09/08/2026
Fall In Blowing Rock!
Come for the beautiful leaves and scenery, stay for the fun and enjoyment!
It's Time to book your rooms for October!
DON'T WAIT TO BOOK YOUR ROOM, THEY ARE GOING FAST!
When Will the Leaves Be At Peak?
One of the most common questions we get asked this time of year is: When is the best time to visit to see the the fall foliage ??
The problem is that leaf color varies year to year, elevation to elevation and even by the direction the mountain side is facing. To complicate matters even more, the intensity of the color is determined by a number of very complex factors including:
The type of plant
Amount of rainfall
Temperatures
Leaves begin changing color at higher elevations, and the color change works its way down in elevation. This is something you'll want to factor in, when on the Parkway, as you'll generally be viewing elevations below you.
The good news is that all of these variations don't really throw off the normal schedule a great deal.
Here is the 2026 Fall Color Forecast for the Blue Ridge Mountains, by week:
September's warm weather MAY push everything back about 1 week.
September 27 - October 7
At the highest elevations, close to 6,000 feet there is some color, but it's often very spotty and muted. The views from these locations will be mostly green, since the areas viewed are lower elevations. Areas that turn early in this date and elevation range include Rough Ridge.
October 1 - 10
Peak time for areas above 5,000 feet. This would include: Clingmans Dome, Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Waterrock K**b and Graveyard fields and higher elevations of The Blue Ridge Parkway.
October 10 - 20
Peak time for elevations from 4,000 - 5,000 feet. This would include almost all Blue Ridge Parkway locations and the majority of the. Included in this elevation are the Boone and Blowing Rock areas.
October 18 - 26
Peak time for lower elevations, from 3,000 - 4,000 feet. This would include places like: Pisgah National Forest which includes Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls, and many other waterfalls. Other ares include Linville Gorge, Nantahala Gorge, and still the Boone and Blowing Rock areas.
October 24 - 31
Peak time for elevations from 2,000 feet - 3,000 feet. This would include: The cities of Asheville, Waynesville, Cherokee, and many others. Places of interest include Dupont State Forest and Biltmore Estate..
October 26 - November 8
Peak time for remaining elevations of Chimney Rock NC, Lake Lure and remaining lower elevation mountains. This includes Chimney Rock as well, a great place to see Fall color.
*Please note, these time frames are estimates based on prior years and current weather and soil conditions. Actual peak times may vary some from this forecast. Times outside of pea k can still be exceptionally beautiful!
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