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Park average 40/100 · patchy

Best color: Mount LeConte, 87/100

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National foliage map

Fall color across the country, week by week

Enter a ZIP code, town, or county to read its forecast.

Enter a ZIP code, town, or county to read its forecast.

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Aug 24Dec 7
▲ Today
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 Mount LeConte (6,593 ft), scoring 87 out of 100 and peak. It's also the pick for this Saturday.

Stage
Patchy
Tracked points
0
Season shift
On time
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 9 to Oct 15 (7 days): best reading is patchy at 44/100 on Wednesday, October 14. Worth the drive if you go high, where the turn runs ahead.

Whole region color index

44/100

Patchy color starting

Patchy

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

Best day inside Oct 9 to Oct 15.

Chance of peak
10%
Very unlikely
Model confidence
94%
Very confident
Predicted peak
Oct 11 at Newfound Gap(in 2 days)
Best day in window
Patchy

Day by day in your window

Oct 9Oct 15

Strongest color in your window: Wednesday, October 14 at 44/100.

Regional index

40/100

Park-wide average · Patchy color starting

Patchy

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

Cold night index2 nights under 45°F
Rainfall deficitSevere
Full weather driver breakdown

Best color right now

Oct 9
  1. 01LeConte6,593 ft · Peak · peak Oct 587
  2. 02Newfound Gap5,046 ft · Peak · peak Oct 1161
  3. 03Chimney Tops3,400 ft · Patchy · peak Oct 1758
  4. 04Kuwohi6,643 ft · Peak · peak Oct 456
  5. 05Pigeon Forge1,010 ft · Summer green · peak Nov 334
  6. 06Cataloochee2,650 ft · Patchy · peak Oct 2333

Peaks coming up next

Full grid

5,046 ft

Newfound Gap

Oct 11

On schedule

3,400 ft

Chimney Tops

Oct 17

2d earlier

2,650 ft

Cataloochee

Oct 23

1d earlier

2,600 ft

Roaring Fork

Oct 25

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

Near peak · 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

Patchy · average of 3 locations

1,500 to 2,500 ft

Lower coves

0/100

Summer green · 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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