6,000+ ft (Late September – Early October)

The highest ridges (Black Balsam, Mount Mitchell, Craggies) are consistently first to peak. Year to year, this zone may wiggle by a few days depending on early cold snaps, but it almost always lights up in that late September/early October window.

4,000 ft (Mid – Late October)

Mid-elevations are the classic “fall color sweet spot” along the Parkway. They’re more variable than the highest peaks because of weather swings, but this band reliably peaks in mid to late October. A warm fall might push peak closer to the 20s, while a cool fall might pull it into the teens.

Asheville ~2,200 ft (Late October – Early November

The valley floor is the most variable because it’s urban, warmer, and at the lowest elevation. Peak can range from the last week of October into the first week of November depending on frost timing and rainfall. Still, you’ll almost always have good color after the ridges fade.