Dahlonega fall foliage (Atlanta, Helen: salvaged, live, stations)

[beckycat]

Have the leaves peaked yet? If not, when do you expect them to? If anyone has pics that would be great!

[Mattie]

We've past peak in North Fulton, so I imagine Dahlonega is about a week past peak. It was a very fast process this year. Green to full color in about 5 days. With the rain, most of the leaves are on our lawn now.

[atlantagreg30127]

** Added ** Please note that the thread was re-activated after a 3 year slumber - the first few postings in this thread are from 2009! **


I was at Sweetwater Creek State Park this past weekend which is just South of I-20, West of Atlanta. This is what the trees looked like along the hiking trail....



So my guess would be you have missed the peak in Dahlonega for this year. There MIGHT be a few varieties of trees that are stragglers for color due to all the rain we've had, but many will have already lost most of their leaves.

Here's the site for the Dahlonega visitor's center. There's a phone number on it. I'm sure if you call they'll be able to tell you how the leaves are up there now: Dahlonega Convention & Visitors Bureau

[staywarm2]

We went up the Russell Scenic Highway near Helen, GA yesterday and it is past peak now. Lots of trees have lost their leaves. However, it was still pretty, as some of the red leaves are there and the brown leaves show up gold in the sunlight.

[Lady Antebellum]

I am new to the forum but was interested in a foliage tour of the area. I guess I have missed it. I spent time in
Helen and Dahlonega several years ago and really enjoyed it. Those of you who live there have such a treat
to have all that beauty around you. I lived up north for a long time and always looked forward to the fall season.

Lovely autumn to ALL!!

Lady Antebellum

[SEAandATL]

Its funny how Georgia has its peak earlier than other parts of the world, despite its Southern location and warmer climate. The Tokyo area doesn't peak until late November, or even December. I remember going to Kyoto in early November and being too early for its peak. But yeah, I remember the first or second weekend of October being the time to see the foliage in the North GA mountains.

[westau]

I was confused about this for a second, I didn't notice the date of the original posts and thinking that it was today I was thinking the people were crazy saying we were past peak.

[atlantagreg30127]

NOTE THE DATE (Thread started in 2009)

As has been pointed out, someone re-activated this thread even though it's been 3 years since it was started - the dates vary year by year on peak times.

The following link goes to the Georgia Parks page where you can click on state parks and get an update on peak colors going on for 2012: Leaf Watch - Best Parks | Georgia State Parks

Additional info on popular parks can be found here: Top 10 Georgia State Parks for Leaf Watching | Georgia State Parks

[cittic10]

North Georgia has two waves of fall color.
The first wave consists of the species that color up earlier such as tulip poplars, maples, black gums, sourwoods, and sweetgums (sweetgums sometimes color up early and tend to keep their leaves for a comparatively long time).
The second wave consists of the species that color up later such as oaks, hickories, beech and birch.

Having two waves actually gives us a longer viewing season than new england in a good year and in a bad year, many of the trees that are quick to drop leaves from drought, the viewing season can be salvaged by late growing season rains and the second wave.

As for what happens when and where, this can vary a lot, especially when you take elevation into consideration. But assuming you're 2500 feet or below, mid to late october is the first wave and late oct to late november is the second wave.
In the north metro area, the collision of the two waves of color and showiest time in my opinion is usually the first week of november. The farther north you go and the higher up in elevation you go, the earlier that will be but not all areas consist of tree species that color in both waves. One area may only have oaks and hickories. Another may only have maples and tulip poplars.

The best foliage is in areas where there is plenty of sunlight. If you go into the forest, you're not going to see the color. But if you go to a lake, that is the best spot to see it.

Last year I went up to the moutains the first weekend in november and this was what I saw...






Get out there and enjoy it!
Happy leaf peeping to ya.

[atlantagreg30127]

Here's an updated 2012 report from one of the local stations on the leaf status: Fall Colors Forecast for N Georgia | Weather | Wiz Army News