Fall Color Report for the Week of October 9, 2011

Foliage color peaked this past weekend for the Grandfather to Boone/Blowing Rock area of the North Carolina Mountains for areas above 3,000’ in elevation. Above 4,500’, colors have actually passed their peak. However, don’t despair if you haven’t yet made it to the mountains. There is still plenty of color throughout the mountains which should persist through next weekend. In fact, some areas haven’t yet peaked, and this coming weekend should be their time to show off. This year has been a real guessing game with respect to how brilliant and intense the colors will be, but based on the drive I took on Saturday, I’d say this year’s colors rank 9 on a scale of 10, where 10 is the best it can be. So, if you want to see some great fall foliage, this is the year to do it!

Colors are still peaking in some areas below 4,000’, especially south of Grandfather Mountain in the Linville to Little Switzerland area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I believe those areas will show their best color this coming weekend, assuming the oncoming rains, which will be here Tuesday through Thursday, don’t knock a lot of leaves down (and I don’t think they will, since there is no forecast for high winds). Jesse Pope reports that views from Grandfather off to the south and east are spectacular. Crowds were so high at the Park on Saturday that traffic was backed up on U.S. 221. If you want to avoid those crowds, come up during the week, or, early in day. Mornings and evenings are great times to view the fall foliage and take pictures because colors appear more intense when the sun is low on the horizon.

Jonathan Horton reports colors are still building up in the city of Asheville (mainly dogwoods, Virginia creeper, sourwoods and maples), but up on the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Pisgah, there is much more color, including a lot of trees that turn yellow (magnolias, birches, hickories, striped maple). The sourwoods are at their showiest right now as are the maples and dogwoods, and that pertains all up and down the Parkway. This year there are plenty of bright reds mixed in with the yellows and oranges, making for a very vibrant color scene. Leaves on the Parkway around Asheville should peak this coming weekend.

Jim Costa reports that the colors in Highlands are spectacular - still a fair bit of green, but healthy doses of bright oranges, reds, and yellows mixed in. Birches, red maples, dogwoods, buckeyes, and sassafras are all lovely! Virginia Creepers are highlighting bare rock faces and numerous tree trunks with their deep red leaves. Jim thinks colors will persist near their peak right through this coming weekend. Lower down, around Cullowhee, Kathy Mathews reports that colors are still moving toward their peak. Down by Franklin, Beverly Collins notes that the hills are still mostly green, but are turning color rapidly, especially high up. However, oaks and many hickories aren't turning much yet, which means most hillslopes are still mostly green with some spots and strips of color.

For some drives and hikes, I suggest U.S. 221 to Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area in Ashe County. You can drive to the top and there are some nice short hikes with good views. Around Highlands there are a number of hikes to take, including one to Satulah Mountain. Highway 64 from Highlands to Franklin offers great color along the twenty-some mile drive. This is also North Carolina apple season, and the mountains, which produce 90% of North Carolina’s apples, have plenty of roadside stands selling juice, cider, apples of course, as well as my favorite, apple butter. As always, you can see my comments and photos on my fall color facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-Color-Guy/222437294470967) and on my own fall color page (http://biology.appstate.edu/fall-colors). Happy Foliage Viewing!