2026 Blue Ridge fall color report: Sept. 24-Oct. 1
Oh my, it is shaping up to be a beautiful fall season in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The first hints of autumn color are beginning to appear, with red maples and birches just starting to turn at higher elevations. Down in the foothills, sourwoods and tulip poplars are getting in on the action, too. While there is still plenty of green across the mountains, goldenrod, asters and the bright red berries of mountain ash are adding their own splashes of color.
The palette is just beginning to take shape, and you really should come and see.
No matter when or where you roam while visiting McDowell County this autumn, there is something special about watching the Blue Ridge Mountains change with the season.
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Bookmark this page. The regularly updated fall color reports will highlight the best places to find autumn hues each week. Seasonal festivals and events will also be included to help you plan your fall getaway to McDowell County.
Where to see fall color this week
Sept. 24-Oct. 1, 2026
Reports from Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway indicate recent mornings have featured thick fog blanketing the mountains, and the landscape is still mostly green. But the first signs of autumn are beginning to emerge.
Above 4,500 feet, birches and red maples are just starting to turn. Goldenrod and asters are blooming, while the bright vermilion berries of mountain ash are adding pops of color to the landscape.
At lower elevations, below 2,500 feet, tulip poplars and sourwoods are also beginning their seasonal transformation.
For an early-season adventure, take a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the changing scenery at higher elevations. Graveyard Fields is a place to experience the first hints of fall, although fog and changing mountain weather can affect visibility.
The main color show is still ahead, but there is something notable about watching autumn make its first appearance in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Where to go for a fall hike?
For hikers eager to get a head start on fall color, head north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mt. Mitchell State Park. At 6,684 feet, this is the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River, and on a clear day you can see for miles into surrounding states. While the park itself is comprised mostly of red spruce and Fraser fir trees, you may catch glimpses of fall color beginning to form along the lower ridges.
There are multiple hiking trails, a restaurant on site and an observation deck to take in the views. It is a place to watch the season unfold, even before peak foliage arrives.
Be prepared for temperatures to be about 15 to 20 degrees cooler at the summit.
This week's do-not-miss in McDowell County
Back-to-back Oktoberfest celebrations
Marion and Old Fort are celebrating Oktoberfest with a weekend of live music, games, German-inspired food and family-friendly activities.
Friday, Sept. 25: Oktoberfest in Marion
The festivities begin in downtown Marion, where Mica Town Brewing's Oktoberfest Block Party features games in the alley, stein-hoisting and pretzel-focused activities.
The celebration coincides with Fourth Fridays in Downtown Marion, featuring Das Oompapas and their Oktoberfest music from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26: Oktoberfest in Old Fort
The festivities move to Old Fort on Saturday, with two celebrations to choose from.
Foothills Watershed begins with an all-ages soccer tournament, followed by a day of family activities, craft beer and live music from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, Appalachian Mountain Brewery Outpost & Kitchen hosts its first Oktoberfest, featuring German-inspired food, beer and live music from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This week's favorite fall activities in and around McDowell County
- Sept. 24-26 from noon to 7 p.m. daily
- 70 Club House Road, Nebo, NC
Bring the family to the corn maze for the day and enjoy the free admission. You will see pumpkin patches and fall decor on the farm.
- Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon
- Holly Discovery Trail, Lake James State Park, 2229 Lake James State Park Road, Nebo
This kid-, dog- and family-friendly trail hike is presented by Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail and Lake James State Park. This free interactive one-mile loop walk offers a way to experience the Fonta Flora State Trail in the fall and learn more about the surrounding nature.
For more ways to celebrate the season, explore the McDowell County events calendar for festivals, live music, outdoor adventures and more throughout the fall.
Timing your trip to see fall color in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Due to variations in elevation and numerous deciduous trees, the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina experience a long fall leaf color season. This extended color season means that no matter when you plan your visit, you are likely to see fall foliage, as long as you know where to look.
When visiting McDowell in the Fall, pack layers for leaf-looking comfort. It can be up to 15 degrees cooler at higher elevations.
The fall color changes typically begin at the highest elevations in late September, soon after the first calendar days of fall. Early color appears at Grandfather Mountain or at Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Linville Falls often shows bright pops of gold early in the season.
Over the next couple of weeks, color makes its way down the mountain slopes into the midrange elevations. Early to mid-October is a time to take a scenic drive along the Parkway, watch the leaves fall beside Crabtree Falls, and stop for lunch in Little Switzerland.
Mid fall
During October, take a scenic ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With numerous lookouts and vantage points along the route, the Parkway offers views across the peaks and valleys of the North Carolina mountains.
Once the lower elevations start to see color change around mid to late October, plan a visit to Pisgah National Forest and maximize your leaf-peeping from the heart of the forest with hiking trails in Curtis Creek. Mountain bikers can visit the Old Fort Gateway Trail System, where the trails are surrounded by fall foliage. The waterfalls along the hiking and biking trails are active this time of year.
Do not leave the area without a visit to the Linville Gorge. Located about 45 minutes outside of Marion and 40 minutes from Little Switzerland, the gorge offers fall-color viewing in the area. The jagged rock formations descend 2,000 feet into the valley below to the Linville River. The yellow, orange and red trees lining the steep walls characterize autumn in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains.
Late fall
By early November, the trees show color along the main streets of Blue Ridge towns. Visitors can browse shops, galleries and local restaurants in Old Fort and Marion. Fall is also visible in the calm waters of Lake James.
Be sure to plan for your fall getaway to McDowell County. Old Fort, Marion, Nebo, Little Switzerland and Linville Falls are locations for fall activities in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is one of the more popular times to visit the mountains, and accommodations can fill up. Book a place to stay at a hotel, bed and breakfast, campground, cabin or vacation rental.
