Parkway·North Carolina, Virginia·87,994 acres
Blue Ridge Parkway
Forecast issued Nov 11, 7:48am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Friday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Blue Ridge Parkway in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Blue Ridge Parkway around Oct 20, and the four days to aim for are Oct 19 to 22.
The parkway runs from about 1,180 to 3,668 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 12 days: the high stands around Oct 17, the low ground around Oct 29. That's 4 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the parkway | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Nearly peak | 3,500 to 4,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Peak color | 2,000 to 2,500 ft, 2,500 to 3,000 ft, 3,000 to 3,500 ft |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Just past peak | 1,000 to 1,500 ft, 1,500 to 2,000 ft |
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Fading |
- 3,500–4,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 178%
- 3,000–3,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 208%
- 2,500–3,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2210%
- 2,000–2,500 ftFadingpeak Oct 2521%
- 1,500–2,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2737%
- 1,000–1,500 ftFadingpeak Oct 2917%
Height off 3DEP inside the parkway’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the parkway stands in it.
That’s 4 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
The place
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
Established 1936.
If you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Monday, October 19 to Tuesday, October 20
You’ll find it nearly peak up high, starting to turn lower down.
Up at 2,500 feet the stands peak around Oct 22; down at 1,500 feet they hold on until about Oct 29. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 2,500–3,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 22
- 2,000–2,500 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 25
- 1,500–2,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 27
- 1,000–1,500 ftStarting to turnpeak Oct 29
- Where to drive
- Blue Ridge Parkway (NC Section), about 74 miles · Route 39 (Goshen Pass), about 137 miles · Highland Scenic Highway (Route 150), about 139 miles
- What turns
- northern red oak, red maple, white oak, shagbark hickory, sugar maple
What turns, and when
- northern red oak27%
- red maple23%
- white oak18%
- shagbark hickory13%
- sugar maple9%
- blackgum5%
Also named across North Carolina, outside what the canopy read measures here: Tulip Poplar, Sourwood.
Sourwoods turn deep crimson before anything else, tulip poplars go clear gold, hickories fade to bronze, and the layered ridgelines of the Blue Ridge create that famous smoky depth of warm color.
Questions people ask about Blue Ridge Parkway
- When is peak fall foliage at Blue Ridge Parkway?
Our forecast puts peak color at Blue Ridge Parkway around Oct 20, and the four days to aim for are Oct 19 to 22.
- Where is the best fall color at Blue Ridge Parkway right now?
On Nov 11 the parkway is leaves down. The last band to peak was 1,000 to 1,500 feet, around Oct 29.
- How long does peak last at Blue Ridge Parkway?
About four days at the top, Oct 19 to 22, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the parkway's elevations the color moves over about 12 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 16 days.
- Is Blue Ridge Parkway past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 20, and on Nov 11 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Blue Ridge Parkway?
Tulip Poplar, Red Maple, Sourwood, Hickory, White Oak. Sourwoods turn deep crimson before anything else, tulip poplars go clear gold, hickories fade to bronze, and the layered ridgelines of the Blue Ridge create that famous smoky depth of warm color.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 16 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 7 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
Pisgah is on the map above, with its own date.
- Peak Oct 24 best Oct 23 to 26
- Peak Oct 17 best Oct 16 to 19
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
- Peak Nov 4 best Nov 3 to 6
- Peak Oct 22 best Oct 21 to 24
Fall color roads near Blue Ridge Parkway
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the parkway, so allow more by road.
- Blue Ridge Parkway (NC Section)
Mile markers 217 to 469. The highest and most dramatic section. Waterrock Knob, Craggy Gardens, and Graveyard Fields are must-stop overlooks.
- Route 39 (Goshen Pass)
A quiet Valley of Virginia gem that follows the Maury River through a gorge of red oaks and hemlocks.
- Highland Scenic Highway (Route 150)
Runs along the crest of the Allegheny Mountains above 4,000 feet. One of the least-visited and most beautiful fall drives in the eastern US.
- Newfound Gap Road
Crosses the spine of the Great Smokies at 5,046 feet. Color peaks at the top in early October and at the base by late October.