When are fall colors at their peak?
Common Question:
What are the best dates to view fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Answer:
Typically the best times to view fall colors occur during the month of October. Peak times normally are mid to late October. However, there is no given time table and many factors can impact fall colors.
Although peak fall colors normally occur during the last two weeks of October, pretty patches of colors can be seen into November.
The Parkway is 469 miles in length and traverses through many elevation changes. Fall colors typically come earlier in the higher elevations than the areas in lower elevations. The lowest elevation measures 649 feet above sea level, while the highest measures 6,047 feet above sea level.
For a complete list of Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook elevations, visit Virtual Blue Ridge’s virtual tour section.
Weather can be a major factor too. Unusually dry or wet summers can have an adverse effect in not only when the leaves begin to change and reach their peak, but also in the depth and richness of their colors.
High winds are not uncommon in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can marvel at the colors one day only to return the next after a night of high winds and find many of the same trees bare.
When planning a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway for viewing fall colors it is advisable to visit Virtual Blue Ridge for the latest Fall Color Report during the months of September through November. If you find yourself away from a computer, you can call the Parkway Hotline at 828-298-0398 for the latest recording. The fall color reports are updated weekly and are considered to be the best indicator of where and when to travel.
The elevation certainly does play a big role in the change of color. We just came back from a short trip to the mountains on Saturday and after seeing that the tops of the mountains had changed and the valleys had not we decided to come back at a later time for our fall foliage photography this year. We are probably just a little anxious for the color change this year!
I am planning a trip to Georgia and the Carolina’s from Oct. 16-30, 2010. I am looking for the highlight spots such as the Blue Ridge Parkway for viewing the fall leaves at that time.
The National Park Service just began to release their fall color reports. We post them on our site here – http://www.virtualblueridge.com/color-reports/. These reports will help pinpoint the best fall color viewing places! Happy Travels!