Asheville Fall Color Report

Asheville Fall Color Report: Week of October 29, 2025

Fall’s grand finale is continuing in Asheville. 

From the glowing ridges near Cherokee to fiery downtown treetops and forest trails in Bent Creek, color is holding strong across the lower elevations. While the highest peaks are now bare, the valleys and city streets are painted in warm golds and ambers — proof that the long, layered leaf season is lingering into November once again.

Blue Ridge Parkway: Maggie Valley to Cherokee

Elevation: 2,600–5,000 ft

Fall Color Hunter J. Smilanic explored the far southern end of the Parkway this week, where late color is shining brightest. Between Maggie Valley and Cherokee, he found “amazing color that should look good over the next week.”

At Big Witch Tunnel and Bunches Bald Overlook, maples and oaks are still glowing under the soft autumn light, offering one of the final vibrant stretches on the Parkway. “If I were to suggest an area to catch the remaining fall colors,” J. said, “this would be it.”

Along the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hues are fading but still beautiful — a gentle gold that catches the water in all the right ways. Farther north at Roy Taylor Forest Overlook, late-season oaks frame panoramic ridges, where J. even captured a fall engagement session bathed in evening light.

Pisgah National Forest & Brevard

Elevation: ~2,200–3,500 ft

Lower sections of Pisgah near Brevard are still holding strong. Along Forest Road 475 near Gloucester Gap, J. found “good color that should hold on over the next several days.” The valleys here are a mix of copper and amber — a last, lovely echo of the higher peaks’ brilliance earlier this month.

Downtown Asheville & Bent Creek

Elevation: ~2,000–2,300 ft

In Asheville proper, fall color is glowing across the cityscape. Reggie Tidwell captured “lots of peak-ish foliage downtown with our beautiful mountains as a backdrop,” noting how the warm tones “complement Asheville’s architecture perfectly.”

At Bent Creek, canopies along Wesley Branch Road are bursting with late-season vibrance, creating one of the best remaining drives for easy, close-to-town leaf peeping. “A burst of vibrant colors paves the way,” Reggie said, describing golden tunnels of trees and the soft crunch of leaves underfoot.

Biltmore Estate & Omni Grove Park Inn Views

Elevation: ~2,100–2,400 ft

Across the estate grounds, color is still in full swing. The Biltmore Bass Pond and gardens are edged in glowing beeches, while the estate’s signature view of the house is wrapped in warm, pre-peak tones. Over in North Asheville, the Omni Grove Park Inn’s terraces offer sweeping skyline views framed by soft gold and rust — a perfect last look at the season.

Montreat

Elevation: ~2,600 ft

At Montreat, Elizabeth White reported, “Colors are peak! There was a break in the rain around lunchtime, so we took advantage of it.” The trails above Lake Susan and Lookout Mountain are still rich with fiery reds and deep oranges — a bright final act for the 2025 leaf season.

Linville Gorge Wilderness

Elevation: ~1,400 ft at the valley floor to ~4,100 ft along Shortoff Mountain

Linville Gorge is putting on one of the season’s most dramatic displays. The upper ridges are ablaze in fiery reds and golds, while the gorge below still holds deep pockets of green — a stunning natural contrast. The walk across Shortoff Mountain felt like a stroll through peak fall.

Bearwallow Mountain

Elevation: 4,232 ft

Bearwallow Mountain is past peak but still a showstopper. Golden tones ripple across the open meadows, and the sweeping Blue Ridge views make this easy, close-to-town hike worth every step. Even as the season fades at higher elevations, the mountain’s warmth and light linger.

Looking Ahead

🍂 Fall color is now concentrated in Asheville’s valleys and foothills, with pockets of brilliance lasting into early November. Expect the final stretch of autumn hues along the French Broad River, the Arboretum, and trails around Weaverville and Black Mountain.

Views From the Field: October 23-29

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-October 22

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from all prior 2025 weeks of 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.