Asheville Fall Color Report

Asheville Fall Color Report: Week of October 7, 2025

Fall color is lighting up the highest peaks surrounding Asheville. 🍂 From fog-wrapped ridges at Craggy Gardens to fiery reds at Graveyard Fields, early October has brought the season’s most dramatic change yet. While Asheville’s lower elevations remain mostly green, color above 5,000 feet is intensifying quickly — and the next week promises even more brilliance.

Highway 215 & Sunburst Falls

Elevation: Ranges from ~3,200 ft at the base to ~5,300 ft near the Parkway junction

Fall Color Hunter Rachel Pressley found Highway 215 especially vibrant this week. “Foggy days like this really make the colors pop, so I always try to go exploring when the weather is moody,” she shared. The stretch near Canton glowed with golds and russets under low clouds, and waterfalls like Sunburst Falls offered postcard-worthy frames of early color.

Graveyard Fields

Elevation: ~5,000 ft at the valley floor, ~6,200 ft at the upper slopes

Just up the Parkway, Graveyard Fields is blazing with color. Rachel noted that “the trail is at peak right now — so red!” and recommends the small pull-off before the trailhead for a great aerial glimpse of the lower falls. The open meadows on the hike are radiating crimson and amber, making this one of the best early-October hikes near Asheville.

Craggy Gardens

Elevation: ~5,892 ft at the summit (trailhead around 5,500 ft)

Rachel also visited Craggy Gardens, describing it as “an absolute vibe.” Even under fog and white-out skies, the Pinnacle Trail was rich with color and atmosphere: “The trees are so unique and colorful as you weave your way up to the pinnacle.” She suggests dropping below the fog line if visibility is low — “the parkway views just below did not disappoint.”

Black Balsam

Elevation: 6,214 ft at the summit

Ricardo Tejeda visited Black Balsam twice this week, calling it “a stunning sight to behold year-round — doubly astonishing during the fall months.” The lower sun angle and crisp air have deepened hues across the balds, with wildflowers still dotting the landscape. He expects this area to be approaching its brightest color in the coming week. His advice: check the forecast and bring layers — winds at sunrise or sunset can feel especially chilly atop the balds.

Max Patch

Elevation: 4,626 ft

At Max Patch, Ricardo reported that “there’s still plenty of green to be seen, but pops of orange and blazes of red are peeking out of their hiding places.” With panoramic mountain views and a short, family-friendly hike, this spot will continue to brighten over the next week. Arrive early, he adds, as it’s one of the most popular leaf-watching destinations in the region.

Expert Insight from the Fall Color Guy

According to Dr. Howard Neufeld, Appalachian State University’s “Fall Color Guy,” color at higher elevations like Craggy Gardens and Graveyard Fields is in full swing now. He expects the surrounding mountains to glow through October 14–20, while Asheville itself will see its best color later in the month. Although some trees dropped leaves early from late-summer drought, “the majority still have leaves, so there should be plenty of color out there.” Cooler nights ahead should deepen the reds and golds even more.

Looking Ahead

🍁 Expect vibrant color across the Blue Ridge Parkway above 5,000 feet through mid-October, with hues steadily spreading toward Asheville. Cooler nights and sunny days should make this one of the most colorful stretches of the season so far.

👉 Plan your trip with our Interactive Fall Color Map and check back next week for new updates from our Fall Color Hunters.

Views From the Field: September 21-30

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from this last week's color hunting. Click into the photos and videos for date stamps, descriptions and location info.

Views From the Field: September 14-21

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from past weeks' color hunting. Click into the photos and videos for date stamps, descriptions and location info.

Meet Asheville's 2025 Fall Color Hunters

Meet Asheville's Fall Color Hunters -- a group of talented local photographers passionate about capturing the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each week, they'll share updates on when and where to catch the region's best and brightest fall color, plus local insights on what to expect when visiting Asheville during the fall.