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Thanks to the recent streak of sunny days and cool nights, upper elevations of Chimney Rock have started to brighten with color more than a week earlier than anticipated. The sourwoods are the most brilliant now with a vibrant red! Other reds are appearing in the red maples, black gum (or tupelo) trees and Virginia creepers. Yellows are bursting onto the Park’s fall spectrum as well! Poison ivy, tulip poplar and hickory trees are starting to brighten, and the Fraser magnolia trees are taking on a greenish-yellow. Birch, walnut and basswood leaves are also just starting to turn. Meanwhile, fall wildflowers are blooming now, including the Pink Turtlehead, Golden Aster, White Wood Aster and Late Purple Aster, Snakeroot and Goldenrod.
Peak colors can be expected for several weeks starting in mid-October due to the range in elevation from 2,500 to 1,100 feet and a large variety of deciduous trees in the Hickory Nut Gorge.
Catching Colors at Their Peak. Fall in the mountains rewards leaf peepers with brilliant displays of leaf color, and Chimney Rock shows the full spectrum—from deep red and maroon to fiery yellow and orange. When planning a trip during the fall leaf season, be sure to check the Park’s weekly fall color updates online at chimneyrockpark.com. Chimney Rock offers countless ways for leaf peepers to view the beautiful autumn foliage.
View striking fall colors from the end of a rope high above the Gorge. Sign up for a rock climbing adventure with Fox Mountain Guides, and bring your friends to save money with a group rate. No prior experience is necessary. Two-hour, half- and full-day clinics are available. In addition to autumn color, fall brings a variety of bird calls from migrating birds heard throughout the Park. Join world-traveled expert Simon Thompson for a guided Southbound Migration bird walk on Saturday, October 23 from 9 a.m.-noon.
Soak up 75-mile panoramic views on top of the Chimney. Elevations in 14-mile-long Hickory Nut Gorge range from 1,100 feet on the valley floor to more than 2,500 feet on the mountain peaks. This is the most dramatic and popular way to get your fall color fix! Remember, the elevator is out of service for amodernization until April 2012, so be prepared for the 25-minute hike up stairs.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant leaf colors by hiking along the Hickory Nut Falls trail. Study the diverse range of leaf colors from oak and hickory to red maple and enjoy gazing at the 404-ft. waterfall—the 2nd highest on the east coast—at the trail’s end.
Shutterbugs looking for expert tips and tricks to frame fall colors should attend the two-day Shutterbugs Nature Photography Workshop at the Park on October 29-30, from 8:30am-4pm Saturday & 8:30am-3pm Sunday. Award-winning WNC photographer Jeff Miller’s work has been featured in many regional, state and national publications. For details and to register, visit chimneyrockpark.com/events.
Park admission: $12/adult, $5/youth ages 6-15 & free for 5 years & under. Guided hikes, rock climbing & workshops cost extra.
Article and photo submitted by: Matt Popowski, PR & Events Coordinator Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Photo © J. Scott Graham
