Leaf Season 1970
Fall foliage in the NC High Country — 1970 guide
The NC High Country runs the country's longest fall color show — six weeks of changing leaves cascading from the 5,000-foot ridges of Grandfather and Roan down to the valleys around Boone. Here's when to come, where to drive, and what's on the calendar.
Peak color by elevation
Color moves down the mountain about a week per 1,000 feet of elevation drop.
late Sept – early Oct
5,000+ ft (Grandfather, Roan, Mt. Mitchell)
early–mid Oct
4,000–5,000 ft (Beech, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock)
mid–late Oct
3,000–4,000 ft (Boone, West Jefferson)
late Oct – early Nov
Below 3,000 ft (lower elevations, valleys)
Upcoming fall events
Festivals, harvest events, and weekend gatherings from Sept 15 – Nov 10. Updated live.
No fall events on the calendar yet. Browse all events.
Best scenic drives
Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 294–305)
Moses Cone to Linville — overlooks every few miles, peak color usually mid-October.
NC-181 over Jonas Ridge
Off-Parkway alternative with fewer crowds; pairs well with a stop at Linville Falls.
Roan Mountain via NC-261
High-elevation early-color drive — best the last week of September through the first week of October.
Valle Crucis loop (NC-194)
Slower, scenic farmland and river views from Boone through Valle Crucis to Banner Elk.