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Each fall, a wave of brilliant color starts in the North Carolina mountains, rolls across the central, urban landscapes of our state and eventually washes out at the coast. If you time it right, you can surf its entire length. Leaf-peeping season usually starts mid-September in the mountains and can last into November on the coast.
1 Dismal Swamp State Park
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1 Dismal Swamp State Park
South MillsSee on map
Twenty miles of trails built on old logging roads cut through the forests of Dismal Swamp State Park, which abuts the wildlife refuge with the same name, but you’ll have to share them with mountain bikers. Cypress, red maples, sweet gums and a variety of oaks bring color to the backdrop of abundant evergreen cedars.
2 Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
2 Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
Southern PinesSee on mapThe Sandhills are best known for longleaf pines. But you’ll find splashes of color on 7 miles of trails at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. You’ll hike through hardwoods on the half-mile Gum Swamp Trail, where you can watch sweet gums, oaks and dogwoods change colors. When you’re not busy with the leaves, explore the more than 500 species of plants that grow here.
3 Mount Mitchell
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3 Mount Mitchell
BurnsvilleSee on mapIt took him a couple of trips, but Dr. Elisha Mitchell proved his point. Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the East, is named after the University of North Carolina professor who calculated its towering height of 6,684 feet. Drive your car to the summit parking area and take the trail to a stone observation platform where your view will be filled with Blue Ridge Mountains. The leaves of the red and sugar maples, staghorn sumacs and yellow poplars will stand out most.
4 Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
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4 Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
ManteoSee on mapThe Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, one of the last strongholds for black bears on the East Coast, offers two half-mile trails that take you through brackish water and hardwood swamps. The poison sumacs, which are found in wet areas such as these, will have the most vivid colors.
5 William B. Umstead State Park
5 William B. Umstead State Park
RaleighSee on mapYou can escape the busy cities of the Triangle at William B. Umstead State Park. There are 35 miles of hiking trails at this nearly 6,000-acre park that range from short strolls to deeper explorations of the mixed forests of pine and deciduous hardwoods such as oaks, hickories and sweet gums. Most of the deciduous trees are examples of species native to our state. That combination can lead to spectacular views of autumn colors – when you’re not busy watching the wildlife or birds.
6 Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
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6 Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
West JeffersonSee on mapHit the trails at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and you’ll see different colors depending on which slope you hike. The Lost Province Trail along the southeastern-facing slope of the mountain explores an oak and chestnut forest, one of the best in the Southeast. The Summit and Rhododendron trails are more strenuous, but they offer views of the changing colors of surrounding mountains and valleys. Plan to spend a little more than an hour hiking all three.
7 Lake Norman State Park
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7 Lake Norman State Park
TroutmanSee on mapLake Norman State Park’s 6.2-mile Lake Shore Trail takes you along the shore of our state’s largest manmade lake and offers views of changing sweet gums, red maples, dogwoods and oaks. Their reflections in the clear water add to the beauty.
8 Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail
8 Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail
RobbinsvilleSee on mapMore than just a hike, the 2-mile trek along the Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail is a journey back in time. Located in the largest tract of virgin hardwoods in the East, it inspired soldier-poet Joyce Kilmer to pen "Trees." The trail features two loops, which showcase the largest trees in the forest, including tulip poplars more than 100 feet tall. If you can, try going on a weekday; it’s a popular spot on weekends.
9 Hanging Rock State Park
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9 Hanging Rock State Park
DanburySee on mapNearly 50 miles of trails at Hanging Rock State Park give you a chance to see the colors of the northern Piedmont. You’ll mostly see oaks, which turn a scarlet red at the end of the season. Waterfalls, cliffs and even a cave are here for you to explore too.
10 Carolina Beach State Park
10 Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina BeachSee on mapThe Flytrap, Swamp and Oak Toe trails at Carolina Beach State Park, each less than a mile in length, give you a chance to see fall colors on the coast. Keep your eyes open for turkey oaks, which thrive in the sandy soils. They have the most colorful leaves of any tree at the park.
Visit Outdoor NC for additional tips on how to connect with nature and help preserve the natural beauty of our state.
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