Fall Color Gallery 2025

Look out for our daily fall color photographic reports during October. Enjoy a sampling of our colors on Grandfather Mountain and our surrounding area, including the Blue Ridge Parkway. During this time, more detailed daily color reports are also posted on Grandfather Mountain’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Peak colors in our Blue Ridge Mountains begin at the highest summits like Grandfather Mountain in early October and gradually spread down the mountainsides into the valleys for 3-4 weeks. Plan a trip with our Fall Visits Guide and read about the Science Behind Fall Leaf Season on Grandfather.

In late September, shrubs like blueberry, huckleberry and azalea at the highest elevations will signal that fall is quickly approaching. Buckeyes have begun changing to yellow throughout the mountain. These, and locusts, are among the first tree species that turn at Grandfather every year, while maples will also start to get some red hue early in the season. The changing colors of the leaves are tied to several things – weather, leaf pigments and the length of the night being three of the most important ingredients in the process. Moist soil from August rain, warm temperatures during the day and recent cooler temperatures at night have triggered the trees to begin the process of entering winter dormancy.

“We are already starting to see a slight touch of fall color on Grandfather Mountain,” said John Caveny, vice president of conservation and education for Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “The weather conditions during spring and summer were very favorable for a great fall season. Recently, we have experienced warm days and cool nights, which is another essential part of the formula for great fall weather.”

“Grandfather Mountain’s elevation gives us a very interesting view at fall color,” added Caveny. “The highest elevations change first and then the colors begin to make their way down the mountain and into the valley below. This means that we are going to have gorgeous views or color for well over a month!”

Grandfather Mountain offers an ample display of fall color due to the park’s dramatic elevation change. Leaves begin turning at the highest elevations and gradually work down the slopes into the surrounding areas over several weeks. Typically, in mid-to-late September, the earliest colors at the mountain’s highest elevations begin to appear on the shrubs and low-growing flora that call the mountaintop home. Peak color toward the summit is usually early October. The lower sections of the park will often peak in mid-October. The views of fall color brightening up the low-lying valleys below can last through October, and possibly beyond.