Nature’s annual kaleidoscope of color is visiting the Smokies this year with great vigor. To help travelers determine where the best latitude is for leaf viewing at any given time, Gatlinburg provides updated leaf reports at www.gatlinburg.com and a fall foliage page at www.eventsgatlinburg.com.
These links chronicle the descent of full-fledged color from the highest elevations of the Smokies in September to the climax of the color in November and even suggest walks, trails and short drives to take for the best viewing potential.
Autumn in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a special time when a glorious leaf season lasting six to eight weeks is enjoyed by visitors as fall’s vibrant color changes travel down the mountainsides from high elevation of the Smokies to the foothills around Gatlinburg.
There’s always peak color at a certain altitude. The adventure is finding out where the best leaf viewing is at the moment, and that usually requires only a short ride to the top. As you Reach Higher Ground, the colors explode into a spectacle of vivid shades of red and electrifying orange, with sprinklings of deep gold and bright yellows.
The autumn colors surrounding Gatlinburg are magnificent and varied due to the amazing diversity of trees and plant life. Some 100 species of native trees live in the Smokies, the vast majority of which are deciduous. The timing of fall color change depends upon so many variables that the exact dates of "peak" season are impossible to predict in advance.
Weather is a factor, but even Mother Nature has difficulty preventing the Smokies from erupting into a palette of brilliant colors barring a major storm.
Basically, the Smokies are magnificent.
"Over the years, we have not had much success in predicting the quality of the color display months or weeks before it occurs,” said Bob Miller, spokesman for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “We have had drought years, like 2008, when we ended up with excellent color, and wet seasons when we had good color, too.
Ultimately what drives the quality of the color is the weather at the time when change is taking place. The best color comes when we have cool crisp nights, but not hard freezes, combined with bright sunny, warm days. An early hard freeze can brown-out the leaves and they'll drop off. Severe weather like torrential rains and sustained winds can also take a toll on the leaves, tearing them off easily once they have changed. But we always have good color somewhere it the Smokies."
Color displays above 4,000 feet start in mid-September with the turning of yellow birch, American beech, mountain maple, hobblebush, and pin cherry, clearly visible from such vantage points as Clingmans Dome Road.
The fall color display usually reaches peak at middle and lower elevations between mid-October and early November. This is the Park’s most spectacular display as it includes such colorful trees as sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, and the hickories.
"It's still too soon to predict what the leaf color will be like this fall,” said Nancy Gray, who complies a weekly leaf report for the Smokies. “On average, the color peaks at the elevation of Gatlinburg about the third week in October, but we have had seasons the last few years when full change was delayed – with most trees staying green through much of October then giving us a great color show the second week in November.
“We’ve begun putting out periodic updates of what sorts of trees are in what percentage of color change and will offer some more specific suggestions about where visitors can go in and around the Park to see good fall color."
To view Gray’s weekly leaf reports, visit www.gatlinburg.com.
Gatlinburg is the Southeast’s premier fall color destination, offering something for all ages. Family-friendly and affordable, this walkable community nestled in the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains provides the perfect setting for fall vacations. Groups, families and couples will find something spectacular to their liking.
Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg boasts countless lodging, dining and entertainment options. Explore the popular Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, ride the country's longest aerial tram, browse through hundreds of unique shops, and revel in the splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains as you Reach Higher Ground in Gatlinburg. For more information on fall travel in Gatlinburg including outstanding deals and packages, please contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce at (800) 56-VISIT or visit www.gatlinburg.com.  For media information and digital images, visit www.gatlinburgpressroom.com.

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