Fall color guide: The best times to see the leaves change in North Carolina
A pop of red midst the green. A soft yellow reaching toward the sky. Few places are more beautiful than High Country in the Fall.
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Leaves are already changing colors in some parts of western North Carolina, and peak fall leaf season is approaching.
However, this year’s fall foliage may be muddy and patchwork in some areas thanks to the state’s ongoing drought and mix of weather conditions, according to Robert Bardon, associate dean for Extension in the North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources in a news release.
“I expect to see a patchwork of fall colors across North Carolina this year,” he said. “From region to region, people may see quite a bit of variation.”
The National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office shared Blue Ridge Mountain Life’s fall color guide online. Here’s what the regional travel guide prediction for this year’s season:
High Country of North Carolina has a similar leaf color guide, and Explore Fall has an interactive map with a forecast for the entire state to see the peak leaf season.
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Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greenville, Jacksonville and Rocky Mount should all see peak leaf color in mid-November, according to Explore Fall. Greensboro’s leaves are forecasted to peak in mid-November and it’s in late-November for Wilmington.
“The great thing about North Carolina when it comes to viewing fall colors is the many options, from the Blue Ridge Parkway to state parks, county parks and community greenways, where people can get out and see the colors,” Bardon said in a news release.
Western North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, with some roads still closed. You can find road closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway at nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit.
This story was originally published September 3, 2026 at 4:09 PM with the headline “Fall color guide: The best times to see the leaves change in North Carolina.”
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