Visiting Western NC (Raleigh, Asheville, Henderson: live in, move, swimming)
Western North CarolinaThe Mountain Region including Asheville
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I live in Raleigh and I've thoroughly explored the Boone/Blowing Rock area but haven't really been out to the areas west of Asheville so I figured the end of this year might be a good time to explore.
I put together 2 potential long weekend trips that I could do:
-Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Clingmans Dome/Alum Cove Trail/Laurel Falls/Cades Cove etc..
-State Parks/Forests between Highlands and Hendersonville - Dry Falls, Gorges State Park, High Falls/Triple Falls, Looking Glass Falls (maybe some of the state parks in SC along the border)
I'll be in the area this weekend, as well as planning a trip the last weekend of October. Which itinerary would you do this weekend and which itinerary would you do in October once the leaves are changing? Any other things I should check out?
I live in Raleigh and I've thoroughly explored the Boone/Blowing Rock area but haven't really been out to the areas west of Asheville so I figured the end of this year might be a good time to explore.
I put together 2 potential long weekend trips that I could do:
-Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Clingmans Dome/Alum Cove Trail/Laurel Falls/Cades Cove etc..
-State Parks/Forests between Highlands and Hendersonville - Dry Falls, Gorges State Park, High Falls/Triple Falls, Looking Glass Falls (maybe some of the state parks in SC along the border)
I'll be in the area this weekend, as well as planning a trip the last weekend of October. Which itinerary would you do this weekend and which itinerary would you do in October once the leaves are changing? Any other things I should check out?
Stick to lower elevations for your October trip. Leaves will be on the downward trend at the higher elevations by that time.
^ I agree...even at our ~5,000 ft elevation, color is at/near peak the 3rd to 4th week of October, most years.
Yes, there may be considerable leaf drop before that date, esp at 5,000 ft and higher, but the 'color' is very dependent on a few factors, none of which the 'color guessers' can predict.
If we avoid the usual considerable winds/storms in mid Oct, later in October can be spectacular...the lower elevations can/will be even a touch later, in my experience.
My 50Cts.
GL, mD
Yikes! My normal response to the trails you've chosen in the smokies is avoid them like the plague... this year I mean that literally. I mean they are great trails and there's a reason they are popular but they are best visited in the off season and most certainly not this year.
High Falls, Triple Falls in Dupont Forest are nice but the area has lost a bit of the wilderness feeling with the new parking, check this out area stuff that's been built. For fun go across the road the other way from the parking area and down to Hooker Falls, great family swimming hole and place to relax. The nice thing all 3 are in the same small area making them easy to see in a short time. For the Gorges Park area, if you want to hike, tough to beat. Follow the trail at the top of the parking area to get to Turtleback Falls and Rainbow Falls, wear stout shoes. If you want a quick look without the hiking, continue a bit further south on the same road (281) to Whitewater Falls, it's worth the trip. For SC parks close to the same area there's Caesar's Head, follow 276 south from Brevard, NC which is close to Hendersonville. Another is Chau Ram, a good place for easy hiking and cooling off in the cold streams.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to aim for a trip to the Brevard area mid to late October
I hit up Great Smoky Mountains National Park this weekend and managed to do Clingman's Dome, Cades Cove and the Alum Cove trail to Mount LeConte and it surprisingly wasn't that bad! I started early both days though.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to aim for a trip to the Brevard area mid to late October
I hit up Great Smoky Mountains National Park this weekend and managed to do Clingman's Dome, Cades Cove and the Alum Cove trail to Mount LeConte and it surprisingly wasn't that bad! I started early both days though.
This is what I used in Colorado for my fall trips to see aspens. Made tons of trips in various parts of CO in 8+ years, and this map never let me down. I am planning to use it for NC mountains as well. Enjoy!
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