Leaf Season in the High Country

The High Country summers that we know and love must all come to an end, but just as many people travel up the mountains for summer, so do the mountains get an influx of visitors for the fall month. Many traverse up the mountains for a glimpse of the crisp reds and vibrant yellows that surge …

As the Blue Ridge Mountains begin to burst with a cacophony of fall color, Grandfather Mountain is the optimum location for leaf-lookers to see the brilliant change from one of the best leaf-looking destinations in the South.

It has been a busy summer on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2019 for the National Park Service, which looks over this amazing roadway. Since the spring, crews have been repairing and repaving the Parkway in the section that surrounds Boone, N.C., and they have stayed steady with their work.

Although temperatures are still relatively mild in late September in the mountains of North Carolina, there are many changes that indicate that fall is well underway and that winter is coming. The cool mornings often cause formation of fog in the valleys. The photo from Grandview Overlook al…

Across the state of North Carolina, explaining where one lives locally in proximity to Grandfather Mountain is a surefire way for inquirers to pinpoint what part of the world you are from.

Autumn casts a colorful reflection on Grandfather Lake, as fog shrouds Grandfather Mountain above. Much of the foliage on the mountain is at or near peak color, with leaves also changing at lower elevations. According to Dr. Howie Neufeld, Appalachian State University professor of biology pr…

It can be hard to say “goodbye” to summer, but in the High Country, it’s a little easier to say “hello” to fall.

This time of year, especially around the High Country, the questions invariably arise: “When will the colors of fall cover the High Country?” and “When will they be at their peak?”

The Blue Ridge Parkway is particularly popular among visitors in autumn, offering scenic overlooks and opportunities to experience the beautiful colors of the changing leaves.

Any season is the perfect season for touring the back roads of the High Country, but “leaf season” provides the ultimate scenic experience for visitors and homefolk, alike.

Nothing says nighttime in the mountains in the fall like a trip to Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train and Halloween Festival.