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Park average 54/100 · patchy

Best color: Chimney Tops Overlooks, 73/100

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National foliage map

Fall color across the country, week by week

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Aug 24Dec 7
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Little colorSummer greenPatchyNear peakPeakPast peak
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2026 season

Know exactly when the leaves peak

Live color readings, elevation-by-date peak forecasts, and day-by-day plans for Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove, Newfound Gap and Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome).

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Regional index

0/100

Park-wide average

The best color right now is at Chimney Tops Overlooks (3,400 ft), scoring 73 out of 100 and near peak. This Saturday, go to Cataloochee Valley.

Stage
Patchy
Tracked points
0
Season shift
1 day early
Today's live readings

Not sure where to start?

  1. Step 1Pick your datesTell us when you are coming.
  2. Step 2See your best dayWhere the color will be, day by day.
  3. Step 3Take the day sheetPrint or share the plan before you drive.

Live leaf color meter

What will the leaves look like?

Pick where you are going and when. Hover any stage or day for what it looks like on the ground.

Your dates

Whole region from Oct 22 to Oct 28 (7 days): best reading is patchy at 55/100 on Saturday, October 24. Worth the drive if you go high, where the turn runs ahead.

Whole region color index

55/100

Color on about half the trees

Patchy

Color is arriving in patches: good, not yet the main event.

Best day inside Oct 22 to Oct 28.

Chance of peak
42%
Possible
Model confidence
94%
Very confident
Predicted peak
Oct 22 at Cataloochee(today)
Best day in window
Patchy

Day by day in your window

Oct 22Oct 28

Strongest color in your window: Saturday, October 24 at 55/100.

Regional index

54/100

Park-wide average · Color on about half the trees

Patchy

Color is arriving in patches: good, not yet the main event.

Cold night index8 nights under 45°F
Rainfall deficitSevere
Full weather driver breakdown

Best color right now

Oct 22
  1. 01Chimney Tops3,400 ft · Near peak · peak Oct 1773
  2. 02Cataloochee2,650 ft · Peak · peak Oct 2267
  3. 03Roaring Fork2,600 ft · Near peak · peak Oct 2464
  4. 04Wears Valley1,400 ft · Patchy · peak Oct 3062
  5. 05Newfound Gap5,046 ft · Past peak · peak Oct 1061
  6. 06Townsend1,050 ft · Patchy · peak Oct 3159

Peaks coming up next

Full grid

2,650 ft

Cataloochee

Oct 22

2d earlier

2,600 ft

Roaring Fork

Oct 24

2d earlier

1,700 ft

Little River

Oct 28

1d earlier

1,800 ft

Cades Cove

Oct 29

1d earlier

One mountain, five different falls

Color starts on the high ridges and works downhill about a thousand feet a week, which is why fall here lasts about six weeks instead of two. Each band below shows today's color index, where 0 is summer green and 100 is past peak.

5,500 ft +

High country

0/100

Patchy · average of 2 locations

4,000 to 5,500 ft

Upper slopes

0/100

Patchy · average of 1 location

2,500 to 4,000 ft

Mid elevation

0/100

Near peak · average of 3 locations

1,500 to 2,500 ft

Lower coves

0/100

Patchy · average of 3 locations

under 1,500 ft

Valley floor

0/100

Patchy · average of 4 locations

Plan your Smoky Mountain fall trip

Everything you need to time the color right.

Score your travel dates

A 0-100 trip score, a day-by-day route, and the elevation to chase each morning.

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Verify with real eyes

Live park webcams plus dated visitor photos that ground-truth the model.

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Where to go this weekend

Ranked picks for Friday through Sunday, plus quieter alternatives.

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