Fall foliage around the United States can be breathtaking. There are a number of amazing areas that catch the beauty of the changing seasons. The Smoky Mountains are a fantastic place for families and individuals to come and see the beautiful fall foliage. Make sure to plan a trip to see the beauty of fall in the Smoky Mountains.
Fall in the Smoky Mountains surpasses many other regions of America because of its geographical location. Northern states such as Minnesota, Maine, Michigan and others face challenges of extreme cold, fickle weather throughout autumn. This weather can be a detriment to fall foliage. In addition to this, the leaves on the trees do not stay on very long, nor do the cold temperatures help at all. The Smoky Mountains is less affected by rapid weather change and is blessed to have good temperatures during fall.
To some, it may seem like a challenge to find the best place to visit fall in the Smoky Mountains. However, there is a terrific place where folks can go. That place is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has over 800 miles of land and acres of over 100 different kinds of trees. With over 350 miles to drive on, it is a terrific place for folks to come and see fall foliage. In addition to this, there is no fee to get into the park and it is open every day of the year. There are a number of entrances in the park in various states including North Carolina and Tennessee.
Before driving to Smoky Mountains National Park to enjoy the breathtaking colors, keep in mind these few things. First, keep in mind that fall foliage is affected by the weather. While the Smoky Mountains receive a lot of rainfall, dry spells can reduce the amount of color in the leaves and prevent it from reaching its potential. Secondly, the sun and the coolness affect trees day and night. Bright days and cool, crisp evenings help preserve and enhance fall foliage while cloudy and unseasonably warm days can prevent color. Finally, remember that different elevations affect the fall foliage of the trees. Trees with higher elevation have their colors change before trees with lower elevations. Therefore, if one misses the colors in the heights, the lowlands still have plenty of fall foliage to offer.
While driving to Great Smoky Mountains National Park may not be a difficult thing to do, finding the best time to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains can be challenging. While colors vary at the park, trees begin to change color in higher elevations around the middle of September. The best overall colors of the Smoky Mountains in lower elevations occur in the middle of October to early November. These dates can change as seen above, but overall, the colors are consistent. View the information provided by the National Park Service to see the current fall leaf color.
Fall in the beautiful Smoky Mountains is an unforgettable experience. Though finding the best time to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains can be challenging, it is worth the research. Seeing fall foliage in the Smoky Mountains is truly memorable. Make sure and see all the beauty that the Smoky Mountains on when you stay with us at the beautiful Inn on the River in Pigeon Forge.
Where is your favorite place to see the beautiful fall colors? Clingmans Dome? Mt. LeConte? Cades Cove? Let us know your favorite on our Inn on the River Facebook page.
