Foliage map › National parks and forests › Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests
Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests fall foliage
The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests together cover more than a million acres of the mountains of western North Carolina, wrapping around Asheville and stretching west to the Tennessee line. With elevations from river gorges to the highest peaks in the East, the color moves through for about three weeks, from early October on the highest summits to late October in the valleys.
- Typical peak
- Oct 7 – Oct 26
- Location
- North Carolina
- Size
- More than 1 million acres combined
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 18 at Highlands. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Highlands, at 4,120 feet. See below for other parts of the forest.
Peak by place and elevation
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each place. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s status.
The season at Highlands
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Where to see the color in the Pisgah and Nantahala forests
In the Pisgah National Forest, US 276 passes Looking Glass Falls, which drops beside the road, on the way up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Graveyard Fields, a high open valley near the Parkway, is one of the first places to turn. To the north, Linville Gorge cuts deep into the mountains. In the Nantahala National Forest, around Highlands, the Cullasaja Gorge has Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, and Whiteside Mountain has sheer cliffs above the forest. Farther west, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest protects a stand of giant old-growth trees.
Scenic drive
The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway loops through the Pisgah Ranger District from Brevard on US 276 and NC 215, past Looking Glass Falls and up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the far west, the Cherohala Skyway crosses the mountains between Robbinsville, North Carolina, and Tellico Plains, Tennessee, climbing above 5,000 feet with long views. Sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway can close, so check its status before you go.
Trees you’ll see turning
Scenic drive guides
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests?
It depends on elevation. The highest peaks, like Mount Mitchell, and high valleys like Graveyard Fields typically peak in early to mid-October; places around 3,500 to 4,000 feet, like Highlands and Blowing Rock, in mid- to late October; and the lower valleys around Asheville and Brevard in late October.
What are the best fall drives in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests?
The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway from Brevard, the Blue Ridge Parkway where it crosses the forests, US 64 through the Cullasaja Gorge near Highlands, and the Cherohala Skyway in the far west.