"Fall" in love with North Carolina in the fall!
North Carolina is arguably one of the best states in the U.S. for viewing fall foliage. As the mountain air begins to turn crisp, the trees become brilliant shades of golds, oranges, reds, and even deep purples.
Add to that the pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and Christmas tree farms that dot the Blue Ridge mountainsides and you get the perfect seasonal getaway. See why experiencing the fall colors in North Carolina should be on the top of your autumn bucket list!
Fall Colors in North Carolina's High Country
The High Country in North Carolina refers to areas with the highest elevations in the state. Fall colors peak here first and then continue to trickle down into the foothills. Prime leaf-peeping spots here are in small mountain towns, state parks, and national forests.
Banner Elk and Valle Crucis
Banner Elk lies in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This small mountain town is famous for the Wooly Worm Festival held every October, which is similar to Groundhog Day but instead a wooly worm predicts the forecast. It’s quite a spectacle!
Banner Elk sits 3,700 feet above sea level and produces some of the brightest and boldest fall colors in North Carolina. A great fall foliage viewing spot is from the grounds of the Banner Elk Winery, where you can try a flight of wine while staying warm by one of the fire pits.
Valle Crucis, or “Vale of the Cross”, is a small community filled with historic chapels and buildings, including the original Mast General Store built in 1883. The two neighboring towns are connected by a short but very scenic drive on Hwy 194, passing an Alpaca farm and roadside apple and honey stands in the fall.
Boone and Blowing Rock
Boone and Blowing Rock are neighboring towns close enough to each other to see both in one day, but plan for stops at some of the local shops, breweries, and restaurants. These quaint towns really epitomize “fall in the mountains”, rolling out the autumnal red carpet with pumpkins, hay bales, and fall colors everywhere you turn.
The Blowing Rock is named for winds that seem to blow objects upwards out of the valley instead of down. The rock itself is North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction; just a short walk to the lookout grants visitors sweeping views of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, and the brightly colored valleys below. Stop by Blowing Rock Brewing Company after for a delicious soft pretzel with beer cheese and a pint of the Roasted Pumpkin Ale, perfect for fall!
Tip: For a fun fall day with the kids, the Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s “Wild West Theme Park”, is located between Blowing Rock and Boone and is open on weekends in September and October.
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Just a short drive from Boone and Banner Elk is Grandfather Mountain, a 5,946′ high peak towering over its surroundings. A ticketed entry to Grandfather Mountain State Park leads visitors to one of the highlights: a mile high swinging bridge that is 228 feet long, crossing over an 80 foot chasm and offering 360 degree panoramic views. Take some of the trails throughout the park and enjoy the autumn views from one of the highest peaks in North Carolina!
After an exhilarating day at the park, take time to un-“wine”-d at the Grandfather Mountain Winery. With views of the mountain’s silhouette (named by early settlers because it looks like an old man’s profile), share a glass of wine with friends and enjoy the colorful vineyards surrounding the winery.
Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah National Forest is massive, covering three wilderness areas and over 500,000 acres of mountainous terrain. The forest also includes Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak in the eastern United States measuring 6,684 feet. This elevation offers 360 degree views of the Appalachian Mountains, perfect for spotting changing leaves. For a unique lodging experience nearby, Pisgah Inn is perched on Mount Pisgah and offers incredible views from the guest rooms.
Note: Due to the elevation the leaves start to change here first, so if you don’t see any fall colors yet in the foothills we suggest making your way a little higher.
The Linville Gorge Wilderness lies inside the national forest and encompasses Linville Gorge and Linville Falls, two great spots for hiking and viewing fall colors. Even on a cloudy autumn afternoon the brilliant colors show off in the gorge. Sunrise and sunset here are perfect visiting times for the various viewpoints and overlooks.
The Linville Falls Winery is another great stop along your leaf-peeping road trip. Guests can bring their glass of wine through the vineyards and the Christmas tree farm, and hayrides are offered certain days in the fall.
Leaf-Peeping Spots in Western North Carolina
The High Country doesn’t get to have all of the claim to fall fame! Once the leaves start to change at higher elevations, the foothills won’t be far behind. Keep reading for more of our favorite spots for fall colors in Western North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the number one attraction in the U.S. National Park system, with over 15 million visitors each year. More than just a pretty drive, the parkway rises and falls almost 6,000 feet in elevation, covers 469 miles of roadway, and includes a wide range of habitats, wildlife, terrains, climate, and geological features. It’s no wonder it is called “America’s Favorite Drive”.
Tip: The Blue Ridge Parkway site offers live webcams throughout the fall season for planning your road trip in order to have maximum fall color viewing.
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. One of the most photographed sections of the parkway is the Linn Cove Viaduct, a 1,243-foot-long concrete bridge that snakes around Grandfather mountain. In peak season when it is enveloped in fall foliage, the viaduct becomes the quintessential spot for that iconic parkway photo.
Fall Colors in Asheville
Although Asheville is a larger city than the ones we have highlighted already, it is definitely a place to check out for fall foliage. Take one of the many hikes around town to get into the foothills and see the colors up close. Or visit the Biltmore Estate for epic mountain views, plus acres of gardens filled with mums and all things fall.
Asheville is one of our favorite mountain towns and is a great place to stay on any fall leaf-peeping road trip. With great food, tons of craft breweries, a thriving arts district, and lively music scene it is easy to spend one day in Asheville.
Chimney Rock State Park
Not only were completely amazing movies filmed at Chimney Rock such as The Last of the Mohicans, but just a mile down the road at Lake Lure scenes from Dirty Dancing were recorded. Even Hollywood filmmakers can recognize the geographical beauty that lives in this region. The views from the top of Chimney Rock are always breathtaking, but those gorgeous fall colors in the valleys below really make everything look and feel more alive.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains are a sub-range of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and they aren’t really smoky at all! What we see is actually fog rising up from the vegetation (millions of trees, bushes, and plants) in the area, further compounded by abundant rainfall and high humidity. It is this combination that creates the brilliant fall colors in North Carolina.
Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountain National Park, and is the perfect place for fall photographs. But don’t miss the gorgeous colors along the drive through the park as well! Also, keep on the lookout for all of the wildlife that make a home in the park such as black bears, elk, white-tailed deer, and foxes. Fall is a great time to observe these animals out and about while they are gearing up for the winter.
The Best Time to See Fall Foliage in North Carolina
North Carolina actually boasts one of the longest leaf-peeping seasons around! Starting in the higher elevations in the High Country on mountain peaks upwards of 6,000 feet and ending in the foothills, the best fall colors in North Carolina happen from September to mid-November.
It may be tough to plan your fall visit exactly, as no one can predict Mother Nature’s schedule. But the best time to visit North Carolina to see peak fall foliage is typically in the middle of October. Even if you don’t arrive in prime autumn viewing season, you will be able to see a lot of trees that have turned those brilliant golds, oranges, and reds we fall-lovers crave.
If you’re looking to enjoy the beautiful fall colors in North Carolina, we have plenty of options for you! Whether it’s a day hike, a long weekend, or a road trip, we hope you find inspiration here. Sign up below to get more ideas and ways to enjoy the fall season.
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Happy travels!
Wow, so many gorgeous photos! I absolutely loved driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and exploring Asheville during the fall a few years ago. I’d love to go back and explore more of these places! Thanks for sharing.
Woow this is such a great post! Thank you for all this information
Wow! Absolutely stunning photos – the colours are so beautiful. I have a friend who just moved to Asheville! Small world. I would really love to visit one day – I hope I make it there in the fall 🙂
Asheville is such a great town, you should make time to visit for sure 🙂
I have not been to North Carolina yet, but now adding to my bucket list. Gorgeous pictures! I would love to check out the Blowing rock and Blue Ridge Parkway someday. The views from the top of the Chimney Rock look amazing. 🙂
I am about to go hit the road now to go check all of these places out! Just kidding but seriously thank you so much I will be using this guide for years to come!
You definitely should check them out, especially in the fall!
This looks so dreamy! I have never visited the Blue Ridge Mountains but now I just have to, especially in the fall. This makes me want to visit Grandfather Mountain and then go home a bake an apple pie! Thank you for putting this guide together!