follow signs, detours and warnings. Pay attention and be careful.
10/16/24 Fall Foliage Report: Fall foliage is underway in the Great Smoky Mountains. Yes, it snowed in the highest elevations (over 4,500 ft). Mt. LeConte got 4″ at the lodge. Some roads are closed due to snow and ice. Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) is closed. Newfound Gap Rd (441) was closed for snow and ice but has been reopened as of this morning. Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek areas are still closed due to damage from Helene. There is lots of color in the highest and mid-elevations now. Mount Le Conte, Andrews Bald, and Newfound Gap have all started to show color in the 3000 ft elevations and above. There is a lot of gold and yellow to be seen. Many trees have lost leaves. The lower elevations (below 2,000ft) in the Smokies have spotty color. Cades Cove remains mostly green except for the dogwoods and the maples. Townsend reports a lot of green still. Fall foliage can be seen along the Cherohala Skyway south of the GSMNP. Peak color in the Great Smokies is about 5 to 7 days away. Peak color in Townsend, Wears Valley, Foothills Parkway, and Cade Cove is about 10-12 days away.
A ride on 441 Newfound Gap Rd offers long-range views from the overlooks. The overlooks have a great view of fall foliage due to all the different elevations in the distance. Next week the color should progress into areas such as Gatlinburg, and Cades Cove. A ride on Gatlinburg’s Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is colorful in late October. The Little River Gorge Rd. and Laurel Creek Rd. are still a nice ride for seeing fall colors in late October. Cherokee and Bryston City have good color. Lakeview Drive in Swain County, North Carolina reopened today and it’s been newly paved. The road has an overlook of Fontana Lake!
10/5/2024: There are still places to safely travel to view fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas this year. Our thoughts are with the countries in TN and NC that suffered the horrific destruction. Please avoid the hardest hit areas while they recover. But there are other locations that would welcome tourist and business to their areas. Cherokee and Bryson City in NC were not greatly affected and both areas are making it public they want us to visit.
In TN, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville also welcome fall foliage viewers this year. Cades Cove is open. So is Townsend, TN. A ride through Wears Valley, into Townsend and on to Cades Cove is a beautiful ride in autumn. Other areas to view fall foliage include: Tremont, Foothills Parkway, Mt. LeConte, Alum Cave Bluff, Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) and Newfound Gap Road (US 441). Roaring Foks Motor Trail in Gatlinburg is a good place to ride through this time of year.
Please remember, the National Park Service will continue to temporarily close US441/Newfound Gap Road from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. each evening. This is for the safety of all drivers. The park is turning away commercial vehicles at checkpoints during the day. The nighttime closure is necessary due to an influx of illegal, large commercial vehicles attempting to travel the road. While the NPS recognizes that major routes outside the park are currently closed (Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 due to damage from Helene).
9/30/2024: Recommended places to visit to view fall foliage will be quite different this year. Areas of the Great Smoky Mountains, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina were devastated by Hurricane Helene. The good news is there are still places to go to see the fall foliage in 2024. Areas not greatly affected by Hurricane Helene include North Georgia, Western Virginia, and Eastern Tennessee. Due to the devastating destruction and damage to the infrastructure of the many regions in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the NCDOT and multiple agencies ask the public to avoid going to their locations for now.
The counties in North Carolina hardest hit, based on the reports are Ashe, Avery, Watauga, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Haywood, Swain, Jackson, Macon, Graham, Clay, Cherokee, Transylvania, Henderson, Rutherford, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, and Caldwell Counties. A few other counties have some impacts too, but these are the absolute most dire ones. Damage is widespread across the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC. Entire power grids and infrastructure are destroyed in some areas, including underground wires. Many towns and cities have no city water due to water plants being destroyed. Power grids and water systems will take weeks to repair.
In Tennessee, the areas that flooded badly are Cocke County, Erwin and Newport, TN. These areas should be avoided until cleanup is complete. GSMNP warning from 9/29: Cades Cove & Little River Road open. US 441 & several other roads closed.
Balsam, Cataloochee, Roaring Fork, and Greenbrier areas closed. US 441, Foothills Pkwy East, Rich Mtn Road, Lakeview Drive closed. Visitors encouraged to reschedule trips for their own safety.
Where To View Fall Foliage Post Hurricane Helen Damage
There are places to view the fall foliage this year that would welcome you. This year, the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia and Western Virginia would be areas to visit to view the fall foliage. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Townsend in TN are great places to view the fall foliage for 2024. Bryson City and Cherokee in NC did get some flooding but were not hit as hard as other locations in Western NC.
Western NC and Hurricane Helene
As of today, many towns and communities lack phone and cell service, no power/electricity, and no water. There was widespread damage across Western NC from Old Fort, NC to the TN state line. The destruction is widespread and will take weeks if not months to repair. Interstate 40 was damaged in several locations in TN and NC. Multiple locations were damaged when the eastbound pavement fell into the river below. This area of I40 is closed and will remain closed indefinitely.
Fall Foliage 2024 Predictions:
What do the experts predict this year? This year may be a fall foliage below average year as compared to other past seasons. This past summer was hot, then dry, then way too much rain. The trees were already stressed before Hurricane Helene passed through. Helene did not bring a lot of wind but the enormous amount of rain resulted in massive flooding, mudslides, downed trees, and loss of leaves.
Please visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park website for ALERTS for information about areas that are closed.
Please visit NPS BRP Alerts and Road Closure website for the latest information about road closures and alerts for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Here is a link to Great Smoky Mountains Guide webcams. Webcams are a great way to check
the fall foliage progress!
Fall Foliage and Elevations In The Great Smoky Mountains
Peak colors appear first in the highest elevations (over 5500ft) and work down to the lower elevations. Color changes usually start in late September in the highest elevations and continue to spread color down into the lower elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains well into November. Peak color will be at different times depending on the weather and elevation.
Great Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage 2022
With all the different elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains, there will always be a colorful view somewhere during the month of October and even into November. Enjoy the nearby towns too. Visit Gatlinburg, TN, Pigeon Forge, TN, Cherokee, NC or Bryson City, NC just to name a few!
GSM Fall Color Reports and Weekly Updates for 2022
Fall Foliage In The Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage 2022
Weather is Key To Peak Color Timing
The key to the start of fall foliage color changes depends on the weather. The most important ingredient for fall foliage is cool air. Cool air is needed to promote the formation of colorful pigments. Also important is enough rain in the weeks and months prior to fall. A dry summer is not good. Next needed is a dry, cool, and sunny autumn (warm days and frostless nights). Frost will kill the leaves and make them die and fall off early.
Fall foliage starts in the highest elevations first and then progresses down to the lower elevations as the month of October progresses. So peak color times happen in the highest elevations (over 5500ft) and work down to the lower elevations. Color changes can start in late September and continue into early November depending on the elevation and the weather.
The highest elevations above 5000 feet peak first about the first 2 weeks of October. These areas include Clingmans Dome, Mount LeConte, Newfound Gap, Andrews Bald, Alum Cave Bluffs, Chimney Tops, Ramsey Cascades and Balsam Mountain.
Elevations in the 2000-3000 feet range peak about mid to late October or even early November. These areas are Cataloochee Valley and Oconalufee.
Cades Cove has an elevation of 1716 ft and will be one of the last areas to show color and peak. The lower elevations of the GSM peak in late October or early November.
Fall in Cades Cove
But the Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers such a large area of land there is always somewhere at peak or near peak. Great Smoky Mountain National Park mountain ranges have elevations from just over 875 feet to 6,643 feet. So a trip to view the fall color show anytime in October will reward you with a spectacular show of color.
Some popular spots to view the fall foliage show in the Great Smoky Mountains are:
Cades Cove
Tremont
Foothills Parkway
Cataloochee Valley (elevation of 2680 ft)
Mt. LeConte (elevation of 6,593 feet and the third highest summit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Greenbrier
Alum Cave Bluffs
Chimney Tops
Andrews Bald (elevation of 5920 feet)
Clingmans Dome (elevation of 6,643 feet and the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Newfound Gap Road (elevation of 5,048 feet)
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Great Smoky Mountains and when the fall colors appear
Great Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage
The changes start at the higher elevations (above 5,000 ft.) about the first of October and will work its way down to the lower elevations in late October to early November. The best places to see color are Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove Loop Road and Little River Road. Great hikes to see the show are Albright Grove and Sugarland Mountain Trail and Andrews Bald or Mt. LeConte at the highest elevations.
Due to the varied elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, you can always find the best show of color somewhere in the fall months starting in late September, October and lasting through November. The biggest factors involved in the changing colors of the foliage are elevation and weather. The warmer the weather the slower the progression but colder temperatures will speed up the fall foliage show.
The typical best times to plan a trip to view Tennessee’s peak fall foliage would be:
● Northeastern Mountain Regions – First of October to mid-October
● Color Across Middle and Western Tennessee – Peaks from East to West Mid October to Late November
The typical best times to plan a trip to view the Great Smoky Mountains and North Carolina Mountains peak fall foliage would be:
● Western North Carolina Highest Elevations (above 5,000 ft) – Grandfather Mountain, Graveyard Fields, Mount Mitchell. Great Smoky Mountains National Park- Clingmans Dome, Mount LeConte, Andrews Bald. – Late September to First Week of October.
● Western North Carolina Elevations (4,000- 5,000 ft) Mount Pisgah, Devil’s Courthouse, North of Asheville and South of Asheville in Boone, Blowing Rock Highland, Mt. Jefferson. Great Smoky Mountains-Newfound Gap, Alum Cave Bluffs, Chimney Tops. About the Second Week of October.
● Western North Carolina ( 3,000-4,000 ft) – Asheville area North and South. Craggy Gardens, Beech Mountain, Boone, Blowing Rock. In the GSM go to Ramsey Cascades, Cataloochee Valley, Gatlinburg. About the 2nd or 3rd week of October
● Western to Central North Carolina (2,000- 3,000 ft) – The city of Asheville, Biltmore Estate, Sylva, DuPont State Forest. IN the GSM visit Oconaluftee, Cherokee, Cades Cove, Townsend. Mid October to Late October
● Central North Carolina (1,000-2,000 ft)- Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, South Mountain State Park. Late October to Early November
Here is a Map Showing Typical Fall Foliage Peak Colors Time Table in the Great Smoky Mountains
GSM Fall Foliage Map (from Visit My Smokies)
Here is a Map of North Carolina Showing Typical Fall Foliage Peak Colors Time Table
NC Fall Foliage Map (Conceived by Howard Neufeld and Michael Denslow,
Map Constructed by Michael Denslow)
Fall Foliage Coloration Guide Showing What Colors Develop From Different Trees
Fall Foliage Coloration Guide (image by WV Division of Forestry)
Fall foliage and the effects of elevation:
Normally about the very last of September or the first or second week of October the leaves start changing in the highest elevations (above 5000 feet). The second to third-week elevations above 4000 feet start the change. By mid-October the show is well underway and includes the 3000-4000 feet elevation areas. By late October and early November, the lower elevations of 1300 feet are changing. By the second week in November, the peak season and the show are all but past for the mountain regions of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Type of Tree Depends on Color Display!
The type of tree is what determines the color the leaves will turn during the fall foliage season. It is not just a random process. Different types of trees will turn a specific shade during autumn. All the different varieties of trees in the Great Smoky Mountains are what make all the different colors on display during the fall foliage season.
The leaves of these trees will turn a yellow or golden color:
Tulip Poplar, Birch, Black Cherry
The leaves of these trees will turn a red or maroon shade:
Dogwood, Sourwood, Shining Sumac
The leaves of these trees will turn an orange, brown or russet shade:
Hickory and Oak Trees
Different types of Maple trees have their own fall foliage shade:
Sugar Maple leaves turn an orange-red shade.
Black Maple leaves turn a glowing yellow shade.
Red Maple leaves turn a bright scarlet or orange shade.
A General Guide to the Fall Foliage Season for the Great Smoky Mountains
October 4-10
The highest elevations 5,000 to 6,000 feet and above in the Great Smoky Mountains will start to show color first. North of Asheville in North Carolina in the highest elevations above 5,000 feet is where the fall foliage show begins and is where the most color typically occurs. These areas include Clingmans Dome, Mt. LeConte, Newfound Gap, Andrews Bald, Balsam Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Beech Mountain, Craggy Gardens, Grandfather Mountain and Rough Ridge.
October 8-18
Fall foliage color will then start to appear in elevations that are 4,000 to 5000 feet. Areas including the Mount Pisgah, Black Balsam, Devil’s Courthouse, Waterrock Knob and Graveyard Field. Peak color also occurs in this time period for the Highlands area, including Whiteside Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Try Alum Cave Bluffs, Chimney Tops or Ramsey Cascades to see colors during these weeks.
October 15-24
In the surrounding mountains of Asheville there is plenty of color in the 3,000-4,000 foot elevation range. A ride north or south on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville will be a beautiful site about this week. A ride through the Pisgah National Forest (Looking Glass Rock or Cradle of Forestry) normally is a great trip. North of Asheville Linville Gorge (Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain) would be a nice fall foliage hiking trip. Also, Boone, Blowing Rock Stone Mountain Park, Cashiers and Hanging Rock.
October 20-30
In the GSM color will be good at Cataloochee Valley and Oconaluftee. Elevations of 2000 to 3000 feet are showing color by now. The city of Asheville at the 2,000 feet elevation has the peak colors during this time period, as well as areas around Hendersonville and Brevard. DuPont State Forest or the NC Arboretum are great places to enjoy the fall foliage colors. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is also at peak leaf color during the latter part of October.
October 24-November 5
The color show nears its end in the Chimney Rock area with an elevation of 1,300 feet although Chimney Rock summit is at 2880 feet.. Visit Chimney Rock and Lake Lure for a last look at the beautiful fall foliage season in the North Carolina mountains. In the Great Smoky Mountains head to Cades Cove and Cherokee.
Links to Web Cams showing fall foliage:
Purchase Knob Webcam Link live view and Look Rock Webcam Link live view.
Enjoy!
More Resources For Fall Foliage Reports
Travel Blue Ridge Parkway – specific to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina as well as Skyline Drive in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina Travel – fall foliage reports and updates specific to the North Carolina mountains including Asheville, Boone, Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mountain, Cashiers and Highlands and Chimney Rock
Get your fall foliage weekly reports here so you know when and where to go to enjoy peak colors!
Photos from past fall foliage seasons in the Great Smoky Mountains.
