October 4 - October 10, 2010 . . . . back to fall galleries page

Oct 4, 2010

Got out to the Blue Ridge Parkway just as the sun was setting on the day. There are so many beautiful spots on the road- grassy meadows, rocky cliffs and pullovers with stunning views. I'm truly glad to be so close to such a beautiful National Park. This photo was taken at Sims Pond Overlook, no more than a couple of miles from Blowing Rock.

October 4 :: Sims Pond Overlook :: elevation 3447 feet

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Oct 5, 2010

Sassafras trees are among my favorites this time of year. I love the range of colors and the different shapes of the leaves. The trees always seem to be glowing from the inside as they change from green to gold to red-bronze.

 

This particular one is standing right by the Visitor Center, and it's nice to watch it change throughout the season. The clouds broke up this afternoon, although it's still very chilly out.

October 5 :: Sassafras on Valley Boulevard :: elevation 3565 feet

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Oct 6, 2010

The winds have really been kicking up lately. Thunder Hill is one of my favorite spots when it's windy. It's always more than just a breeze there! You can see the effect all the recent wind has had on the trees in the Sims Pond shot above- those trees that have already changed are losing some leaves. So it's a good thing there is still enough green left to change. It seems that this season is getting started a little later than usual, too. I'm guessing that it has to do with the warm start and all those cloudy days we had. But now that we have so much sunshine, it bodes well for the rest of the season.

This image is from the Thunder Hill Overlook, just north of Blowing Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can see a little change happening in the rolling peaks to the north. The goldenrod and summer grasses lend a rich yellow color to the pastures, too. At this elevation, the fall foliage is still fairly minimal. We'll get higher in the next few days.

October 6 :: Thunder Hill Overlook, north :: elevation 3795 feet

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Oct 7, 2010

A hike up on the Beacon Heights trail was a great idea. The color there is gorgeous! Comparing today's photo to yesterday's, it's easy to see that the best fall color can be seen above 4000 feet right now. Huckleberries, maples, rowans, and even some rhododendrons are really putting on a display. The trail provides a lovely (but steep!) ascent from the Rough Ridge Overlook to a boardwalk with views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct. You can find the trail at milepost 302.8, about 10 miles north of Blowing Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Today's Photo of the Day is from the trail, looking generally south.

October 7 :: View from Beacon Heights Trail :: elevation 4610 feet

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Oct 8, 2010

Price Lake is a beautiful and well-visited spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's especially spectacular when the water is very still. The dark water can be a perfect mirror for the surrounding view. There is a lot of color there right now; perhaps as much as 50% of the trees are showing fall foliage. This isn't typical for other areas at this elevation at the moment, which makes me think the water has something to do with the rate of change. There is still a fair amount of green, too, so Price Lake should remain a good place to see color for another couple of weeks. You can see the slopes of Grandfather Mountain in the background, one of the best places for local color right now.

October 8 :: Price Lake :: elevation 3375

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Oct 9, 2010

My nieces came to visit me this weekend and we all went to Tweetsie Railroad. The color on the nearby slopes has really become vibrant in the last couple of days. The weather has been just right for the foliage, and the trees sure are responding to it. It was a beautiful day, and Tweetsie was as fun as ever! Today's photo was taken from the Chair Lift.

 

October 9 :: Tweetsie Railroad :: elevation 3420 feet

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Oct 10, 2010

A trip to Valle Crucis proved that the color can be viewed at almost every elevation in the High Country right now. The town of Valle Crucis is located in a beautiful valley along the Watauga River. The elevation is right at 2760 feet, and color can be found on all the surrounding hills and peaks. Green can still be seen among the foliage, so the color should be beautiful for some time. It was a perfect day for relaxing in the Community Park. If you haven't had a chance to visit this lovely spot in the High Country, be sure to make the trip next time you're here.

October 10 :: Valle Crucis Community Park :: elevation 2760 feet