Fall Color Report Mid-October

The above photo is from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooking Graveyard Fields and Yellowstone Prong taken earlier this week.  This is close to 5000 ft. elevation.  The colors are starting to change, but even at this altitude fall color is still not at its peak.  Down in Maggie Valley at about 3000 ft. elevation, the maples, birches, cherries, and a few other trees are starting to turn, but we still have a long way to go before full-color season.  I think the peak season at 3000-4000 ft. elevation will be in a couple of weeks.  That would make the peak here in Maggie Valley the last week in October.  Hurricane Matthew gave us a little bit of much needed rain (about 1 inch at my home), but thankfully, we didn’t get much wind.  The color at 5000 ft. to 6000 ft. should be peaking from this weekend until next weekend.  That would be a great time to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Remember too, the further north you travel on the Parkway, the earlier the color season.  Boone usually peaks about 7 to 10 days before we do.  The National Park Service has done a great job of opening up the views on many of the Parkway overlooks.  There should be many places to pull off the road and take photos, or take a blanket and a picnic to enjoy the cooler Fall air.  If you’re on the Parkway, look out for those motorcycles and bicycles!  Remember, the Parkway is not an interstate.  Take your time and enjoy the ride.