Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Color Report

(updated Monday and Thursday throughout leaf season)

October 29, 2001

Any time during the middle two weeks of October, visitors can find good color displays along the Parkway in many areas, although the exact "peak" of color may vary from year to year. When planning your October visit to the Parkway, try to drive some distance in order to change elevation, north-south orientation, and to view foliage on east and west facing slopes. Photographs of fall colors turn out much better using early morning or late afternoon light rather than middle of the day sun.

Keep the following safety tips in mind this time of year as well:

• Don’t be so distracted by the colors that you fail to keep your eyes on the road.

• When wet leaves fall during heavy rain, they can be extremely slick on the roadways.

• There is a "red flag" warning for extremely dry forest conditions this weekend... be careful with fire!

In general, the low to mid elevations of the Parkway are experiencing the last of their fall color right now and the higher elevations are past their peak.  Occasional spots of color, as always, will be visible into early November.

In Virginia...

Heading into the higher elevations north or south of Roanoke, there is some pretty color still remaining. North of the James River, climbing to the higher elevations, the transition brings fall color still worth the drive.

Colors are past peak around Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob but a few areas still have patches of color remaining.

In North Carolina...

All higher elevations are past their peak color, although an occasional patch of pretty foliage is possible in a few areas around Boone.

Mid to low elevations in and around Asheville should continue to be pretty throughout this week. High elevations south of Asheville are past their color.

http://www.nps.gov/blri/home.htm
Revised 10/02/01
For more information, contact Peter_Givens@nps.gov