NC Fall Color Leaf Report for the week of 10/14/12

October 14, 2012 -  This was the peak fall color weekend for the Blowing Rock to Grandfather Mountain region, and fall foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway was brilliant and awe inspiring. The leaf color will last through this week to the upcoming weekend. If you are planning to come up this week or next weekend, there should still be plenty of color in  the High Country, even though it may be slightly past peak.  There are still many green trees starting to turn, so colors should persist for a while. Oaks are just now starting to turn, and they bring nice deep rust red colors to the landscape.

A weekend drive from Boone all the way down to Asheville revealed plenty of green there which will turn in the next 10 days, and Asheville is not yet at peak. Proceeding north on the Parkway from Asheville, colors become more vibrant as elevation increases, peaking around 4,000'. Craggy Gardens offers some great views and easy hiking, but note that at this elevation (over 5,700') the colors are past their peak. But with the colors coming out in lower locations, the views from there are tremendous, and  the drive up to this spot is highly recommended.

The photo at the left was taken by the "Fall Leaf"Guy", Dr. Howie Neufeld at the Chestoa View Overlook at Milepost 320 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. See more of Dr Neufeld's photos at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-Color-Guy/222437294470967

The Brevard/Pisgah Forest area, including the Cradle of Forestry, are at peak color now.  Recent winds  took some leaves down, but Pisgah Forest Rangers report the rate the colors about a 7 out of 10 right now, making  this week and next weekend the best for maximum color in this area.

The Leaf Color information above is provided by Howie Neufeld, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Physiology at Appalachian State University in Boone NC. Dr. Neufeld writes a first-hand Leaf Report throughout the NC fall color season, as well as a Facebook Page, Fall Color Guy.  

photo courtesy Chimney Rock Park

October 17 - Chimney Rock: Just in the past couple days some nice yellows and oranges have appeared on the tops of mountain peaks around Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. Bright, colorful foliage is visible along major driving routes, offering a stunning drive to Chimney Rock.

The poplars are a vibrant gold now and the sourwoods, dogwoods and sassafras have turned red in the Park. Leaves around the bottom of the 404-foot waterfall are displaying beautiful yellows, with a few magnolias turning their chocolate brown. The buckeyes, birch, beech and walnut trees should continue to show more color over the next week. Several fall wildflowers are still in bloom, including goldenrod, turtlehead, snakeroot and a variety of asters. While autumn foliage looks good at the highest elevations, there is still  a fair amount of green in the area. The sunny days and cool nights forecast for the next 10 days indicate Chimney Rock’s fall color should continue to brighten dramatically over the next couple weeks. Read more at http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/events/new.php#N284.

photo by Darlene Leach

October 17, 2012  - Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Color is at peak now in many middle elevations areas in the park. At lower elevation, color is developing rapidly but it is still a bit of a patchwork; some areas are at peak, while in other areas up to half of the trees are still green.

High elevation areas are now past peak.  Fall wildflowers continue to bloom along park roadways. Look for goldenrod, asters, snakeweed, and jewelweed.

The photo at the left was taken by Darlene Leach of the Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains Nations Park.

Get links for NC leaf Reports on all areas in the mountains on the NC Mountain News Guide.