Autumn’s pageantry of colors in the Smoky Mountains usually peaks in mid-October. Some 800 miles of trails thread the whole of the Smoky Mountains natural fabric – and its waterfalls , coves, balds, and rushing streams. There are also many flatwater opportunities for simply floating and quietly appreciating the natural character of the river during autumn. The Nantahala is a perfect family adventure and in the fall water may not be as high making for a calmer, safer ride.
The extremely dry & hot conditions throughout the summer are not exactly the right ingredients for a vibrant autumn season. The good news, though, is that the Great Smokey Mountains National Park consists of 100’s of species of deciduous trees in a variety of elevations. Here are some pictures of past autumn colors in the Smokey Mountains.
We used to make fall pilgrimages to a place called Cades Cove. Reds and purples come from anthocyanins, a pigment that is formed when sugars in leaves break down in bright autumn sunlight.
Try some of these suggested autumn drives and hikes to enjoy fall leaf colors in areas of the park that are a little less crowded. Autumn hikers have crisp, dry air to sharpen their senses and a varied palette of fall colors to enjoy.
During the first two weeks of October the leaves are at their peak colors above 4000 feet. The remaining weeks of October present the Smoky Mountains’ very best color. Cook trekked across North America to capture the alluring drama of fall foliage from the soaring scarlet of vine maples to the golden quivering aspen leaves.
On the North Carolina side of the Park and is a little harder to reach than popular spots like Cades Cove. If you are coming from the north and places like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, take Highway 321 north to Interstate 40, and then east towards Asheville. I drove home from Glacier National Park this summer (that’s about 27 hours from the west side of the park). The issue *is* cost of gas for said drive. There is a state park lodge (Mohican Lodge) that is in the middle of the park. Another place that people go to enjoy the beautiful scenery is Hocking Hills.
Though most of the trees surrounding the cabin were bare by mid-November, some of the properties around us and much of nearby Rutherfordton still offered breath-taking fall colors. Since the trees surrounding the cabin are now bare, we are enjoying the view of the Southern Appalachians from the serenity of the deck. By the end of the month the trees will have shaken off a majority of their leaves and a winter wonderland awaits you.
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