Color, Color Everywhere as Fall leaf Peak Spreads throughout the Mountains

Color is believed to be peaking in the Boone NC Area and throughout the North Carolina  "high Country". The major change from last weekend to this one has been the continued coloration by the maples and the beginning of coloration by the red, scarlet, pin and black oaks

Between Asheville NC and Highlands colors arrived early this year at the higher elevations and may peak at about the same time as in Boone, which is somewhat unusual. At lower elevations, colors should peak this week and be good through the next 2 weekends,  including the Lake Lure/Chimney Rock.

In the Great Smoky Mountain National Park colors are slightly past peak in the highest elevations (above 4,000') of the park. Colors are near peak in many mid-elevation areas of the park, however, this year there are still a number of green leaves mixed in with fully-colored and falling leaves at mid-elevation.

At low elevation, pockets of vivid color have developed, with a number trees still with green leaves. Many of the trees along the roadsides such as Little River Road are at peak, while the mountainsides above the road are still rather green. Leaf colors on the North Carolina side of the park are further along than those on the Tennessee side.

Video by The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, ExploreAsheville.com