Smoky Mountains Fall Color Chart 2026: Where the Leaves Are This Week

A leaf-covered trail winds through a forest of bright orange, red and yellow fall foliage in the Smokies.

Fall color in the Smokies never shows up all at once. It starts on the high ridges in late September and works its way down the mountains for about six weeks, so on almost any October day the color is good somewhere in the park. The trick is knowing which elevation to drive to. This chart sorts it out by elevation band, with what we are seeing right now and where to go for it.

Last updated: October 17, 2026

Bookmark this page (Ctrl+D, or Cmd+D on a Mac). We update it every week through the end of the leaf season.

Photo at top: late October along Maddron Bald Trail. Photo by Kenzie Connor, National Park Service.

This week’s outlook (Oct 17 to Oct 24, 2026)

This is our projection for the coming week, built from the National Weather Service forecast and the most recent reports from the park. Trees do not read forecasts, so treat it as our best guess.

The good news is that the weather is finally turning in the right direction. Color has been running behind this year after a hot September, according to WVLT meteorologists, mostly because the cool nights that break down green chlorophyll never really showed up. The Weather Service forecast for Newfound Gap calls for widespread frost Saturday night with a low near 30. In Gatlinburg it shows areas of frost and a low near 36. After that the week looks sunny and dry, with lows in the upper 30s and low 40s up high and the mid 40s in town.

  • Above 5,000 feet: The hardwoods up top should hold good color early in the week. A hard frost and a little wind can bring turned leaves down quickly, though, so the highest slopes may start to look thin by next weekend. If this is your target, go sooner.
  • From 3,000 to 5,000 feet: This is the band we expect to change the most. Colder nights should push color down these slopes all week, and by Oct. 23 or 24 it may be the best color in the park. That is a projection, since we have no direct report from this band yet.
  • Below 3,000 feet: Look for more yellow from tulip poplars and more red from sourwoods and red maples. Peak in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cades Cove is unlikely this week. The likely window for the valleys is still late October into early November, and the dry stretch could mute some of the color.

Fall color chart by elevation

ElevationTypical peakStatus Oct. 17Where to see it
Above 5,000 ftLate Sept. to mid Oct.Good color in the hardwoodsNewfound Gap, Kuwohi, Alum Cave Trail
3,000 to 5,000 ftMid to late Oct.Changing, uneven (no direct report yet)Newfound Gap Road above Chimney Tops, Rainbow Falls Trail
Below 3,000 ftMid Oct. to early Nov.Mostly green, first yellows and redsCades Cove, Roaring Fork, Little River Road, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge
Typical peak windows are based on the National Park Service fall colors page. Status comes from park webcams, local hike reports and forecasts listed under Sources.

What we are seeing, band by band

Above 5,000 feet: On Oct. 17 the park webcam at Purchase Knob (5,085 ft) showed yellow, orange and rusty red mixed with green on the nearby slopes. The Kuwohi camera showed fog and rime ice on the trees the same day. The spruce and fir up here stay green all year, so the color comes from the birch, beech, maple and cherry mixed in with them.

From 3,000 to 5,000 feet: We do not have a direct report from this band this week. Color is strong just above it and most of the forest below it is still green, so expect a mix that changes from one ridge to the next. Trillium Gap Trail is in this range too, but the park has a bear warning posted there.

Below 3,000 feet: Tom Harrington’s Oct. 16 hike report from Turkey Pen Ridge found most foliage still subdued, with red on some sourwoods, a few red maples and some yellow tulip poplars. On his Oct. 9 Crooked Arm hike near Cades Cove, relatively few trees had started to change. The Look Rock webcam on the Foothills Parkway showed mostly green forest on Oct. 17.

A rough guide to where things sit: Gatlinburg is about 1,300 feet, Cades Cove is around 1,800, Newfound Gap is 5,046 and Kuwohi tops the park at 6,643 feet. On the drive from town up to Newfound Gap you can pass through several weeks of fall in well under an hour.

Best drives and walks for fall color

Start with Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441). It reopened Oct. 11 after the Hurricane Isaias wind closure, and it climbs from the edge of Gatlinburg to the state line, which makes it the easiest way to see every band in one trip.

The park also points visitors to the Foothills Parkway, Cades Cove Loop Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Lakeview Drive on the North Carolina side and the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. Cades Cove and Roaring Fork are one-way loops. In October they can crawl, so bring snacks and patience. Look Rock Tower off the Foothills Parkway is a short walk to a big view.

For walks, the park suggests Porters Creek Trail in Greenbrier, where the rebuilt Messer Barn is open again. Its other picks include the Little River, Cucumber Gap and Jakes Creek loop near Elkmont, Cove Hardwood Trail at Chimneys Picnic Area and the flat Oconaluftee River Trail near Cherokee.

Before you go

  • Parking tags. You need one to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes. Tags run $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Buying and printing yours at home through the park fees page saves time in line.
  • Weekend crowds. October is the busiest month in the Smokies, and popular lots fill early on Saturdays and Sundays. Go on a weekday if you can, start early, and keep a second stop in mind in case your first choice is full.
  • Closures. Laurel Falls Trail is closed for rehabilitation, and Bullhead Trail is closed Monday through Thursday through Nov. 19. Since Oct. 13, Cherokee Orchard Road has been closed to people on foot because of bear activity. You can still drive it, but stay in the car. Check the current conditions page the morning you go.
  • Wildlife. Bears are feeding hard on acorns right now and elk are in their rut. Stay at least 50 yards back from both.

More from the Smokies

Frequently Asked Questions

When is peak fall color in the Smoky Mountains?

Color starts on the high ridges in late September and works its way down the mountains for about six weeks. Above 5,000 feet it usually peaks from late September to mid October, from 3,000 to 5,000 feet in mid to late October, and below 3,000 feet from mid October to early November.

When do the leaves peak in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge?

Gatlinburg sits at about 1,300 feet, so the town and the valleys around it are usually last to turn, typically from mid October to early November. Check this week’s outlook at the top of this page for our current projection.

Why is fall color running late in 2026?

A hot September brought very few of the cool nights that break down green chlorophyll in the leaves, according to WVLT meteorologists. That pushed the change behind its usual schedule this year.

What is the best drive for fall color near Gatlinburg?

Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) climbs from the edge of Gatlinburg to the state line, so you can pass through every elevation band in one trip. The park also recommends the Foothills Parkway, Cades Cove Loop Road and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

Do I need a parking tag to see fall color in the park?

Yes, if you park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes. Tags cost $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, and buying and printing one at home saves time.

What are some easy fall color walks in the Smokies?

The park suggests Porters Creek Trail in Greenbrier, Cove Hardwood Trail at Chimneys Picnic Area and the flat Oconaluftee River Trail near Cherokee. The Little River, Cucumber Gap and Jakes Creek loop near Elkmont is another of its picks.

Sources