NOVEMBER 11
WEST PRONG TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #18): An estimated 80% of the colorful foliage has fallen though there is still some colorful yellow and gold foliage. Trees that still have some nice foliage: greenbrier, mountain maple, sugar maple, umbrella magnolia, beech or birch—could not determine which one from a distance.
NOVEMBER 4
LOWER MOUNT CAMMERER TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #35): Approximately 60% of the colorful foliage has fallen. Most of the remaining colorful foliage is yellow, some reds and some oranges. Sugar Maples and Tulip Populars still have nice colorful foliage. Some Beech, Mountain Maple and Green Brier foliage have faded yellow foliage. Many colorful fallen Tulip Popular leaves on the floor of the forest and trail. Just east of Sutton Ridge for about a mile foliage is very beautiful about three-fourth of a mile down the trail. Sutton Ridge going east looking over at the foliage on Sutton Ridge is a treat to see. Heavy duff cover on floor of trail hiding many roots and rocks so caution is in order.
OCTOBER 28
TURKEY PEN (B-E) & SCHOOL HOUSE GAP (B TO TURKEY PEN TRAIL) TRAILS: BRILLIANT FOLIAGE—Beech, Blue Berry, Red Maple, Sourwood, Sugar Maple. LESS COLORFUL FOLIAGE—Frazier Magnolia (dark gold to bronze), Hickory (yellow to gold), Mountain Maple (pale yellow), Red Bud (yellow), Sassafras (some yellow, some red and some orange), Tulip Poplar (yellow). NOTES—The foliage along Laurel Creek Road are brilliant and at peak display—fire engine red, UT orange, canary yellow and some hot pink foliage.
OCTOBER 25
CURRY MOUNTAIN TRAIL (B-E): BRILLIANT FOLIAGE—Blueberry, Red Maple, Red Oak, Sourwood, Sugar Maple. LESS BRILLIANT FOLIAGE—Beech (yellow), Frazier Magnolia (yellow/gold), Hickory (yellow/bronze), Indian Cucumber Root (yellow), Mountain Maple (pale yellow), Tulip Poplar (yellow). NOTES—Foliage is close to peak if not at peak in sections of the park. A major weather front could result in much of the foliage being blown down to the ground so if one wants to see the foliage near or at its best, they should get out to see it as soon as possible. Foliage is more enjoyable on a clear day in full sun when the sky is brilliant blue. The foliage on Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Wye and on Laurel Creek Road from the Wye to Cades Cove is very colorful at the present time. It is a real treat to see the colorful foliage reflected on the water in Little River. Surrounding ridges/hillsides look like a patchwork quilt with the various colors on display.
OCTOBER 21
LEAD COVE TRAIL (B-E): The last half of the trail has some colorful Sourwood foliage. Most of the foliage on this trail is rather subdued – leaves that have turned are mostly yellow.
BOTE MOUNTAIN TRAIL (FROM LEAD COVE TRAIL TO FINELY CANE TRAIL): BRILLIANT FOLIAGE—Red Maple, Red Oak, Sourwood, Sugar Maple. The foliage on these trees is a true treat to observe in full sunlight with a brilliant blue sky in the background. This is especially true on the first mile down Bote Mountain Trail from the Lead Cove Trail. COLORFUL FOLIAGE—Blackberry (red leaves), Blueberry (red leaves), Greenbrier (yellow leaves), Sassafras (some red, orange, and yellow), Tulip Poplar (yellow leaves).
FINELY CANE (B-E): The first half mile of the trail from Laurel Creek Road has some colorful foliage high up in the trees. The second half mile has some yellow foliage which is basically pale. The rest of the trail’s foliage is mostly green.
October 16
CROOKED ARM TRAIL (B–E)
| Tree | Quantity/Notes |
Red maples | A few have turned red. |
Sourwood | Many with bright red, orange, yellow, and/or in between foliage. |
October 11
ROUNDTOP TRAIL (B TO WHERE THE TRAIL REACHES ITS HIGHEST POINT ON ROUNDTOP MT.)
| Tree | Quantity/Notes |
Blackberry | Some are displaying red leaves on the first half mile of the trail. |
Blueberry | Some are changing to their fall wardrobe, mostly on the first half mile of the trail. |
Red maple | A few have red leaves. |
Red oak | A few are beginning to change colors. |
Scarlet oak | Some are beginning to change colors. |
Sourwood | Many have brilliant red foliage. Some have orange foliage. A few have colors in between red/orange. |
October 7
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL
| Tree | Quantity/Notes |
Blueberry | Some of the leaves are beginning to change. |
Red maples | A few are starting to show their autumn foliage. |
Sourwood | Some of the leaves are beginning to change. |
September 30
ABRAMS FALLS TRAIL (B TO FALLS)
| Blackberry | Some of the leaves are changing colors – not that colorful at present. |
| Blueberry | Some nice foliage |
| Red maple | One tree with bright foliage |
| Sourwood | A number of sourwood trees had brilliant red foliage. |
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.
