My first introduction to the Smokies was on a college visit to my parents who were living in Knoxville, TN. I had finished my last class on a Friday and was eager to start my fall break. My parents had moved while I was in college to Tennessee. Having never been to this part of the country I had no idea what to expect. Stereotypes swirled in my head as I drove the six hours from Southern Illinois. As early evening was setting in, I crested a hill and the site of the sun’s last light illuminating the palette of color on the distant mountains literally took my breath away. I had never seen such rich hues of color. In that moment, I knew I was home and shortly after graduation, I made my way down here. I’ve never left.
What makes these mountains so spectacular? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the most biodiverse region in the Temperate Zone with an estimated 80,000 species of life. We have almost 140 species of trees and almost 2000 flowering plants. These ancient mountains are ecologically equal to traveling from Canada to Northern Florida, from the very tops of the boreal forests along the Appalachian Trail to the pine forests and swamps near Cades Cove, you will find 7 different forest types and 6 eco zones. This incredible biodiversity combined with 60-100 inches of rain per year is what creates such a stunning display.
Fall typically begins in the upper elevations late September to early October and makes its way downward through October into the first or second week of November. To keep up with the colors, check out the daily fall foliage map: https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/
If you want to get up and personal, we offer several fall hikes and overnight trips: https://awalkinthewoods.com/