Visiting the Great Smoky Mountains in Fall

The only drawback to visiting in the fall is the crowds. The fall colors show attracts many visitors, especially during the last three weeks of October, making it one of the busiest months to visit the Great Smoky Mountains. The most congested areas are Cades Cove and Newfound Gap, but there are many other places to visit that will seem calmer and may provide a chance for solitude—these areas include: Oconaluftee, Cataloochee, Balsam Mountain, and Deep Creek.

Each season brings new and exciting things to do in the Smokies. The most popular things to do in the fall include:

Hiking: The weather and colors of fall make this the perfect time of year for hiking. There is an abundance of trails that will lead you through meadows of ever-changing fall-colored deciduous trees. Eighty percent of the trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are deciduous; these maples, hickories, and beech trees transform into vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, giving you world-class scenery as you hike. Check out the Park Service’s list of best fall trails for suggestions.

Backpacking: If you want to be immersed in the colors of fall, with little-to-no people, for an extended amount of time, backpacking in fall is the best thing for you! There are so many trails and backcountry campsites to string together into a multi-day trip. You can also book a guided backpacking adventure at any time of the year. Backpacking in the fall is something you don’t want to miss out on!

Fall Foliage Sightseeing: The best thing about Fall in the Smokies is the color-changing trees. Eighty percent of the park is deciduous trees, so they put on quite a show in the autumn. The elevation drastically affects when colors start changing; at high elevations, the yellow birch, American beech, and mountain maple begin to change colors in mid-September. And, at elevations of 4,000 feet and above, the colors begin to change in early to mid-October—the best views of these colors are from Clingmans Dome Road, Foothills Parkway, or Blue Ridge Parkway. The peak season for fall colors at mid to lower elevations is late October and November, the sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, and red oak are a magnificent sight this time of year.

Wildlife Viewing: Most seasons are great for wildlife viewing, but the fall is particularly extraordinary. The fall is the breeding season for elk, known as “the rut”; large male elk (called bulls) can be seen with their harem of up to 20 female elk (called cows). Bull elk display large antler racks and proud strut about to intimidate other bulls. Cataloochee is the best place in the park to observe the elk rut.

Fishing: Fall is a great time to fish in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as the weather begins to cool, the biting insects are gone, and the trees are a rainbow of colors. Read all about fall fly fishing in the Smokies here.

Bicycling: Riding through the park is ideal in the fall. Traffic is still quite heavy in October, but if you get out early enough, you can have the Cades Cove loop to yourself for the beginning of your ride. Cades Cove is a great place to watch the fall colors in October and November and a great place to spot wildlife year-round.

Fall hiking is ideal in the Smokies; there are many trails that will take you to incredible overlooks and through tunnels of ever-changing leaves. The various elevations in the park change colors at different points in the season, so there are some hikes that are better in early fall and others that are better in late fall. We have broken down the best hikes in the fall, based on the elevation of the trail and when the leaves will be in their peak color.

The best hikes in mid to late September are:

Backpacking is absolutely breathtaking in the fall in the Great Smoky Mountains. On a multi-day trip, you are able to get high to elevations where you can overlook the extraordinary colors of the mountainsides and ridgelines. The fall colors transform the trees at higher elevations, where the climate is similar to New England, first. The best time to go backpacking in the fall is in early to mid-October when the fall colors are peaking at elevations above 4,500 feet. You can read all about how to obtain backpacking permits in the Great Smoky Mountains and look at the backcountry trails map to help plan your adventure.

A great option in the fall is a guided backpacking trip, where the company provides a knowledgeable and professional guide, top-notch gear, and gourmet backcountry meals. Wildland Trekking also offers inn-based trips to Mount LeConte, in which you will hike to the top, and spend your nights at the historic and rustic LeConte Lodge overlooking the mountains.

The weather varies drastically from the base of a mountain to its top, as well as from September to November. Temperatures during the day in September can be in the 70s and 80s, and drop into the 50s at night. As the season progresses into November, you could experience the 50s and 60s during the day, with nighttime temperatures dipping toward freezing. Fall is typically the season with the least amount of precipitation, although the first snowfall could come as early as November in the mountains.

Make sure you bring layers of warm clothing and rain gear, because the weather and temperature can change without warning, and you don’t want to get caught on the top of a mountain without the appropriate gear. Also, be prepared for a hike with 3 liters of water—even though the temperature may be cooler, and you may not be sweating, you can still get dehydrated.

Below is the typical temperature and days of precipitation for September, October, and November in the Smokies, for Sugarlands Visitor Center and Clingmans Dome:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a rich, pristine wilderness with abundant wildlife, amazing views, and unforgettable opportunities for hiking vacations. Wildland Trekking offers a variety of ways to enjoy the Smoky Mountains, including backpacking trips, portered treks, inn-based tours, and day hikes.

Guided Smoky Mountain treks are all-inclusive meaning the following is included: local round-trip transportation from Asheville; wonderful meals; top-of-the-line equipment; risk management systems; professional hiking/wilderness guides and more.