Fall Color Shines Bright as NC Mountains Rebound

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2025) — From the lofty mountain peaks to the forested Coastal Plain, fall color shines bright across North Carolina. The vibrant season extends from now through November to cover a spectrum of opportunities for travelers seeking brilliant views.

“Three questions at the top of leaf lookers’ minds are when, where and how bright?” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “Mother Nature has the final say, but our hot July and moderate August are expected to boost the brilliance. And history holds that late September brings on the glow at the highest elevations with places to the east turning bright in the weeks that follow.”

To help travelers align their time to the most colorful spaces, @VisitNC will share weekly fall color reports. Starting Friday, these seasonal updates will include regional features with in-the-moment visuals and information. Mountain travelers can also find regularly updated reports from Appalachian State University and VisitSmokies.org.

Tuttell is heartened by the mountain region’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened as have Mount Mitchell State Park, Chimney Rock and other popular vantage points for foliage viewing.

“We expect a true comeback for mountain destinations that are famous for their foliage,” Tuttell said. “We also want travelers to the state’s full spectrum of local color, which applies to food, culture and red drum as well as sugar maples, scarlet oaks and sweetgums.”

Scenic drives

Celebrated as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway and its roadside points of interest pop with color. Vast mountain views at Grandfather Mountain, fresh apples at the Orchard at Altapass, panoramas at Waterock Knob and other sights lead to the Great Smoky Mountains Park gateway and the chance to see elk at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Other mountain drives dazzle, too. Fall color accentuates the beauty of Cherohala Skyway near Robbinsville, Waterfall Byway from Rosman to Murphy, and the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway near Brevard.

Wine with a view

Reds, whites and rosés create a tasting palette with vineyard views elevating the experience. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, raise a glass at Linville Falls Winery in Newland or one of Henderson County’s Crest of the Blue Ridge beauties. Farther east in the Brushy Mountains, enjoy an Italian flight at Raffaldini and Piccione vineyards in Ronda, or take in the landscapes at JOLO Vineyards & Winery at Pilot Mountain, Shelton Vineyards in Dobson or Childress Vineyards in Lexington.

For more guidance on sights and sips, find details and a map at ncwine.org.

Sky sights and festive settings

Head into the bluest skies of autumn in Statesville, known as the Ballooning Capital of the East for the long-running Carolina BalloonFest, set for Oct. 17-19. From the air and the ground, the view will encompass the foliage of the rolling woodlands. Beyond the festival, sky seekers can book a flight with a local balloon operator. More options: Asheville Balloon Company or a tandem flight with Thermal Valley Hang Gliding, taking off from Morganton and Lenoir.

Beyond BalloonFest, seasonal events with a colorful focus are found across NC. Among them: Dillsboro’s Colorfest, the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, Banner Elk’s Woolly Worm Festival and Mount Airy’s Autumn Leaves Festival and New Bern’s Mumfest. Find details and more options at VisitNC.com/events.

Coastal encounters

More shades of autumn color await east of the fall line. Paddle the Dismal Swamp Canal, the Alligator River or Merchants Millpond for bursts of seasonal hues from bald cypress, sweetgums, oaks and other coastal trees. Cast a line in coastal waters for red drum or speckled trout, or simply cast your eyes on the rising or setting sun and its seasonally brilliant shades.

For more inspiration, check out “Creative Ways to See Fall Colors,” an autumn-spiced guide to hiking trails and other avenues for discovery from VisitNC.com.

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About Visit North Carolina

Visit North Carolina, the state's official destination marketing organization, is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, a private nonprofit corporation that serves as North Carolina’s economic development organization. The EDPNC focuses on business and job recruitment, existing industry support, international trade, tourism and film marketing.

The mission of Visit NC is to unify and lead the state in positioning North Carolina as a preferred destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production to maximize economic vitality statewide. Each year, North Carolina welcomes about 40 million visitors who spend nearly $37 billion during their visit. The tourism industry employs more than 230,000 people and generates nearly $2.7 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information, travel ideas and inspiration, go to VisitNC.com.

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CONTACT:

Veda Gilbert ǀ Suzanne Brown ǀ Emily Prickett
media@VisitNC.com