Peep the Leaves in and Around Asheville

Fall brings shorter days and cooler temperatures, but the season offers no shortage of beauty. In fact, it’s one of the most gorgeous seasons here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, as we get to see nature’s true colors with the changing leaves. Leaf Season draws many people to our area to take in the breathtaking views of the mountains, and Lantern Lodge Asheville Biltmore Village is excited to welcome all the Leaf Peepers. To help you plan for your trip, we’ve got the predicted schedule for peak leaf color, as well as things to do in and around Asheville in October.

October's Allure

Week 1 (October 1-8):

This is the week when color changing starts at the highest altitudes, such as on Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the eastern United States, at 6,684 feet. It’s usually 20-30 degrees colder than Asheville, so bring a sweater if you plan to hike to the top. Grandfather Mountain is just a few feet shorter at 5,946 feet. In addition to enjoying the leaves, make time for the many on-site activities, such as the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, wildlife habitats, and the nature museum.

Week 2 (October 9-15):

Colors are popping at 4,000 - 5,000 feet, so take a hike to Mount Pisgah off the Blue Ridge Parkway. You'll find spots for picnicking, trails, and campgrounds. To enjoy the view with a delightful meal, make time for lunch at The Pisgah Inn Restaurant. For a real treat, head to the Nantahala National Forest and Whiteside Mountain for the “Shadow of the Bear,” an elusive illusion that occurs for about 2 weeks each year. The “bear” appears in shadow form overlooking the mountains between 5:30-6:15 p.m. on sunny days until early November, and you can view it off Highway 64 at the Rhodes Big View Overlook.

Week 3 (October 16-22):

It’s looking more and more like autumn closer to Asheville, as the leaves are changing around Pisgah National Forest, the Cradle of Forestry, and Cherokee. The Pisgah National Forest is 500,000 acres teeming with waterfalls, miles of trails, and whitewater rivers. The Cradle of Forestry, located within the Forest, is the site of what was once the first school of forestry in the U.S. Cherokee is the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, with many opportunities for exploring the history of the tribe, as well as plenty of places for hiking, fishing, shopping, and even gambling at the Harrah’s Casino.

Week 4 (October 23-31):

This is it! The last week of the month is finally Asheville’s time to shine with full color at our nearly 3,000 feet elevation. We’ve got plenty of ideas for spending time here, so keep reading!

Biltmore and More

The estate, known as America’s Largest Home, is a popular destination this time of year because of its impressive array of deep-colored flowers in the gardens. The garden’s colors vary through the season, but in October, the maple, hickory, and dogwood trees will likely be deep shades of red and orange. Chrysanthemums appear later in the month as summer blooms fade.

The NC Arboretum is another must-see this month. But even just driving around town is a delight for the senses, as the streets and neighborhoods are flush with trees the color of autumn. And don’t miss the changing colors of the Bald Cypress trees along the Asheville Botanical Garden’s creeks.

What is fall without getting lost in a corn maze?? The annual Eliada Corn Maze is open Fridays through Sundays through Nov. 1. Enjoy corn cannons, a spider web for the kids to climb, live music, and more. Proceeds from maze admission benefit Eliada’s foster care, mental health care, and child development services. Purchase advance tickets on their website.

Apple Picking

Another hallmark of the fall season is apple picking. Nearby Henderson County is one of the country's largest apple-producing regions. Grandad’s Apples offers more than 30 varieties of apples that you can buy pre-picked, or pick yourself. Grandad’s also offers pumpkins for sale, and plenty of hot apple cider, cider donuts, apple pies, and apple slushies.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard has 21 varieties of pick-your-own apples, plus a market that sells fresh apple cider, donuts, and more. Stepp’s also has a 5-acre corn maze, family activities, and a pumpkin patch.

One of the area’s most popular apple orchards is SkyTop Orchard in Flat Rock. In addition to apples, they offer pick-your-own peaches and Asian pears, plus a market with apple cider donuts, apple pies, pizza, and more. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., SkyTop is usually pretty busy, so be sure to get an early start. They also offer U-Pick reservations for a fee that guarantees a time for picking the top fruit - while supplies last. Get more info about that at the link.