Asheville Fall Color Report

Fall Color Report: Week of October 26, 2026

Fall color has made it to the towns and valleys around Asheville. This week our Fall Color Hunters found Montreat and Lake Junaluska nearing peak, bright color around the Bass Pond at Biltmore, and the first reds and yellows popping up in downtown Asheville and Black Mountain. Farther out, Pisgah National Forest is close to peak, and the elk are still putting on a show in Cataloochee Valley. One of our Color Hunters thinks the best color is still to come.

Downtown Asheville

Andre Daugherty's Oct. 27 drone footage over downtown Asheville shows pops of red and yellow here and there. The city still has about a week before it peaks, so the coming days should get more colorful with each visit.

Biltmore

The Bass Pond at Biltmore is a great spot for color right now, with orange, yellow and red reflecting off the water. Andre Daugherty visited on Oct. 27 and noticed some trees have already dropped their leaves, so don't wait too long. The pond is an easy stop along the estate's walking trails.

Biltmore says this weekend is the best time to visit, with great color across the estate and the garden mums at peak. Plan a full day: tour Biltmore House, stroll the gardens, then head to Antler Hill Village and the Winery, where every daytime admission ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting. Buy tickets online to save $10 each, and reserve a table at one of the on-estate restaurants to round out the day.

Black Mountain and Montreat

Just east of Asheville, Black Mountain is in the early stages of fall color, with reds and yellows starting to pop, according to Andre Daugherty's Oct. 24 visit. A few minutes up the road, Montreat is nearing peak, with beautiful color around the lake and along the trails.

Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska has some brilliant color and is nearing peak. Andre Daugherty stopped by on Oct. 25 and found the color framing the lake, making it an easy place for a fall stroll.

Pisgah National Forest and Looking Glass Rock

Most of Pisgah National Forest is nearing peak, with leaves starting to fall near the waterfalls, Andre Daugherty reported on Oct. 23. For a bigger challenge, Explore Asheville's Emilie Soffe hiked the Looking Glass Rock Trail on Oct. 24. "This trail isn't for the faint of heart, but delivered some of my favorite fall color views so far this season," she says. The forested climb, about 3.25 miles to the top, was full of orange, yellow and red, and the summit looks out over color spreading across the valleys below.

Schoolhouse Falls

The trail to Schoolhouse Falls in Panthertown Valley is lined with bright yellows, Andre Daugherty found on Oct. 23. The area around the falls isn't in full color yet, but it's a beautiful hike right now.

French Broad Falls
Balsam Grove

On Oct. 24 and 25, J Smilanic visited French Broad Falls at Living Waters, where French Broad Falls and Shoal Creek Falls meet to form the North Fork of the French Broad River. The falls sit on private property, and for many years the owners have kindly allowed visitors, so please be respectful.

Cataloochee Valley
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The elk rut slows down toward the end of October, but it's still a great time to see elk in Cataloochee Valley. On Oct. 24, J Smilanic watched a mature bull tend his herd in the early morning light and spotted a fly fisherman trying his luck for trout along Cataloochee Creek. J recommends going near sunrise to avoid the crowds and get better light for photos and video. Always keep a safe distance from the elk.

Big Creek
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"Big Creek is one of the most beautiful creeks in all of North Carolina," says J Smilanic, who hiked about 2 miles from the trailhead on Oct. 26 to a spot he calls The Cathedral. It's a great creek to photograph from late spring through the end of October, and this stretch is hard to miss.

East Fork and Beartrap Gap, Blue Ridge Parkway
Mileposts 418.3 to 428.5

The Blue Ridge Parkway's high elevations are past peak, but they still make great spots for sunrise and sunset. On Oct. 25, J Smilanic watched a full moon rise over the valley from East Fork Overlook (Milepost 418.3), which he calls a great spot for sunrise and moonrise. For sunset, he recommends a pull-off near Beartrap Gap (around Milepost 429), where red blueberry bushes add fall color to the foreground most of October, along with amazing views.

Fall Color Photo Tip: Slow Down at the Water

Waterfalls and creeks are some of the best places to photograph fall right now. At French Broad Falls, J Smilanic suggests visiting when the water is somewhat low. "A nice swirl of foam forms at the base of the waterfall, creating an excellent long exposure opportunity," he says. For wildlife, J's advice is to arrive near sunrise, when the crowds are thinner and the light is softer.

Expert Insight from the Fall Color Guy

Howie Neufeld's outlook from last week still holds. He expected Asheville, Brevard and Hendersonville to peak in the last week of October, with street trees in town coloring a little earlier, and our Color Hunters' reports suggest the city may need a few more days. Howie expects the foothills to begin coloring by the end of this week and look good next week. Spots below 2,000 feet, like Chimney Rock, may not peak until early November.

Looking Ahead

This weekend is a great time to stay close to town. Montreat and Biltmore are near their best, and downtown Asheville is catching up. Next week, look to the foothills and lower-elevation spots like Chimney Rock and Gorges State Park to carry the season into November. For the latest, follow our interactive fall color map and check back next week.

Views From the Field: October 23 - 28

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from this last week's color hunting. Click into the photos and videos for date stamps, descriptions and location info.

Views From the Field: September 17 - October 22

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from all prior 2026 weeks of color hunting. Click into the photos and videos for date stamps, descriptions and location info.

Meet Asheville's 2026 Fall Color Hunters

Meet Asheville's Fall Color Hunters, a group of talented local photographers passionate about capturing the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each week, they'll share updates on when and where to catch the region's best and brightest fall color, plus local insights on what to expect when visiting Asheville during the fall.