Each year as the days grow shorter and the nights grow cooler, the arrival of Fall is marked as the leaves begin to change their colors.
First it comes in subtle changes as leaves are dappled with yellows, oranges and reds. The colors grow more vibrant as the peak of leaf season arrives.
Local residents are not the only ones to enjoy the colorful displays on the Roan, around the lake or on any of the back roads and byways that provide a view of the turning of the seasons — visitors from outside the region often come through Carter County to take in the beauty of nature’s splendor.
“Leaf peepers can enjoy Carter County’s colorshow in several ways,” said Carter County Tourism Director Kayla Carter. “Fall provides a special setting for all the wonderful outdoor opportunities this county offers.”
Fall’s beauty can be enjoyed while paddling or sailing on Watauga Lake, Carter said.
The scenic views can also be enjoyed while driving along winding roads such as Mary Patton Highway, U.S. 321 through Hampton, Elk Mills and Poga, Highway 91 through Stoney Creek to Shady Valley, or along Highway 19E or Highway 143 in Roan Mountain.
Carter Walking the footpaths such as the Appalachian Trail or the many trails at Roan Mountain State Park and Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, biking along the Tweetsie Trail or horseback riding on Holston Mountain also provide unique ways to experience Fall.
While many of the activities can be enjoyed year-round here in Carter County, Carter said she feels Autumn provides an “unmatched nostalgic nuance that many seek while on an adventure.”
Those visiting the area to see the foliage, or local residents who just want a Fall getaway without going away, have a variety of options available to make the experience memorable.
“Our county offers many bed and breakfasts as well as cabins that compliment the season,” Carter said. “Folks may call the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce or visit tourcartercounty.com for help finding the perfect place to spend the night here.”
One of the most popular locations in Carter County to spend a night or two (or more) during Fall foliage season is Roan Mountain State Park. The park offers cabins for rent as well as a campground.
Roan Mountain State Park Manager J.R. Tinch said the park sees a spike in visitors when fall colors are in season.
“It usually dips in September after the kids are back in school, but then it picks right back up when the leaves start to change,” he said.
While it is still early in the season, colors are beginning to show through.
“The trees are just now beginning to change,” Tinch said of the park.
Each year, the National Park Service monitors and predicts leaf color changes in hopes of helping ‘leaf peepers’ plan their trips for just the right time. The Smoky Mountain National Park provides an interactive prediction map on its website detailing Fall foliage expectations. The map can be found online at https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map.
The NPS 2016 Fall Foliage Prediction Map currently lists the northeast Tennessee region as being “patchy” or “partial” change status. The map predicts the peak to happen around Oct. 14, however the map notes that no tool can be 100 percent accurate. A variety of things — such as temperature and amount of precipitation — can affect fall colors.