A FREE Daily Visitor Guide for the North Carolina Mountains and 50+ NC Mountain Cities: NC Mountains Fall Color Leaf Report: 10-5-11

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

NC Mountains Fall Color Leaf Report: 10-5-11

Photo by H.M.Davis on 10-2-11

Fall color throughout the mountains, from the High Country to the Smokies is showing good clusters of color above 4000 feet in elevation. Winds speeds were higher than usual on the mountain tops, but not enough to loosen the leaves this early in the season. Cool temperatures and strong sunlight help to promote strong color quickly. This week saw the cooler temperature, but the clouds moved in so color change in the lower elevations slowed. With more sunshine through this week color should develop more rapidly.

Photo by M.M.Davis on 10-4-11

Want to see color NOW? Head for the Parkway. regardless of which milepost you begin, within a few minutes and a couple 1000 feet change in elevation, you find the colors you seek. According to Howie Neufeld, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Physiology at Appalachian State University, "this coming weekend should be the front end of the fall foliage peak, at least at 3,000’ and higher, while the next weekend will encompass areas slightly lower down. For some good drives, I recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway, Rt. 194 north in Watauga County, and of course, the turn off at Meat Camp to Elk Knob State Park, with its 360o views at the top of its 5,000’ summit. Further south, the drive to Mt. Mitchell State Park is spectacular, as is a drive through the Pisgah Forest just west of Brevard to the Cradle of Forestry". Folow Dr. Neufeld's facebook page here.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your camera and and head for the hills and the magic that is fall in the North Carolina Mountains...

Need lodging? - there's still lots of availability in all areas of the mountains. CLICK HERE for lodging links and vacation guides for more than 50 NC Mountain cities.

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The Blue Ridge Parkway at 469 miles long is the nation's longest scenic rural parkway. Now 70 years old it is administered by the National Park Service and host to approximately 20 million visits annually. It connects the Shenandoah Valley National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Along the route are opportunities for lodging, dining, camping, hiking and simply enjoying breathtaking views from easily accessible overlooks and picnic areas. For additional information visit :The Blueridge Parkway Association

The River Arts District is open year around with the opportunity to meet artists in their studios. Schedules are available online. This unique area along the French Broad River is home to more than 165 artists with working studios located in 18 turn-of-the-century industrial buildings. The artists of the River Arts District welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic hidden inside the time-worn factories and warehouses along the French Broad River.

Chimney Rock Park is named for a 500 million-year-old giant granite monolith overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge. Visitors are awed by the breathtaking view that spreads 1200 vertical feet beneath them and 75 miles across the Carolinas. The now state owned park encompasses 1,000 acres offers the best of the mountains in one place with spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a variety of special events and much more. Chimney Rock NC

The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has provided funding for almost 1500 state and nationally designated byway projects in 48 states. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities.

Tsali Recreation Area is an outdoors lover's paradise. Probably the most popular features of Tsali Recreation Area are the 39 miles of trails suited for mountain bikers and horse-back riders, as well as hikers. The 4-loop system offers a variety of landscapes. You can climb 1-foot wide rugged paths or travel flat, well-beaten roads. The four trails--Right, Left, Mouse Branch, and Thompson Loops--meander through mixed pine and hardwoods on a peninsula stretching into Fontana Lake. Near Bryson City NC and Robbinsville NC.