Tag: fall colors timing

Peak leaf season is nearly here, which means a vibrant display of fall colors.

In North Carolina, the change usually starts in the mountains and continues across the piedmont region before petering out toward the coast, forestry experts at North Carolina State University said.

Here’s this year’s timing for fall foliage.

When is peak leaf season in NC?

“We will likely see patchy colors toward the end of September in the upper elevations of the mountains,” Dr. Robert Bardon, associate dean and professor of forestry and environmental resources at NCSU, previously told CharlotteFive.

“The middle weeks of October should be the peak for colors in the upper mountains, followed by the foothills and piedmont regions toward the end of October and into November.”

Coastal residents will have to wait a bit longer, as colorful foliage isn’t expected to peak there until the first few weeks of November, Bardon said.

The variety and intensity of colors is largely dependent on weather conditions. A mix of sunny days and cool nights will offer the best chance for “a vibrant display” of fall foliage, according to Bardon.

“Extreme changes in precipitation such as a drought or heavy rains, wind and hard freeze can all shorten the seasons,” he told CharlotteFive.

Where are the best places to see fall foliage in NC?

There’s no shortage of spots where leaf watchers can take in the beautiful fall colors — from Blue Ridge Parkway to the foothills and beyond, according to the National Park Service.

Visitors recently reported seeing changing colors in the upper mountains near:

• Bass Lake Loop Trail – Milepost 294
• Graveyard Fields Overlook – Milepost 418.8
• Blue Ridge Music Center – Milepost 213 (in Virginia)

Travelers can venture beyond the mountains to watch the leaves turn, VisitNC.com reported. Some must-visit spots include Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo; William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh; and Lake Norman State Park in Troutman.

Which roads are open?

Areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway have reopened to travelers vying for a peek at the fall foliage while others remain closed, or impassable.

The National Park Service advised road repair projects are ongoing as part of efforts to address landslides and other damage caused by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged parts of Western North Carolina.

So which roads are accessible?

Mount Mitchell State Park in Burnsville began welcoming visitors again on Sept. 15, just in time for leaf watching season, according to North Carolina State Parks.

“I am grateful to the National Park Service and NCDOT teams for their hard work to reopen this stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway and excited that people can continue to see what makes western North Carolina unforgettable,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement.

These sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway were also open or partially open as of Monday, Oct. 6:

• Milepost 241. 1 to 248.1 at NC Highway 18
• Milepost 249.3 at S. Laurel Fork Road to milepost 261.2 at NC Highway 16
• Milepost 355.3 near NC Highway 128 to milepost 364.5 at South of Craggy Gardens Tunnel
• Milepost 382 in Asheville to milepost 469 near Cherokee

“For safety reasons, the park asks that people continue to be patient and respect remaining closures,” the National Park Service said. “Multiple seen and unseen hazards exist in closed areas, and crews and heavy equipment at work make areas unsafe.”

Visitors are encouraged to plan carefully and check for road closures ahead of time.