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NC High Country Fall 2015 Leaf Color Picture of the Day


nchighcountrywx

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Wednesday 30SEP15

 

Macrae Meadows Grandfather Mountain

 

Despite this week’s heavy rain, leaves are holding fast on Grandfather Mountain, as this photo from MacRae Meadows demonstrates. (Photo by Skip Sickler)

 

The leaves continue their trek into full fall color, with experts positing that the recent bout of wet, warm weather could prolong the season. Some of the most colorful spots include the heath balds on Grandfather and nearby Beacon Heights, as well as the 10-mile stretch on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Beacon Heights and Julian Price Park.

 

Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation

 

 

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Thursday 01OCT15


 


Stack Rock Creek


 


Stack Rock Creek cascades down the mountain side at Stack Rock Overlook, situated on the Blue Ridge Parkway between the Grandfather Mountain exit and the Linn Cove Viaduct. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


The photo also serves to demonstrate the effect elevation has on changing leaves, with greener foliage at lower heights and autumn colors higher up.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Friday 02OCT15


 


Grandfather Mountain Swinging Bridge


 


While fall color hasn’t quite peaked yet in the North Carolina High Country, Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge offers some peak viewing — literally. Crossing the bridge to Linville Peak, guests will notice the high-elevation plant and tree life in full fall swing. (Photo by Frank Ruggiero)


 


The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation. Surveys show that the journey to the other side is always considered the highlight of a trip to Grandfather Mountain


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Saturday 03OCT15


 


 


Split Rock


 


The road up Grandfather Mountain grows increasingly colorful, as the foliage surrounding Split Rock and Sphinx Rock vividly demonstrates. (Photo by Frank Ruggiero)


 


While many trees are growing lighter with the change in season, these iconic rock formations are not, weighing in at more than 2 million pounds.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Sunday 04OCT15


 


Scheer Bluff Trail


 


One of Grandfather Mountain’s lesser known overlooks, Scheer Bluff offers a stunning view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains — even more so in the fall. But the short hike to the bluff is also quite colorful, as these oak leaves demonstrate. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


Oak leaves are filled with tannins, which normally means brown coloration. Yellow is actually fairly rare for oaks, but these trees are some of the most varied in the North Carolina High Country


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Monday 05OCT15


 


Boone Fork Creek


 


Rains brought on from Hurricane Joaquin create a colorful fall cascade on Boone Fork Creek, located on the Tanawha Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


Despite the weekend’s high winds and heavy rain, the majority of leaves at higher elevations held tight, while those at lower elevations are still beginning to turn


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Tuesday 06OCT15


 


Linn Cove Viaduct and Top Shop


 


Fall color grows increasingly brilliant in the North Carolina High Country, especially at elevations higher than 4,000 feet. From this vantage point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, featuring the Linn Cove Viaduct and Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge and Top Shop, viewers can observe the stratifying effect elevation has on fall color. (Photo by Frank Ruggiero)


 


Although autumn is spreading throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most colorful stretch can be found between Julian Price Park area (milepost 295) and Beacon Heights (milepost 305).


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Wednesday 07OCT15


 


Linn Cove Viaduct


 


The iconic Linn Cove Viaduct winds through a High Country autumn. With many leaves having already changed on Grandfather Mountain, experts are expecting this weekend to offer leaf-lookers some prime viewing. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


The viaduct, which spans 1,243 feet along Grandfather, weighs about 7,650 pounds and was completed in 1987 at a cost $10 million. The surrounding overlooks offer viewers spectacular vistas of the valleys below.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Thursday 08OCT15


 


Camp Yonahnoka


 


Fall color splashes in the lake at Camp Yonahnoka in Linville. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


Despite autumn’s early start, the recent bout of cloudiness and precipitation seems to have prolonged the leaf season in many areas throughout the High Country. As such, visitors to Grandfather Mountain can expect some brilliant fall color this weekend


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Friday 09OCT15


 


Near Rough Ridge


 


Brilliant maple leaves greet a duo of motorcyclists on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Rough Ridge. (Photo by Jim Morton)


 


Motorists can expect heavier traffic than usual on the Parkway this weekend, as peak color continues its steady approach. To let visitors soak up every minute of autumn splendor, Grandfather Mountain is extending its hours this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, the park will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Saturday 10OCT15


 


Beacon Height BRP Parking Lot


 


Fall color winds its way along the Blue Ridge Parkway, as pictured in this shot taken from milepost 305.2 near Beacon Heights. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


This weekend is fixing to be a busy one in the High Country, with fall color nearing its peak and the Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest on tap Oct. 10-11.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Sunday 11OCT15


 


Linville


 


While fall color is nearing its peak at higher elevations, locations below 4,000 feet, such as Linville, are starting to catch up. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


Sunday and Monday, Oct. 11 and 12, are looking to be glorious days for leaf-looking, with forecasts predicting sunshine for much of the High Country, including Grandfather Mountain. Grandfather Mountain’s extended autumn hours continue this Sunday, as the park will remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Monday 12OCT15


 


Grandmother Mountain


 


An autumn sun rises over the High Country in this photo taken from Grandmother Mountain. Fall color is now well on its way in locations lower than 4,000 feet, with areas in Boone and Blowing Rock offering some spectacular viewing. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


Fittingly, Grandmother Mountain sits near to Grandfather Mountain. Located in the Pisgah National Forest, Grandmother Mountain has an elevation of 4,603 feet and is home to a UNC-TV/PBS broadcasting tower.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Tuesday 13OCT15


 


Grandfather Golf & Country Club


 


Grandfather Golf and Country Club sits nestled below the golden slopes of Grandfather Mountain. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


As leaves in lower elevations approach their peak, the High Country is reaching its own peak of fall activity. The annual Woolly Worm Festival crawls into Banner Elk this weekend, Oct. 17 and 18, while the Valle Country Fair returns to Valle Crucis Saturday, Oct.17.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Wednesday 14OCT15


 


Linville River


 


Golden leaves add a touch of autumn brilliance to the Linville River in Linville. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


According to Dr. Howie Neufeld, Appalachian State University biology professor and noted “Fall Color Guy,” this is the peak week for the Blowing Rock-to-Grandfather Mountain section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Forests below 3,000 feet are still predominantly green, Neufeld said, adding that they will likely color up in the next two weeks. As it stands, the peak color is from about approximately 5,000 feet or so down to about 3,000 feet


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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Awesome pictures. Linville and Avery County were exceptionally gorgeous this past weekend! Where is that big wooden playground? Looks like US-221, but I must have missed it. We have a pre-schooler who would love it next time we visit. Thanks!

 

I hear you, Avery County is one of the most photogenic and 'weathergenic' counties in the nation!   You can spend a lifetime in 4 counties in NW NC (Avery, Yancey, Mitchell, Watauga) and hardly ever see it all.  There is a new treasure down every hiking trail or road to be had.

 

To get the iconic view of Grandfather Mountain from the SW, go to the Parking Lot of the Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Charles+A.+Cannon,+Junior+Memorial+Hospital/@36.0610345,-81.8886709,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x2c0e70690c5c23ff

 

It's a classic view

 

The playground is in between the hospital parking lot and the YMCA .

 

Also great are the views up on Seven Devils looking towards Grandfather Mountain.   Nice !

 

Snow flurries this weekend?  Possible... but first snow is likely within 30 days!

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Thursday 15OCT15


 


 


Grandfather Profile and MacRae Meadows


 


MacRae Meadows sits under the colorful slopes of Grandfather Mountain and a Carolina blue sky. (Photo by Skip Sickler)


 


According to Appalachian State University biologist and fall color expert Dr. Howie Neufeld, fall color continues to shine along the Blue Ridge Parkway, from below Holloway Mountain Road down to the Beacon Heights parking lot, where he reported a number of reds splashed against a background of brilliant orange and yellow. “Despite all the bad weather we’ve had, the trees have held their ground and are now showing us all a magnificent display of color,” he said.


 


Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation


 


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I agree, Jeff. Little Switzerland-Julian Price Lake section was simply stunning last weekend. 

 

Although probably post-peak, I'm heading down to that section again for waterfalls today. SW NC adventure tomorrow.

 

EDIT: Tomorrow is probably a good day to visit Crabtree Falls. Linville Gorge isn't quite there, but it's about 50-75%. I'm heading in general direction of Smokies when I get up. Sorry for lack of pictures, as my laptop with Lightroom is undergoing repairs.

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Went to Looking Glass Rock last night (6.4 miles round-trip hike with many switchbacks). It seems like many yellow color producing trees are lacking leaves in the valley this year because of atmospheric river storm earlier this month, but oranges and reds were really brilliant. This panorama was originally stitched with 7 pictures before I cropped it and it was taken at the summit of Looking Glass Rock before the trail drop down to a nice open area with great views. 

 

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Nice WxBlue! Little farther south in North Georgia I took this at Amicalola Falls State Park on Saturday. Northwest Georgia mountains seem to be doing well this year but I do not know about Northeast Georgia. Sorry I'm late posting but it's been raining anyway. I expect around 1,500 FT will still be good this weekend. Maybe Tallulah Falls State Park? Perhaps 1,000 to 1,500 FT spots in the Carolinas? Good luck!

 

EDIT: Northwest Georgia was excellent around 2,000 FT on Friday 10/30 and may offer a few more days. Northeast Georgia may or may not be as colorful after the wind/rain a few weeks ago. However Fort Mountain (NW GA) was amazing!

 

Again this is Amicalola Falls Saturday October 24.

 

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