It certainly feels like fall today in Blowing Rock, and we could not be more excited. The weather has been cooler overall, with heavy rainstorms in the afternoons and evenings. Color is moving along at a steady clip and the leaves are hanging on due to the lack of wind with the rain. Crisp weather helps deepen the reds and golds so we’re hoping for some vibrant colors soon.
Currently, Grandfather Mountain’s daily foliage report is already showing vivid tones on the higher slopes, a sign that Blowing Rock is next in line for color. Much of the landscape is still showing green, but we’re seeing bold patches of color along the ridges and around water. Maples and beeches continue to show strong tones, while sourwood and sassafras have recently joined the mix. A fun fact about Sassafras is that it has 3 different types of leaf on one tree. They can be ovate, mitten-shaped, or three-lobed. Grandfather Mountain’s daily foliage report shows bright reds and golds at higher elevations which means you’ll still want to gain altitude to see the best color.
Tomorrow looks like it will have storms in the evening, but Wednesday is a “5 golf ball” day and Thursday is a “4 golf ball” day, meaning it should be a great time to be outside! Check out trusted local source Ray’s Weather for more details, and get the DL on the golf ball scoring.
Right now we recommend taking in Fall color at Price Park and Price Lake off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The leaves next to the lake are turning quickly and it’s a perfect time to rent a canoe or kayak during the day.
This map may help you decide where to go for color when you come on your trip. Remember, color moves from higher elevations to lower ones, leaving room for leaf peeping almost all season long. You can find this map as well as detailed updates on Fall Color Guy’s Website.
