Fall color forecast: Where to see autumn leaves in the Smokies this week and next

Higher elevations offer the best opportunities now, with color expected to spread into the mountains around Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge as October progresses.

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center) — Fall color is gradually working its way down the mountainsides across the Great Smoky Mountains, giving visitors several opportunities to plan a scenic drive or mountain getaway over the next two weeks.

The best places to look for autumn leaves will depend largely on elevation, with higher ridges generally changing first before color spreads into valleys and foothills. The latest outlook calls for low color in the Tennessee foothills, moderate color across Western North Carolina and increasingly widespread color across the region as the season progresses.

For visitors planning a trip, the next two weeks offer opportunities to see different stages of fall across the Tennessee-North Carolina border.

This week: Look between 4,000 and 5,000 feet

During the week of Oct. 12, visitors should focus on higher elevations, particularly along mountain ridges and scenic roadways between approximately 4,000 and 5,000 feet.

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Newfound Gap Road, which connects Gatlinburg with Cherokee, North Carolina, is one of the best routes for experiencing changing color at different elevations. The road climbs from the Tennessee side through the mountains to Newfound Gap, at approximately 5,046 feet, before descending into North Carolina.

Visitors can stop at scenic overlooks along the route to see the contrast between higher-elevation forests and greener valleys below. The Kuwohi Road area, formerly known as Clingmans Dome Road, also offers access to high-elevation scenery, weather permitting.

On the North Carolina side, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides additional opportunities to view colorful mountain ridges. The Waterrock Knob area near Maggie Valley offers expansive views across the surrounding mountains, although the overlook itself sits above the 4,000- to 5,000-foot elevation range.

The current outlook calls for low fall color across the Tennessee foothills, while Western North Carolina is expected to have moderate color. Visitors may see a patchwork of green, yellow, orange and red rather than a continuous blanket of peak foliage.

READ ON – Next week: Watch the mountains around Maggie Valley and Waynesville for Fall Foliage