For the many travelers trying to plan the perfect fall mountain getaway in North Carolina, the number one question is “When is peak fall color?” To help with vacation planning, RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide has released its annual week-by-week color forecast for the mountains surrounding Asheville, working with experts from Biltmore, Chimney Rock and the North Carolina Arboretum.
In short, better color is expected this year than last. “Last year, the extreme summer heat took a toll on the trees and the color was not as vibrant as in previous years,” says Mark File, editor. “This year, we have been cooler, so the trees are still very healthy.”
Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture for Biltmore, agrees, “The maples, gum trees and sourwoods still have good strong leaves, with few diseases. We can expect those trees to shine, with the sourwoods, leading the color in early October and maples and gums providing color later in the month. Red oaks also look healthy, and they tend to show their best color at the end of the month.”
Strong color should last for approximately four weeks. According to Matt Popowski from Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, “Our Blue Ridge Mountain range features one of most colorful and longest leaf color displays in the U.S., attracting visitors from around the world. Typically starting in early October, the peak leaf season explodes with a variety of colors at over 6,000 feet elevation, spreading down the mountain and reaching a grand finale in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock.“
Here is the fall color timeline forecast for Asheville and the surrounding mountains:
Early October: The color show begins at the highest elevations such as Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain, with best color in elevations above 4,000 feet, such as Mount Pisgah and much of the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville.
Mid October: Find the most color above 3,000 feet elevation, which includes much of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, along with the Linville Gorge.
Late October: Color is best in the city of Asheville, including the Biltmore Estate and the North Carolina Arboretum.
Early November: Best color is in lowest elevations and the foothills, including Chimney Rock.
To see the top 10 places to enjoy the fall color show according to the readers of RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide, please
click here. For more travel details and the latest fall foliage week-by-week forecast you can
click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com 
Five-Star Trails Asheville: Your Guide to the Area's Most Beautiful Hikes explores the best 35 trails in and around Asheville, NC. The book provides in-depth trails descriptions, directions, and commentary on what to expect along the way. Each hike features an individual trail map, elevation profile, and at-a-glance information, helping readers quickly find the perfect hike while in the Asheville area.
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