Fall Color Report

Leaves & Lily Pads

October 31, 2021

Colorful fall foliage adds a different sort of depth to Bass Lake in nearby Blowing Rock. Today marks the final entry in Grandfather Mountain's 2021 Fall Color Gallery. With most fall color having peaked in...

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Half Moon Sunburst

October 30, 2021

Sunlight bursts through some equally vibrant fall color near Grandfather Mountain's Half Moon overlook. Although color is past peak at higher elevations, there is still plenty to be seen at lower elevations, especially from Grandfather's...

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Looking Toward Linville

October 29, 2021

As seen from Grandfather Mountain during the morning hours of Oct. 29, dazzling fall color rolls along the landscape toward the nearby town of Linville, as low-laying clouds drift through the valleys. Colors are beaming...

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Banner Elk Sunrise

October 28, 2021

Before the morning clouds moved in, today's sunrise bathed the landscape in warm, orange hues, enhancing the area's already vibrant fall colors, as seen from nearby Banner Elk. Foliage remains radiant at elevations in the...

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Bass Lake & Cone Manor

October 27, 2021

The historic Cone Manor rests above Bass Lake in nearby Blowing Rock, as fall color continues to adorn the shoreline and hillsides. Fall color beams from the treetops surrounding Bass Lake. Colors are currently peaking...

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Half Moon Rainbow at Grandfather Mountain & More

October 26, 2021

A rainbow forms over Grandfather Mountain's iconic peaks, as fall color brightens up the foreground at the park's Half Moon Overlook. According to Dr. Howie Neufeld, professor of biology at Appalachian State University and the...

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Grandfather Lake & 221

October 25, 2021

Fall color cascades down the lower slopes of Grandfather Mountain to the shores of nearby Grandfather Lake. This past weekend saw peak color throughout much of the WNC High Country, and experts anticipate elevations above...

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Reflections of Autumn on Price Lake

October 24, 2021

Pictured late last week, fall color and blue skies cast a brilliant reflection on Price Lake (Blue Ridge Parkway MP 296.7), with Grandfather Mountain rising in the background. Experts anticipate peak color to develop this...

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221 & Blue Ridge Parkway

October 23, 2021

Vivid fall color fills the frame, as seen from the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and U.S. 221 near Grandfather Mountain. Colors are now peaking in this area, and experts anticipate the color change...

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View of Hawksbill & Table Rock

October 22, 2021

Hawksbill and Table Rock mountains' distinct profiles rise over the horizon, as framed by fall color seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway between the Grandfather Mountain exit and Stack Rock Creek (mileposts 305 and 304.8,...

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Beacon Heights & Lost Cove Cliffs

October 21, 2021

Grandfather Mountain spans the horizon with accompanying fall color, as seen from nearby Beacon Heights (milepost 305.2) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Meanwhile, fall color works its way down Lost Cove Cliffs, as seen from...

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Viaduct at Sunset

October 20, 2021

The Blue Ridge Parkway's iconic Linn Cove Viaduct weaves around Grandfather Mountain, as the Oct. 19 sunset casts the area's resplendent fall color in evening light. Foliage is bursting with color from this section of...

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MacRae Meadows

October 19, 2021

Grandfather Mountain's color-dappled peaks rise beyond MacRae Meadows, site of the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Although fall color is peaking at the area's higher elevations, many trees in lower elevations have yet to turn,...

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Linn Cove Viaduct

October 18, 2021

The Linn Cove Viaduct area on the Blue Ridge Parkway is beaming with brilliant fall color. Experts anticipate this particular area and others nearby to reach peak color any day now. "The Blue Ridge Parkway...

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Price Lake

October 17, 2021

Fall color splashes onto the shores of Price Lake along the Blue Ridge Parkway. With weekend temperatures taking a significant dip, experts expect to see a rapid increase in fall foliage in the coming week....

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Parkway Bridge

October 16, 2021

Brilliant fall color frames the Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain, as seen Friday, Oct. 15. As pictured, color is bursting in the area's higher elevations, such as those between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above...

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Split Rock

October 15, 2021

Grandfather Mountain's Split Rock may literally be divided, but fall color vistas from this particular area are wholly stunning. With cool weather and sunshine in the forecast, this weekend will be an ideal time to...

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The Lake at Camp Yonahnoka

October 14, 2021

Fall color is reflected in the lake at Camp Yonahnoka near Linville, N.C., as Grandfather Mountain rises in the distance. Colors are continuing to progress at a steady rate, and with a dip in temperature...

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Scenic Picnic

October 13, 2021

Pictured during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Oct. 13, this picnic spot on Grandfather Mountain, located just before Split Rock and Sphinx Rock, offers spectacular views of fall color, accompanied by the mountains and...

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Profile View from Seven Devils

October 12, 2021

Fall color stretches along Grandfather Mountain's iconic profile, as viewed from the nearby town of Seven Devils. A recent bout of warm weather seems to have slowed the color progression, meaning vibrant colors are still...

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Autumn Sunrise from the Top

October 11, 2021

Fall color descends Grandfather Mountain's slopes, past the nonprofit nature park's upper switchbacks and into a sea of clouds below, just before sunrise this morning, Oct. 11. Sunrise breaks through the clouds, highlighting the surrounding...

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Blue Ridge Parkway

October 10, 2021

Today kicks off a pattern of perfect autumn weather at Grandfather Mountain! The extended forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the 60s. Today's photo is from the Blue Ridge Parkway, traveling south from Blowing...

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Cliffside Overlook

October 9, 2021

It's been a wet week on Grandfather Mountain, as demonstrated by this foggy photo from Cliffside Overlook. Leaf lookers need not worry! Plenty of green leaves still remain on trees with lovely pops of color...

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Autumn Viewfinder

October 8, 2021

You don't necessarily need a viewfinder to see fall color spreading along Grandfather Mountain's slopes into the surrounding mountains below — but it certainly couldn't hurt. Here, low-laying clouds glide over the reds, golds and...

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Wilson Creek & Blue Ridge Parkway

October 7, 2021

Fallen leaves line the Tanawha Trail footbridge over Wilson Creek, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 303.6), as the remaining greenery begins turning to gold. Photos by Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation...

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From the Top

October 6, 2021

An early morning break in the clouds offers stunning views of color-dappled hills and valleys, as seen from atop Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak and the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Photos by Skip Sickler | Grandfather...

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Near Rough Ridge

October 5, 2021

While fog typically obstructs views, during autumn, it can serve as a striking contrast for vibrant fall color, as seen here near Rough Ridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 302.8). Color is just starting...

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From Banner Elk

October 4, 2021

Sunrise cascades over the WNC High Country, highlighting bursts of fall color appearing in the area's lower elevations, as seen from the town of Banner Elk this past Sunday. Standing more than a mile high...

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The Back Porch

October 3, 2021

When it comes to outdoor dining, Grandfather Mountain has the best seat in the house. Be it at a picnic site or the newly renovated deck outside of Mildred's Grill (pictured), Grandfather's fall foliage is...

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Near MacRae Meadows

October 2, 2021

Golden autumnal hues make the forest glow just above MacRae Meadows near the base of Grandfather Mountain. Colors continue to be the most prevalent at the mountain's higher elevations, although colorful patches at relatively lower...

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