Rain slows leaf color change at state’s highest peaks

Weeks of clouds and rain are delaying the arrival of fall leaf colors in forests on the state’s mountain tops.

When sunny days return, the show is expected to kick into gear at the highest elevations, said Howie Neufeld, a plant physiologist at Appalachian State University.

“Lately it’s been sort of misty and hasn’t been windy at all,” Neufeld said. “That means once the weather clears up ... we should be back on with the leaves changing color.”

Cooler weather at mountain peaks causes leaves in those areas to change earlier than in other parts of the state. The delay in the change of seasons due to the lack of sunshine gives you more time to plan a visit.

Book a room now if you want to stay in the high country. Vacancies become scarce at this time of year at many locations.

Plan to visit one of these peak elevations once the rain and clouds move out, Neufeld suggests:

▪ Graveyard Fields: It’s one of the most popular hiking spots in the North Carolina mountains. The location is about an hour south of Asheville at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418.8. You’ll find an overlook and parking area, waterfalls and a 3.2-mile trail that is suitable for family hikes. The trail to Lower Falls leads to grassy areas and pools for summer wading. Its top elevation is 5,280 feet.

▪ Waterrock Knobb is at milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the Smoky Mountains, with an overlook just south of graveyards. There’s also a 1.2-mile circular trail to the top, a height of 6,292 feet. You’ll find a visitor center and exhibits after the steep 412-foot climb.

▪ Cherohala Skyway is a 36-mile highway that crosses through the Nantahala National Forest in southwest North Carolina to the Cherokee National Forest in southeast Tennessee. The mile-high vistas through the wild, remote territory serve up tremendous fall color. From Charlotte, it’s about a 200-mile drive to get on the Skyway in Robbinsville in Graham County. Because the area is remote, it doesn’t attract the large crowds that can create traffic jams. Along the route to Tellico Plains, Tenn., you can detour to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which has nearly 4,000 acres of forest that have never been logged.

▪ Mount Mitchell State Park gives visitors access to the highest peak east of the Mississippi, with a summit at 6,684 feet. That makes it a popular destination. Among the amenities are an observation deck with 360-degree views, trails, a museum and visitor center, campsites and a restaurant. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park.

▪ Roan Mountain is in a Tennessee town bearing the same name and has a summit at 6,285 feet. Roan Mountain State Park has waterfalls, about 12 miles of hiking trails, 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails, waterfalls, horseback riding, boating and fishing for three kinds of trout at Doe River. The drive to the mountain’s top is scenic, and the Appalachian Trail passes through.

▪ Grandfather Mountain is a popular tourist destination on U.S. 221 near Linville. Visitors come for walks and hikes and to see the mile-high swinging bridge. The park also offers programs in nature and birding among its educational offerings. See cougars and otters in the wildlife habitat. There’s also a nature museum and a fudge shop. It’s wise to plan a visit and to arrive early or on a weekday. Long waits to get in are possible during the fall once parking spaces fill up.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Rain slows leaf color change at state’s highest peaks."