Asheville Fall Color Report

Fall Color Report: Week of November 2, 2026

Fall color is settling into the valleys and lower elevations around Asheville. In the final week of Fall Color Hunting, the trails in Montreat looked like something out of a fairy tale, the bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum showed off the season in miniature, and back roads in Haywood and Jackson counties glowed with color. Thanks to a warm September, the season is running about 8 to 12 days behind schedule, so there's still time to get out and see it.

Lookout Trail, Montreat

Explore Asheville's Emilie Soffe hiked the Lookout Trail in Montreat on Sunday, Nov. 1, and found a forest that looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. Montreat is putting on one of the best shows close to Asheville right now.

The North Carolina Arboretum

For a different take on fall color, Emilie Soffe also visited the Bonsai Exhibition Garden at The North Carolina Arboretum, where the trees change color in miniature. It's a one-of-a-kind way to see the season.

Looking Glass Rock and U.S. 276
Pisgah National Forest

J Smilanic took to the air with his drone over Looking Glass Rock and along U.S. 276 through Pisgah National Forest, capturing color spread across the forest around the granite dome.

Whitewater Falls and White Owl Falls
Near Lake Toxaway

Toward the end of the season, Whitewater Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, tends to have some great color, J Smilanic says. Pair it with a trip to nearby White Owl Falls, where fall leaves swirl in the pool below the falls. It's a bit tricky to find, so download a trail map before you go.

Cove Creek Road and Cataloochee Valley
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

On the way to Cataloochee Valley, Cove Creek Road always has a nice variety of fall color, J Smilanic says, including a rustic cabin dressed in color. The cabin sits on private property, but you can get a good photo from the edge of the property. In Cataloochee Valley, J caught a bull elk posing in front of fall color, a beam of light breaking through the clouds onto the mountainside and a spectacular sunset from the overlook just outside the valley. "The valley offers many photo opportunities beyond just the elk," he says. Ending an afternoon of elk watching with sunset at the overlook is a great way to cap the day. Always keep a safe distance from the elk.

Rosemount Road and Balsam Gap

Just below the Blue Ridge Parkway at Balsam Gap, Rosemount Road winds through a perfect S curve surrounded by fall color. J Smilanic captured it from the ground and from above with his drone.

Blue Ridge Parkway near Cherokee and Waterrock Knob

At the southern end of the Parkway, tunnels surrounded by fall color near Cherokee make for an easy, great photo, J Smilanic says. On a rainy day, he watched mist dancing up the mountainside. Near Waterrock Knob, a telephoto lens helped him pick out a simple scene from the ridges.

Fall Color Photo Tip: Frame the Season

J Smilanic has a few tips for getting more out of your fall photos. When photographing elk, "try to line up some fall color behind the elk for a more impactful photo," he says, and don't be afraid to zoom out a little to include more of the surrounding scene. On the Parkway, a polarizing filter removes glare coming off the road, which improves contrast. And don't skip rainy days. "Rainy days typically offer some beautiful mist in the mountains," J says.

Looking Ahead

The season isn't over yet. With color running behind schedule this year, the lower elevations still have time to shine. Head to Chimney Rock, DuPont State Recreational Forest and Gorges State Park for some of the last color of the year. For the latest, follow our interactive fall color map.

Views From the Field: October 29 - November 4

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 28

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.