Fall In The Smokies Brings Out Colorful Leaves And Festive Events For The Whole Family

When is fall color at its peak? It's the most often-asked question from people planning an autumn trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. With its wide range of elevations, the Smokies typically delivers one of the longest leaf seasons in the country. Fall colors appear first at the highest elevations in late September and work their way down over a five-week season.

Not only do the Smoky Mountains explode with beautiful color in the fall, the small town of Bryson City itself puts on a festive fall show, too!

Colorful fall flowers and scarecrows decorate the streets mixing with the beautiful fall foliage changes.

There are hayrides, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, ghost stories and legends, harvest festivals, live music, and scenic roads and train rides to view the leaves.

25 Great Fall Events & Activities

Visit GreatSmokies.com/Fall-Smokies for a list of all events and festivals in the Bryson City area. Here are just a few:

• Leaf-looker trains & Peanuts Pumpkin Patch rides on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

• 2nd Annual Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Festival

• Bryson City's 26th Annual Chili Cook Off & Fall Festival

• NOCtoberFest Great Pumpkin Pursuit on the Nantahala River

• Daily Ranger-led programs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• Corn maze, hayrides and pumpkin patch at Darnell Farms

Bryson City is one hour west of Asheville, two hours from Chattanooga, Knoxville and Greenville/Spartanburg, and three hours from Atlanta and Charlotte. To learn more visit:GreatSmokies.com.