13 Reasons to Visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Fall
Why should you visit the Great Smoky Mountains in the fall? I can think of at least 13 really good reasons. It’s our favorite time of the year in the park by far!
Don’t get me wrong – ANY time you get to spend in the Smoky Mountains is time well spent – but fall has its own special magic. Keep reading, and we’ll see if I can convince you…
Published October 13, 2024
13 Reasons to Visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Fall
So here are my arguments for hopping in the car and taking off for a long weekend (or an entire week) in the Smoky Mountains this fall.
#1 – Fall Colors
Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres. According to the National Park Service, 95% of that acreage is covered by forest. And 25% of the 95% is “old-growth forest,” meaning trees that lived undisturbed for decades…or even centuries!
All that is to say, there are a LOT of leaves turning to red, orange, yellow, and gold when fall arrives! It doesn’t matter where in the park you are – hiking, chasing waterfalls, driving – you will experience an explosion of color. Even when “touristing” in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, just look up at the beauty of the mountains around you.
Pro Tip
- We recommend using a website like www.explorefall.com to determine when the best time is for a colorful fall visit to the Smokies.
#2 – Cooler Weather
Summer in the Smokies means high temps in the 90s, haze, thunderstorms, and humidity. Ugh. But in the fall, high temperatures range from the 70s to the 80s in September and from the 50s to the 60s in November. Fall is also the driest season of the year in the park.
If you dislike hot weather as much as I do, the cooler weather is the only reason you’ll need to visit the park in the fall.
Pro Tip
- It’s a good idea to wear more than one layer of clothes in the fall in the Smoky Mountains, especially if you’re hiking in the morning or at higher elevations. Mornings are a good bit cooler than afternoons, and higher elevations are a good bit cooler than lower elevations. Wear an extra layer – a sweatshirt, a hoodie, a jacket – that will keep you warm but that you can take off when it gets warmer later in the day.
#3 – Smaller Crowds on the Hiking Trails
This is a bit of an oxymoron because October (along with June and July) is considered high season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But…
Most October visitors to the park are there for the fall colors and spend most of their time in their cars, driving through scenic areas like Cades Cove and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. You’ll most likely have little company on the hiking trails.
Pro Tip
- If you are hiking, try to go in the morning—the earlier, the better. Since the temperatures will be cooler then, most hikers will wait until after lunch to walk the trails. You’ll probably have your hike all to yourself! Be sure to layer on your clothes for warmth.
#4 – Better Wildlife Viewing
Many animals are more active when the weather begins to cool. Some animals are eating all they can in preparation for their winter hibernation. (We have a groundhog doing just that! It visits us every day, filling up on spilled birdseed under our feeder.) While bears in the Smokies don’t technically hibernate, they are also out looking for food, fattening themselves up for winter.
Deer and elk are more active as the weather begins to cool. They, too, are putting on weight in preparation for winter when food is more scarce. Plus, fall is mating season, when it’s not unusual to see bull elk fighting for dominance over other bulls.
Pro Tip
- Wildlife may be spotted anywhere in the park may be spotted most anywhere, but your best opportunities may be in the open fields of Cades Cove, the Cataloochee Valley, or the field next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. And don’t forget to look up – bears love to snooze in trees!
#5 – Photo Opps!
Fall provides ample opportunities for taking some truly wonderful photographs. We’ve already mentioned the fall colors and the abundant wildlife shots.
Another thought – historic structures like old cabins, schoolhouses, and churches – make beautiful photos when framed by trees whose leaves have transformed into vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Pro Tip
- Bring along the appropriate clothes for everyone and take your Christmas card photos in the park! You could take the photos yourself or hire a professional photographer!
- Have you thought of taking a fall photography class or a tour in the park? Click here for some potential options.
#6 – Fall Festivals
Fall festivals are a staple of the Smoky Mountains culture. Many began as a celebration of the harvest and grew into something more.
Area theme parks like Anakeesta and Dollywood spare no expense to make Fall in the Smokies an unforgettable expense.
Pro Tip
- Here are just a few of the fall festivals that take place in the Smoky Mountains each year…
#7 – Darker Skies Mean More Stars
Due to its immense size, remote location, and lack of light pollution, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is considered one of the darkest places in the eastern United States. During the fall months, as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, the opportunities to do some serious stargazing increase.
Pro Tip
- While the entrance to Cades Cove closes at sunset every day, the exit does not. As long as you are inside Cades Cove before the entrance closes, you may stay as long as you like. (I was told this by a park employee; I have not tried it myself.) This seems like a wonderful place to do some stargazing.
- The highest point in the park is Clingmans Dome, recently renamed Kuwohi. This makes it perhaps the prime spot for stargazing in the park. In late fall, on a clear night, the Milky Way is visible right after sunset! PLEASE NOTE: Kuwohi is closed to traffic in winter due to hazardous driving conditions.
- Check out nps.gov for more info on stargazing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
#8 – The Scenic Drives are Even Better in Fall
The Smoky Mountains offer some of the most beautiful scenic drives to be found, especially in the fall months. You probably already know about Cades Cove, but there’s also…
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – A 5.5-mile, heavily-wooded loop on the edge of Gatlinburg
- The Foothills Parkway – A 72-mile scenic drive from Interstate 40 in Cosby to US Route 129 in Chilhowhee. One section of this drive, The Tail of the Dragon, includes 318 winding turns over an 11-mile stretch of road. It’s a favorite of motorcyclists!
- The Blue Ridge Parkway—This beautiful road is a 469-mile National Parkway that connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The National Park Service operates it.
All four of these scenic drives are at their best during the fall months.
#9 – Fewer Bugs
Mosquitos, gnats, no-see-ums, horseflies, ticks, chiggers – insects have the ability to ruin a wonderful day. But there’s good news – cooler temperatures mean fewer bugs! Hallelujah!
Pro Tip
- Lighter-colored clothing seems less attractive to insects than darker color clothing.
- I’ve tried all kinds of insect repellents, from homemade to commercial to essential oils. The only thing that really works for me is a repellent containing DEET. I spray it on my hat and shoulders to keep the flying insects away from my face and around my ankles to keep the creepy crawlies at bay.
#10 – Fall is the Perfect Time for Camping
We used to do some camping, mostly in the summer. That’s why I quit camping. I got tired of the heat and the bugs. Sitting around the campfire at night was just too hot. (I know – I sound like a wimp.)
But if you agree with me, there is an alternative—camp in the fall. The biggest annoyances, the heat and bugs, are minimal. The cool night air makes sitting around the fire enjoyable.
I may have to start camping again…
Pro Tip
- The National Park Service operates 10 campgrounds within the park boundary. Depending on their elevation, driving conditions, and weather conditions, the campsites close at various times in the fall.
- Smokemont Campground – Open year-round
- Cades Cove Campground – Open year-round
- Elkmont Campground – Closes around the end of November/beginning of December
- Cosby Campground – Closes around the end of October
- Abrams Creek Campground – Closes around the end of October
- Cataloochee Valley Campground – Closes around the end of October
- Deep Creek Campground – Closes around the end of October
- Look Rock Campground – Closes around the end of October
- Big Creek Campground – Closes around the middle of October
- Balsam Mountains Campground – Closes around the middle of October
#11 – Go on a Hayride
Downtown Gatlinburg
Go on a hayride through Gatlinburg! The town offers rides from November 1 to December 31 through the streets of Gatlinburg.
Hayrides begin at the Mountain Mall on Parkway at traffic light #6.
Call 865-436-3897 for more info.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove Riding Stables offers hayrides around the Cades Cove Scenic Loop. Hayrides are available in two options…
- Unnarrated Ride – $12/person 2 years old and up
- Park Ranger Narrated Ride – $14/person 2 years old and up
Space is limited, so reservations are recommended.
Please call (865) 448-9009 for more information or visit www.cadescovestables.com.
Other Area Hayrides
- Apple Valley Riding Stables – www.applevalleyridingstables.com
- Echobrooke Farms – www.echobrookefarm.com
- Oconaluftee River Wagon Ride – www.smokemontridingstable.com
#12 – Pick Your Own Apples
It’s a well-known fact that the apples you pick yourself always taste better! Well, fall is apple-picking season, so load up at Baxter’s Orchard on the eastern side of the national park. Baxter’s has been family-owned and operated since 1960, so they know a thing or two about apples.
You will have a large variety of apples to choose from – Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious, just to name a few. Your kids will love this, and you’ll enjoy the pies, muffins, and crisps you make when you get home!
Baxter’s Orchard is open from early September to late November, Mondays – Sundays, 8:00am-6:00pm.
#13 – All Aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Take a step back in time on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Fall is the perfect time to take a train ride in western North Carolina. This is another experience your whole family can enjoy together.
The train station is located in Bryson City, on the south edge of the park. Several options and packages are available, including…
- Western North Carolina
- Nantahala Gorge Excursion
- Tuskaseegee River Excursion
- Polar Express – Begins November 1
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the best time of the year to visit the Great Smoky Mountains? The answer to that question is rather subjective – it all depends on your own personal preferences. For me, it is fall because I enjoy the colors and the weather.
- Are there any downsides to visiting the Smokies in the fall? Yes. A few are…
- Shorter days
- Crowds during “leaf-peeping” season
- Traffic congestion caused by “leaf-peepers”
To Sum it Up – 13 Reasons to Visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Fall
Did we convince you? Will you be enjoying a long weekend in the Smoky Mountains this fall?
There are so many great reasons to visit the park this fall. I hope to see you there!
Happy Hiking!
Related Posts
- 13 Reasons to Visit the Smoky Mountains in Winter
- Cades Cove vs Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Which is Better?
- Your Complete Guide to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Get Help Planning Your Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary
- Cades Cove Bears – How to Spot Them
