National Forest·North Carolina·532,900 acres
Nantahala National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Thursday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
3 reports came in from Macon County this week, 2 of them at peak and 1 of them past peak. Our date held. See the county on the map.
When is peak fall foliage at Nantahala National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Nantahala National Forest around Oct 19, and the four days to aim for are Oct 18 to 21.
The forest runs from about 1,681 to 4,544 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 12 days: the high stands around Oct 10, the low ground around Oct 22. That's 4 days earlier than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Still green | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak | 4,000 to 5,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 3,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Peak color | 1,000 to 2,000 ft, 2,000 to 3,000 ft |
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Just past peak |
- 4,000–5,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1016%
- 3,000–4,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1434%
- 2,000–3,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1937%
- 1,000–2,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2213%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 4 days earlier than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Sunday, October 18 to Monday, October 19
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 4,000 feet the stands peak around Oct 10; down at 2,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 22. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 4,000–5,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 10
- 3,000–4,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 14
- 2,000–3,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 19
- 1,000–2,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 22
- Where to drive
- Cherohala Skyway, about 23 miles · Newfound Gap Road, about 30 miles · Blue Ridge Parkway (NC Section), about 89 miles
- What turns
- northern red oak, red maple, white oak, shagbark hickory, sugar maple
What turns, and when
- northern red oak27%
- red maple23%
- white oak19%
- shagbark hickory14%
- sugar maple9%
- tulip poplar4%
Also named across North Carolina, outside what the canopy read measures here: 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 Nantahala National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Nantahala National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Nantahala National Forest around Oct 19, and the four days to aim for are Oct 18 to 21.
- Where is the best fall color at Nantahala National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 1,000 to 2,000 feet, around Oct 22.
- How long does peak last at Nantahala National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 18 to 21, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 12 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 16 days.
- Is Nantahala National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 19, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Nantahala National Forest?
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
Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 25 best Oct 24 to 27
- Peak Oct 26 best Oct 25 to 28
- Peak Oct 25 best Oct 24 to 27
- Peak Oct 26 best Oct 25 to 28
Fall color roads near Nantahala National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Cherohala Skyway
Connects Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN across the Unicoi Mountains. Less traffic than the Parkway, equally spectacular.
- 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.
- 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.