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| This photo was taken recently at Chimney Rock Park. |
NOV. 14, 2007 - We're closing in on Thanksgiving, yet amazingly the Asheville area is still experiencing impressive displays of late fall color. In fact, the Chimney Rock area is expected to be at its best this weekend. This could very well be one of the longest fall foliage seasons here.
"It's still holding on," said Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture for Biltmore. "It's amazing. It's just been a long and wonderful fall. What we got was this beautiful, long tapestry of color, which I thought was wonderful. I hope it happens this way again." At Biltmore, the oaks, maple and hickory trees are displaying their fall colors.
This spectacular fall color season has provided a unique and rare opportunity to get two seasons for the price of one. Come for the fall color, but also enjoy the holidays in Asheville with seasonal events like Christmas at Biltmore, the Gingerbread House Display and the Polar Express getting under way. You can even view fall color, then take a 35-mile drive to Cataloochee Ski Area, which just opened for the season, to hit the slopes.
In areas like downtown Asheville and around the city, much of the foliage has turned shades of yellow, orange and red, but there is still a lot of green showing and still time to plan a visit. Some leaves have fallen, but there are many spots still showing off color.
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| This photo was taken recently at Chimney Rock Park. |
The fall colors at Chimney Rock Park are close to peaking. "This will likely be THE week to see the best colors within the middle and lower portions of Chimney Rock Park and the Hickory Nut Gorge.
Oak forests on the tops of the mountains are quickly going golden while the mixed hardwood forests on the slopes are showing rich yellows, reds and oranges. The continued dry and cool weather is accelerating the change.
Hendersonville and Flat Rock just south of Asheville area finally seeing the peak colors appear. In McDowell County just northeast of Asheville, they expect the remaining greenery to peak in the next few days.
At Grandfather Mountain, autumn foliage has passed its peak for the season at Grandfather Mountain but there is much to see in the valleys.
The most colorful routes are NC 181 from Morganton to Jonas Ridge; US 221 between Marion and Linville Falls; US 321 between Lenoir and Blowing Rock; and US 421 between North Wilkesboro and Boone.
Fall Scenic Drive of the Week
This week’s themed fall scenic drive is the 3-in-1 Ultimate Drive, a chance to experience three separate times of year (fall, holidays and winter) in one short day!
- From Asheville follow I-26 South to US 64 East and into Hickory Nut Gorge.
- Continue on to Chimney Rock Park to see the fall foliage at its peak.
- Take Route 74 back to Asheville. Go west on I-40 and follow the signs to Biltmore. You can either get tickets to see the estate, America's largest home, decked for the holidays, or you can hit the charming shopping district Historic Biltmore Village just outside the gates for some holiday shopping at boutiques and galleries.
- Get back on I-40 west and exit at Route 74, following the signs for Maggie Valley to hit the ski slopes at Cataloochee Ski Area.
- Go back east to Asheville.
(Drive Time: about 2 hours round trip)
Also see: Fall Scenic Drives Fall Scenic Motorcycle Rides Fall Scenic Craft Trail Drives
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About the Fall Color Season
The Asheville area has one of the most extended fall foliage season in the U.S. due to the many elevations, micro-climates and varied color-turning trees. Simply taking a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway can be a great way to discover the fall color throughout the season, as the road transverses various elevations. Asheville is centrally located to easily go on color hunting adventures throughout Western North Carolina.
While there is no way to predict precisely when and where the fall foliage will peak, here are some guidelines. Also be sure to check out our tips for finding a room during the fall foliage season.
Early Fall (late September to early October)
The first fall color typically emerges in the highest elevations of 4,000 feet and above. Great spots to seek out the early fall foliage include Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Mississippi), Craggy Gardens, Linville Caverns and Orchard at Altapass.
Mid Fall (early October to late October)
Elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet explode into fall color in the middle of the season. Nice areas for sightseeing include downtown Asheville, Hot Springs, Weaverville and the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, Black Mountain, and the area of Maggie Valley and Waynesville near the Great Smoky Mountains.
Late Fall (late October to early November)
Even well into fall, you can find changing colors in the lower elevations. Good options for seeking out the yellow, orange and red include Chimney Rock Park, the many Native American attractions in Cherokee, and Lake Lure.
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