Wiseman's View
Linville Gorge

   Cherohala Scenic Byway
Nantahala National Forest

  Weekly Fall Color Update 10/23/09

A hard freeze and several nights of frost last  week ushered in good fall colors across the western North Carolina landscape.  Mountain elevations at 4,000 feet and above are now at their most colorful.  This coming week should be a great time to visit the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. Red and sugar maple, yellow poplar, black birch, hickory are just a few of the hardwood tree species showing  good colors. The area's red oak and white oak shouldn't be far behind.  Suggested drives this week include the Blue Ridge Parkway from  Asheville to Mount Mitchell State Park, US HW 64 from Brevard to Highlands, HW 221 from Marion to Linville, and I-26 from Asheville to Johnson City. 

Click here for a  live Forest Service webcam view of Cold Mountain on the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County.  Also try this link for a live view of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County. 

Year in and year out, the last two weeks in October are the best time to view fall colors on  the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.  However, due to wide variations in elevation and the incredible diversity of tree species, western North Carolina  almost always enjoys an extended fall color season through October into early November. Good color sometimes  lingers in the valleys and protected south facing slopes well into November.

Fall Color Information Links

USDA Forest Service Fall Color Update
1-800-354-4595 

Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau  Color Report
1-888-247-9811

The Official Visit North Carolina Travel Web Site
1-800-VISIT-NC (1-800-847-4862)

The Weather Channel Fall Foliage Report

The Fall Foliage Network

This page was last updated  10/23/09