Fall Color Forecast
Happy September! If you’re as excited as we are about fall, you might be wondering when and where the fall color will be the best and brightest this leaf season. The tourism office is working with biologists and fall foliage experts around Western North Carolina for our weekly color reports, starting September 15. Bookmark this page and check back soon for a complete leaf color forecast for the mountains. Here’s a taste of what to expect -- Biltmore’s Director of Horticulture Parker Andes gave us his expert insight on the upcoming autumn in Asheville.
One indicator of a strong leaf season to come is healthy trees with lots of leaves. The mountains of Western North Carolina received plenty of rain towards the end of the summer. “With cooler weather moving in this first week of September and with clear weather,” Parker notes, “the fall seems to be setting up nicely.” Dogwood and Hawthorn berries should be more colorful this year, after the great spring bloom we had. Red oaks in particular seem quite full in Asheville, especially around Biltmore Estate where they will be among the last leaves to turn around late October through early November.
Fall Color Begins Soon at Highest Elevations
Of course you don’t have to wait that long to see fall color with the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River just outside of town. Fall’s spectacular color show will begin in just a few weeks at Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain and Craggy Gardens. In early October, look for brilliant foliage at Mount Pisgah, Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam Knob, Waterrock Knob and the Devil’s Courthouse.
Leaf Season Reaches Asheville by Mid October
Fall color will continue to descend the mountains into downtown Asheville during mid to late October, a great time to check out Biltmore and the NC Arboretum. Expect the foliage to continue through November, when it will also be prominent at lower elevations such as Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
Tips for Wildlife Watching this Autumn
Wetland habitats such as the Pink Beds are a great place to view fall wildlife, which is most active at dawn and dusk at the edge of fields and water ways. Check out Cataloochee Valley at dusk to spot wild elk.
The mountains of WNC are the best place in the country to view fall color. Our fall color stretches out longer and has the greatest variety of leaves due to such a wide range of altitudes and the most diverse forest anywhere in the US. From the yellows of Cucumber Magnolias around Balsam near Waynesville to burgundy colored Black Gums along the Davidson River in Brevard, there are plenty of colors to be seen in the Asheville area.
Weekly Fall Color Reports
Bookmark FallInTheMountains.com for weekly reports on where to find the best fall color. Follow @FallColorHunter on Twitter for the most up-to-date information about fall color in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Upcoming Events
Sep 03, 2010
Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week
Blue Ridge Parkway
Sep 09, 2010
Broken Social Scene
The Orange Peel
Sep 11, 2010 to Sep 12, 2010
R.A.L.A.K. 2010 - Rastafari Ancient Living Arts and Kulture
Lake Eden Event Site
Sep 12, 2010
City of 1,000 Easels
Asheville Area
Sep 12, 2010
Pixies
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Sep 13, 2010 to Sep 19, 2010
Asheville Restaurant Week
Asheville Area
Sep 14, 2010
Hands in Harmony: The Concert
Diana Wortham Theatre
Sep 16, 2010
Push Skateshop Video Premiere
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
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