While Cola is a great spot for a lot of Fall fun, our extended summers + low elevation (~292 ft. compared to Asheville’s ~2,134 ft.) means colorful foliage is a little tough to catch in the Midlands, so we phoned a friend: our sister publication AVLtoday – to let us know how to best take advantage of their Fall colors on a weekend #RoadTrip.
A warm 2018 with good levels of rainfall has left trees healthy for a long season full of color. Due to the fact that Western North Carolina (WNC) covers such a wide range of elevations, there is no single “peak week” to view the fall leaves in Asheville. However, there are ideal times to see the fall leaves in all the popular viewing locations. An added bonus? Because of the major biodiversity, WNC has one of the longest seasons for fall foliage in the nation. 🍂
The Great Smoky Mountains are home to 120+ different species of trees – the greatest variety in the U.S. This leads to the patchwork of so many different vibrant leaf colors.
Our sister publication AVLtoday put together a guide for when the leaves are changing at some of the best viewing spots along the parkway and beyond. ⬇️
The changing of leaves usually follows this pattern:
Late September – Early October: Areas above 6,000 feet
Mid-October: Areas around 5,500 feet
Late October: Areas around 2,300 feet
Early November: Areas below 1,500 feet
The highest elevations begin producing color once the nights cool off + the first signs of fall set, typically last week of September. Because of the longer summer + warmer temperatures recently, it is possible that changing color this year is more delayed than normal.
See Explore Asheville’s interactive Fall color map here.
A more specific guide for where to look + when:
Oct. 6 – 14: Higher elevations, including Mt. Mitchell, will most likely be in full color
Oct. 10 – 18: Middle elevation areas, including Craggy Gardens + the Pisgah Inn, will most likely be in full color
Oct 17 – 25: More color coverage of middle elevations, including most of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Oct. 24 – Nov. 1: Areas close to town, including The NC Arboretum, Downtown Asheville + Biltmore, will most likely be in full color
The beginning of November: Leaf changing progressing into the foothills
Where to go and what to do:
🍁Mt. Mitchell |📍2388 N.C. Highway 128, Burnsville | 🚘 3 hr 30 min
Enjoy the ride up to the highest point east of the Mississippi River by taking the Parkway and N.C. Highway 128. Walk up the ¼-mile paved trail + stay here to admire the view, or be adventurous and hike the 3,600 ft. (5.5 miles) Mount Mitchell Trail. Pro tip: This hike is steep + strenuous. If you don’t want to hike 11 miles roundtrip, then park one car at the top and one car at the campground.
After you’ve awed at the 360-degree panoramic views, enjoy a picnic (very large picnic area + two group areas), or visit the local restaurant located ½ mile from the park entrance.
🍁Craggy Gardens |📍Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 367.7 | 🚘2 hr 30 min
Only about 20 miles from downtown Asheville, spending a few hours up at Craggy will leave the rest of your day open. Take the short 1.5-mile round-trip hike around Craggy Pinnacle Trail, and get panoramic views at the top, you can even see the Asheville Watershed.
After you’ve had your fill of leafing, stick around and enjoy a picnic or travel back down to the city and stop at one of Asheville’s downtown restaurants. Take your pick from our list here.
🍁Pisgah Inn |📍408 Blue Ridge Parkway, Canton | 🚘2 hr 45 min
When visiting Pisgah Inn, you’re in a perfect location for leafing, hiking + eating. Choose between hiking up to Mt. Pisgah, Fryingpan Mountain Tower, or various trails around the Inn. Pisgah Inn has its own restaurant that’s ideal for grabbing lunch or dinner, plus a gift shop right next door.
Bonus: Want to learn all the mountains in your view? The Inn has a great guide that pinpoints each mountain while enjoying the colorful scenery.
🍁Blue Ridge Parkway, Folk Art Center |📍382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville | 🚘 3 hr
Since driving the scenic route is the most iconic way to enjoy the leaves, make your drive a little more fun by stopping at the Folk Art Center to enjoy some art and to grab a map. Before you leave, you can plan out the perfect route for you and your crew + stop along some of the best overlooks to take photos.
🍁Downtown Asheville |📍Asheville | 🚘2 hr 30 min
If adventuring the parkway isn’t for you, wait a little longer and enjoy the color-changing leaves in the city. Drive up to the top of any of our parking decks to get an awe-inspiring 360-degree view or admire the leaves from the city streets. Just make sure to grab a bite before you leave.
This leaf guide has me wanting to sleep in a treehouse for a for a quick weekend getaway. And if you’re thinking the same, check out this 48-hour guide to Asheville (for your post-leafing adventures).
