Fall Foliage Report
Autumn in the Smokies is always a gorgeous time when the deep green forest hues burst into blazing red, yellow and orange tints. The Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to come to immerse your eyes in the fall colors.
Usually the last two weeks of October offer the most vibrant views of the leaves, though the color transformation varies according to temperature and elevation. Cooler temperatures and higher elevation will cause the leaves to change sooner.
Before you visit, you can get a Fall Foliage Report by visiting www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/. You can see the foliage yourself through one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Web cams as well. The view from Look Rock can be seen by visiting http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmcam/grsmcam.cfm, and the view from Purchase Knob can be seen by logging on to http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm. If you don’t have the Internet handy, then call Tennessee’s "Fall Color Hotline" at 1-800-697-4200.
Take a Fall Foliage Drive! In and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are roads that meander along some of the best vantage point views of the fall leaves. The Newfound Gap Road will direct you straight to Newfound Gap, where the leaves change sooner thanks to cool temperatures and high elevation. Another nice drive for foliage enthusiasts is on the Little River Road between Townsend and Sugarlands Visitor Center. To see some nice long-distance views of leaves, the east and west ends of Foothills Parkway are the places to drive. If you have a full tank of gas and lots of time on your hands, try driving along the Cherohala Skyway from Tellico Plains through western North Carolina all the way to Robbinsville, NC. This drive offers views of a plethora of fall colors, but takes about an hour and a half each way. Lastly, Nantahala Gorge is another area perfect for a lovely afternoon drive to spot fall foliage.
Comments
I live in Knoxville, TN and I saw a maple tree that's turning orange today!
Posted by: Suzanne | October 14, 2005 03:42 PM
I noticed in the lower elevations along I-81 in Tennessee there are a few trees with some deep colors but most trees are not deep yellows or reds
Posted by: Anonymous | October 22, 2005 04:42 PM