Fall color begins appearing in Western NC; The best places to visit during the season

ASHEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Fall color is beginning to appear in the highest elevations through out Western North Carolina as the season gets underway across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Asheville area is home to about 120 tree species, creating a fall display that gradually moves from the highest peaks into lower elevations and the city.

Explore Asheville’s Fall Color Hunters have been documenting the changing leaves across the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the first reds and golds appearing against the region’s forests.

Dr. Howie Neufeld, known as the “Fall Color Guy,” says a warm September has delayed the start of this year’s peak color by about eight to 12 days.

That could give visitors a longer window to plan a fall trip, with color expected to continue moving down the mountains throughout October and into early November.

For visitors planning a trip, the timing of the leaves depends heavily on elevation. Higher elevations typically see color first, followed by areas at lower elevations as the season progresses.

As October continues, Neufeld and Explore Asheville recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway from about 5,000 feet at Craggy Gardens south to Waterrock Knob for fall color viewing.

Visitors can also plan their trip around the changing conditions by checking current Fall Color Hunter reports before heading out.

Explore Asheville also offers an interactive fall color map to help visitors find areas with colorful views and plan hikes.

Neufeld expects parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway to continue showing fall color into the first week of November.

For the best chance of seeing peak color, visitors should check the latest foliage reports and map before traveling, then choose their destination based on the elevations where color is developing that week.