Higher Elevations Showing Colors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Foliage

Hints of orange, red and yellow are starting to sneak into the foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many are wondering when to expect big changes to occur from lower elevations to the highest elevations.

The folks at Visit My Smokies have a nice Fall Color Map that shows when these changes can be expected. Just click on this link:   Great Smoky Mountains Fall Color Map 2014

The National Park Service website posted this Fall Color Update on Oct. 10, 2014:

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FALL COLOR REPORT

Fall Color Report - October 10

Fall color continues to progress in the high elevations of the park. The yellows of birch, and the reds of maple, sourwood, and witch hobble are dominant now. Last weekend's cold snap led to a good burst of color around Newfound Gap. However, high winds earlier this week caused leaves along the last three to four miles of Clingmans Dome Road to fall. There is still a significant amount of green at the higher elevations though, which means color will continue to develop over the next few days. Views along the first half of Clingmans Dome Road and in the higher reaches of Newfound Gap Road should be good though early next week.

Middle and low elevations are still predominantly green with a scattering of fall color here and there. But signs of change are becoming more noticeable. Some vibrant reds have developed on dogwoods, sourwoods, and a few maples. The vivid red leaves of Virginia creeper vine are very noticeable climbing tree trunks now. We're also starting to see a bit of yellow developing. Keep in mind though, that the main leaf season in the lower elevations is still two or three weeks away.

Fall Color Report - October 1, 2014
High elevations in the park are getting colorful with the yellows of birch and reds of sourwood and witch hobble. Although fall color in the high elevations is not usually as vibrant as the colors of the middle to lower elevations, the dark, evergreen needles of spruce trees are a nice backdrop for the yellows that predominate on the Smokies highest crests. Views along Clingmans Dome Road and in the higher reaches of Newfound Gap Road should be good though next week.
Middle and low elevations are still green, but some nice reds are developing on a few trees, especially dogwood, sourwood, and sumac. At middle elevations, look for the vivid red leaves of Virginia creeper vine climbing tree trunks. Overall however, there's not a lot of fall color in the lower elevations yet -- the season here is still a few weeks away.
Fall wildflower displays are especially colorful now. Flowers such as purple asters, white asters, black-eyed Susans, pale jewelweed, ironweed, great blue lobelia, closed gentian, and golden rod are blooming profusely along roadsides in the park. Look for the vibrant pink, purple, and red fruits of hearts-a-bustin' bushes and the brilliant reds of dogwood berries.

Fall Color Report - September 22, 2014
The main fall leaf season is still about a month away (mid to late October), but some early color is starting to develop on a few trees. Some dogwood trees have a reddish cast that will develop into more brilliant shades in a few weeks. Other species such as red maple, sourwood, witch hobble, and sumac are also beginning to sport a few red leaves, especially on trees at higher elevations. At mid and upper elevations, the vivid red leaves of Virgina creeper vine stand out against tree trunks. Overall however, there's not much fall color to see yet -- just scattered trees here and there, and their colors are still just a hint of what they'll become in a few more weeks.
Fall wildflower displays are especially colorful now. Flowers such as purple asters, white asters, black-eyed Susans, pale jewelweed, ironweed, great blue lobelia, closed gentian, and golden rod are blooming profusely along roadsides in the park. Look for the vibrant pink, purple, and red fruits of hearts-a-bustin' bushes along the edges of the forest.

For fall photos and updates from the park, visit our official facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS
You can also check out the park's webcams to see how fall colors are progressing:
Purchase Knob (high elevation)
Look Rock (middle elevation)



These colors are typical for early fall along Newfound Gap Road (NPS).

The park usually experiences an autumn leaf season of several weeks as fall colors travel down the mountain sides from high elevation to low. However, the timing of fall color change depends upon so many variables that the exact dates of "peak" season are impossible to predict in advance.

Elevation profoundly affects when fall colors change in the park. At higher elevations, where the climate is similar to New England's, color displays start as early as mid-September with the turning of yellow birch, American beech, mountain maple, hobblebush, and pin cherry.
From early to mid-October, fall colors develop above 4,000 feet. To enjoy them, drive the Clingmans Dome Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or the Foothills Parkway.
The fall color display usually reaches peak at mid and lower elevations between mid-October and early November. This is the park's most spectacular display as it includes such colorful trees as sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, and the hickories.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION FALL COLOR UPDATE

The Great Smoky Mountains Association posted this update on Sept. 26:

September 26 - Ploddingly, grudgingly, fall colors are starting to change in the Great Smoky Mountains. Though the pace of change has quickened, the advance of leaf colors is later than average. This means we likely have four to five more weeks to enjoy the transition before leaf colors peak and trees begin dropping leaves.
At the very highest elevations, leaves are progressing more rapidly after a light frost earlier this week. Still, only about 20%-30% of deciduous leaves have changed thus far.
Lower down, several species of trees have started to brighten. Sycamore, sassafras, witch hazel, walnut, tuliptree, black gum, sourwood, Virginia creeper, sumacs, and buckeye are all showing color. Migrating birds are flocking to the dogwoods’ red berries. Fall wildflowers are also conspicuous, including jewelweed, asters, goldenrod, and white snakeroot.
Good places for a drive include Clingmans Dome Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a great time to hike Mt. Le Conte! Upper Deep Creek Trail is also gorgeous this time of year.
The peak of fall colors at the higher elevations is likely a week or so away. At the lower and mid elevations, colors are trending toward a very late October or early November peak.

ASHEVILLE, NC FALL COLOR UPDATE

RomanticAsheville.com posted this update Sept. 30: Asheville NC Mountain Fall Leaf Color Forecast and Events 2014 - Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky reports.

FRIENDS OF THE SMOKIES FALL COLOR HIKES and EVENTS

The Friends of the Smokies' website features their Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains Event Calendar that highlights a few upcoming Fall Color Hikes you can sign up for.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK FALL COLOR FACTS

From the National Park's website, here are some interesting tidbits about our amazing Smoky Mountains and the brilliant show of fall colors:

Fall Color Facts

 

Why are fall colors so remarkable in the Smokies? One reason is the park's amazing diversity of trees. Some 100 species of native trees live in the Smokies and the vast majority of these are deciduous.

How do colors change? As summer ends, the green pigments in leaves deteriorate, giving other colors a chance to shine. Carotenoids, the pigment that makes carrots orange and leaves yellow, are exposed as the green fades. Reds and purples come from anthocyanins, a pigment that is formed when sugars in leaves break down in bright autumn sunlight.

GREAT SMOKIES AUTUMN DRIVES AND HIKES

And finally, here is a link to Autumn Drives and Hikes in the Great Smokies from the Park's website.

Fall Color season doesn't last long, so don't wait too long to get out and explore the Smokies.