Great Fall Drives in WNC

[getatag]

Originally Posted by Royal James

Yes, the higher proportion of maple trees in NE makes a huge difference.

Absolutely!!

Maples give beautiful yellow, orange and red colors. There aren't enough of them here in WNC.

[motordavid]

'Species' do matter as generally some species offer 'more' color potential than others, but the main influence on the color change is 'stress': longer night duration, and daytime hours with sunny and temperate conditions combined with colder, (non freezing) night time temps.

The different species contain varying amounts & potentials of the yellow and red pigments, (masked by the green chlorophyll all summer), but the 'trigger' is longer night duration and those overnight colder temps.

Other variables inc leaf/canopy development over the growing season, precip amounts, (always a debate on how much precip is 'better), and on and on.

The point is much of NC, et al, and the lower latitude states usually offer less of the 'triggers' of rapidly decreasing daylight and those all important cold/not freezing night time temps.

Apology for the 'lecture'; Bio was one of my majors back in the U daze.

NEway, jump in your fave car or on your m/c and go drive/ride some two lane blacktops per that good list above, or just do some exploring this Autumn!
GL, mD

[MrPiedmontTriad]

Good post. I've traveled most of these roads, albeit the ones in the far western part of the state. I usually do at least one 12 hour round trip drive throughout the mountains in the fall.. alternating between VA and NC. Last year it was VA... so Im trying to do some research on good roads in NC that i haven't been on before.

[Serious Conversation]

I drove Old Turnpike Road from Boone to the BRP yesterday. Great scenery in the deep forest there. Some development, not too much, but good if you want a relatively “in town” winding mountain drive with color.