Foliage Report for September 16, 2025
I need to post this update to my previous report, because since that posting, since there have been some new developments, plus a lot of color has started showing up in the High Country (at least in some places). If any information is wrong here, it is partly due to the fact that no one now answers the phones at the visitors center, possibly due to budget cutbacks that have severely curtailed services at most National Parks this year, and so I can’t get up-to-date information for you.
Most importantly, Mt. Mitchell State Park (milepost 355 on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) reopened to visitors as of yesterday (https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/mount-mitchell-state-park). But you must get on the Parkway just north of Asheville to get there. You cannot get on NC Rt. 80 and head south on BRP because it is closed in that stretch.
This means that the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/poi/craggy-gardens/), which is located 20 miles north of the BRP Visitor Center near Asheville, at milepost 364.4 is now open also. However, the picnic area just north of there is still closed. If you want to get on the Pinnacle Trail (which I highly recommend for its spectacular views and wildflower displays), I am told you can get to it from the visitor center parking lot, but I can’t confirm that. It would mean a longer hike to the top if you can even do it all. However, the views from the Visitor Center are quite good.
Just north of Mt. Mitchell to near Little Switzerland is the last unopened section of the BRP and it doesn’t look like it will be open for this fall’s leaf color season. But as I noted in the previous posting, there is a three mile segment that allows you to get to The Orchard at Altapass (https://altapassorchard.org/) at milepost 328.3.
Our spate of cool weather did indeed jump start some of the trees. However, with the lack of rain over the past several weeks, we’re starting to see the effects of water stress on some trees. The ones most affected are sycamores (Platanus occidentalis and P. orientalis), tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera), and birches (Betula sp.). These species turn yellow, or may drop crinkled brown leaves early on as a result of the lack of water. They are particularly noticeable in the foothills, where the higher temperatures exacerbate the drought effects.
However, in my nearly 20 years of following fall colors, I have never seen peak color more than just a few days earlier than the long-term average time. In the attached graphic, you can see that only a few times in the past has peak color come especially early (at least in the 3,000’-4,000’ elevational range). More commonly, warm temperatures substantially delay peak color, as you can see happened in 2018 and 2019, when those Octobers had way above normal temperatures.
In town, a variety of trees are peaking now, mainly the Freeman maples (which are bred for their fall leaf color and commonly planted throughout the region), little leaf linden trees (Tilia cordata: I saw some in the Harris Teeter parking lot in Boone, of all places; they turn yellow), and burning bushes (Euonymus alata) are flaming red now (pun intended).
I see the beginnings of color on the hills surrounding Boone, while others have noted this at the higher elevations in the High Country. If you want to go to Craggy Gardens I’d suggest doing so this coming weekend and the next to catch it near peak. Same for Graveyard Fields (milepost 418.8 down near Canton: https://www.nps.gov/places/graveyard-fields.htm), which peaks early given its 5,120’ elevation. I also think that valley peaks earlier than expected because it gets cold air drainage from the surrounding hills. It’s called Graveyard Fields either because a windstorm took down lots of trees in the past, or logging left it barren of trees, or both, with the stumps looking like gravestones. There is a nice waterfall with a wooden boardwalk, plus a 3.2 mile loop trail. There can be bears, so be aware and parking is very limited, so get there early.