Fall comes to the Smokies
This time of year can be busy in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Donated photo
Fall is a beautiful but busy time in the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors should plan their trips and expect crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking throughout the park.
The park usually experiences an autumn leaf season of several weeks as fall colors travel down the mountain sides from high elevation to low. At higher elevations, fall colors begin with trees like yellow birch, American beech and mountain maple. As the season progresses, vibrant colors spread to lower elevations, culminating in a spectacular display featuring sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple and hickories.
The park is consistently the most visited national park in the country, and October is one of the most popular months of the year. If you’re flexible on your dates, check out our 2024 forecasting calendar to help you choose when to visit the park and know what to expect during your visit.
Consider arriving before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the busiest times in the park. If you’re driving, please park responsibly — parking in areas not specifically designed for parking damages resources, adds to congestion and is unsafe along busy roads. If you’re planning to hike a popular trail in the Smokies, consider taking a shuttle from local communities to the trailhead.
Looking to take a scenic drive? Avoid the crowds by taking in the views from Look Rock Tower or the Foothills Parkway. Cades Cove Loop Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are consistently the busiest places in October. Please allow more time than you think you’ll need and consider alternate destinations.
Planning a hike? Note that Laurel Falls Trail is expected to close for construction in November for 18 months. Consider alternative hikes including Little River Trail, Little Greenbrier School, Lynn Camp Prong Cascades or Chasteen Creek Cascade.
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Parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes requires a valid parking tag. Tags can be purchased online anytime at Recreation.gov or in person at multiple locations.
Plan like a park ranger and visit our trip planning webpage before you head to the park. Consider visiting an area of the park you haven’t explored before — you’ll find changing leaves no matter where you go! Please prepare a back-up plan (and even a back-up for your back-up).
Pack clothes for all weather and layer up for your adventures. Weather can change quickly during fall, particularly in the mountains. Temperatures at Clingmans Dome, also known as Kuwohi, are at least 10 degrees cooler than in lower elevation areas like Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Cades Cove.
Fall is a prime time to spot bears and elk in the park. To ensure your safety and the well-being of these magnificent creatures, maintain a safe distance of at least 50 yards. Use binoculars, spotting scopes or cameras to appreciate wildlife from afar.
When hiking, camping or picnicking, be mindful of food and garbage. All waste should be properly disposed of in bear-proof dumpsters located throughout the park. Bears that learn to associate humans with food can become aggressive and pose a danger to visitors. By following these guidelines, you can help protect both yourself and the park’s wildlife.
