Western North Carolina Fall Highway Journey

When the ephemeral magic of fall — crisp, cool air; cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin flavors; and a shocking array of crimson, orange, and yellow leaves — arrives within the South, there’s one vacation spot that stands out above all others: Western North Carolina. 

“In Western North Carolina, we’re very lucky to have an acceptable local weather that helps a big variety of timber and a considerable elevation gradient offered by the mountains that, collectively, normally give us an excellent fall shade present,” says Darby Harris, Ph.D., affiliate teacher of biology at Western Carolina College. With no scarcity of mountaineering trails, overlooks, and quaint mountain cities — all inside driving distance of each other — plus greater than a handful of entry factors to the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s additionally the right place to embark on a highway journey. “I begin within the northern areas close to the cities of Boone and Blowing Rock in early October and work my manner south throughout the next weeks towards Asheville, Waynesville, and at last Sylva and Cherokee by the tip of the month,” he says. 

Although there aren’t any hard-and-fast guidelines for planning a highway journey — that’s the fantastic thing about one of these journey — there are a number of greatest practices to bear in mind when heading to the mountains of North Carolina. Matt Naked, founding father of The Glamping Collective exterior Asheville, tells Journey + Leisure that it’s necessary to guide early and contemplate weekends: “Peak fall dates fill so shortly, you may need to guide as early as doable to get the most effective choice of lodging.” Doing a little preliminary analysis on factors of curiosity and actions alongside the way in which can even be useful. “To me, the enjoyment of being within the mountains within the fall comes from veering off the overwhelmed path. The favored mountaineering spots will all the time be crowded, so don’t be afraid to discover the less-known trails and parks,” says Daniel Fletcher, co-owner of Outland Hospitality in Cashiers. 

After you have a common thought of when and the place you’re going, you’ll be able to embrace a extra versatile mindset. Based on Lynda Doucette, a retired nationwide park ranger and the skilled in residence at The Swag, it’s necessary to take your time: “Don’t be in a rush; as an alternative, plan for a leisurely expertise.” 

Whereas there are a variety of wonderful locations to see on an autumn highway journey by means of Western North Carolina, we put collectively among the area’s highlights — together with issues to do, locations to remain, and the place to search out the most effective fall foliage. 

Associated: 10 Finest Locations to See Fall Foliage in North Carolina

Asheville

Asheville is likely one of the best locations to start your fall foliage journey. With an airport served by a number of main airways, a lineup of unimaginable boutique motels, and quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the town is each a vacation spot to find and a jumping-off level for the remainder of the journey. “To expertise fall in Asheville is to expertise fall at its very best,” says Naked. “It is mountaineering with essentially the most vibrant colours unfold throughout mountaintops adopted by crisp air with the most effective beer round a campfire with new buddies and retiring to [a] scorching tub to soak the day away.”

Issues to Do

“That is the most effective time of 12 months to hit essentially the most scenic mountaineering trails the Southeast has to supply,” says Naked — and there are a number of trails in and round Asheville, starting from simple, family-friendly hikes to more difficult treks. The Biltmore Property Trails, Lookout Mountain Path, and the Exhausting Instances Loop Path are all comparatively near the downtown space, and Naked recommends ending your exercise with a brewery lunch; Burial Beer Co., Thirsty Monk, and Depraved Weed are all nice choices. 

The place to Keep

The Glamping Collective’s picturesque mountaintop retreat is situated in close by Clyde. Its domes and glass cabins present privateness, a snug sleep, and a few fairly unimaginable views of the mountains and the altering leaves. Should you’d relatively keep in Asheville correct, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious with boutique properties like Blind Tiger Asheville, The Radical, or Zelda Dearest.

Waynesville

Should you’ve determined to go west in your highway journey, Waynesville needs to be your subsequent cease. “Fall in Waynesville is likely one of the most lovely instances to be right here. Relying on the elevation, the times are normally heat to take pleasure in out of doors actions whereas the evenings provide a crisp chill within the air because the solar units,” says Doucette. The elevation additionally performs a important position in how and whenever you’ll see the most effective fall colours. “You’ll need to time your leaf peeping in and round Waynesville based mostly on elevation. Later within the season, decrease elevations are far more scenic because the leaves will drop from the timber on the highest elevations early within the season,” she explains. 

Issues to Do

Climbing is, unsurprisingly, one of many high fall actions in Waynesville, and Doucette says you’ll be able to anticipate to see wildflowers and exquisite creeks reflecting the autumn colours alongside the way in which. Should you’re hoping to begin with one thing on the better aspect, she recommends a stroll round Lake Junaluska, the place “the encircling mountains provide a phenomenal panorama to take pleasure in as you stroll the trail across the lake.” For a extra reasonable hike, Naked suggests Waterrock Knob, which is a handy addition to a drive alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway. When you’re on the parkway, put Heintooga Ridge Highway and Balsam Mountain Highway into your GPS. Doucette says these slim roads “make a phenomenal fall drive by means of the woods.”

Exterior of hikes and scenic drives, Waynesville has a number of festivals and cultural actions to rejoice the season. To expertise what Doucette calls a celebration of “all issues apple,” plan to be on the town on Saturday, Oct. 19 for the Apple Harvest Pageant. In case your journey dates don’t align with the competition, you’ll be able to all the time get your apple repair — suppose apple donuts, fritters, and cider — at Barber Orchards Fruit Stand.

The place to Keep

The Swag, one of many greatest all-inclusive resorts within the South, is definitively the most effective place to remain in Waynesville, however fall dates are inclined to guide out a 12 months upfront. You may all the time name the property to see if there are any last-minute cancellations, however you might have extra luck at Andon-Reid Inn Mattress and Breakfast, Yellow Home, or Boyd Mountain Log Cabins.

Sylva

Sylva is a leaf peeper’s dream; Harris notes the small city is “surrounded by some important mountain ranges with peaks at 5,000 to six,000 toes,” giving option to a “fall shade present that may final 4 to 6 weeks yearly.” A bit of over 20 minutes from Waynesville, Sylva is full of pleasant sights and autumnal actions to enhance your highway journey. 

Issues to Do

“The cities of Sylva and close by Dillsboro have a thriving restaurant and brewery scene and an eclectic mixture of retail outlets,” says Harris. The lineup in Sylva consists of Blue Ridge Bootleg Espresso, White Moon, Balsam Falls Brewing Co. Dalaya, and Metropolis Lights Bookstore. Should you’re hoping for extra adventurous actions, the city additionally delivers. “The realm round Sylva has glorious roads and trails for highway biking or mountain biking, particularly within the space of Western Carolina College, simply south of city,” he provides. 

For extra fall foliage sightings, go to the mountaineering trails at Pinnacle Park or hop again on the parkway. “A big part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is simply a 15-minute drive from downtown Sylva,” says Harris, who recommends trying out the foliage at Richland Balsam and Satan’s Courthouse.

The place to Keep

You may both spend simply the day in Sylva — opting to proceed on to both Cashiers or Bryson Metropolis and Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park — or relaxation up on the just lately renovated and redesigned Lodge Sylva. The dog-friendly boutique resort has 35 visitor rooms and is conveniently situated on Principal Road.

Cashiers

Relying on which route you’re taking, it’s a few 40- to 50-minute drive from Sylva to Cashiers, a city that Fletcher describes as a “very relaxed, down-to-earth type of place” and one the place it’s “very easy to immerse your self within the fall season.” Right here, he says, “Nature is limitless… and simply accessible; there are nice eating places and heat fireplaces to cozy up by, and the individuals will all the time make you are feeling at dwelling.”

Issues to Do

You’ll need to give your self a minimal of two days to expertise the restful nature of Cashiers and make the most of its unparalleled entry to the good outdoor. “An off-the-cuff stroll by means of the Village strolling path is nice with youngsters and canines and gives you all the autumn vibes with out working too exhausting,” says Fletcher. Vacationers who’re hoping to push themselves slightly extra will respect Yellow Mountain Hearth Tower, the place Fletcher says you’ll uncover “some of the breathtaking views within the area.” Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park is one other certainly one of his favorites and a hike that’s “comparatively simple to get to and packs a critical punch.”

While you’re not out mountaineering or snapping photographs of the autumn foliage, be happy to publish up in Buck’s Espresso Cafe or subsequent to a hearth in a resort lounge, drink in hand. 

The place to Keep

Cashiers might have a inhabitants of below 1,000, but it surely bats properly above common within the hospitality division. Excessive Hampton Resort, essentially the most luxurious keep on the town, was just lately voted certainly one of T+L readers’ favourite resorts within the South for 2024. For a extra boutique expertise, there’s Lodge Cashiers — a retro-chic property with a restaurant, bar, and firepit — or The Wells Lodge, which payments itself as a “mountain boutique bed-and-brewery.”

Staying within the neighboring city of Highlands can also be a risk. Named America’s Finest Small Mountain City in 2023, Highlands is dwelling to Outdated Edwards Inn & Spa, Half-Mile Farm, Highlander Mountain Home, and Outpost Inn, a 14-room resort that opened its doorways this spring. 

Black Mountain

Begin your morning early as you drive again up north to Black Mountain and the Asheville space. Time allowing, you could need to cease in Brevard and Hendersonville alongside the way in which, the latter of which is known as “the apple capital of North Carolina.” 

Issues to Do

When you arrive in Black Mountain, a vacation spot that was often known as an artists’ haven within the mid-Twentieth century, the very first thing you’ll need to do is discover the downtown space. Whereas the experimental artwork faculty, Black Mountain Faculty, closed in 1957, the city’s dedication to artwork remains to be evident, as you’ll be able to see for your self when popping out and in of the native boutiques and galleries. 

You might also have the ability to sneak in a single or two last fall foliage hikes throughout your time in Black Mountain. June Bergeron, the innkeeper at Black Mountain Inn, says the autumn is totally “wonderful” on this a part of the state, and recommends Blue Ridge Meeting for leaf peeping: “It’s a historic YMCA campus set within the mountains… with trails all the way in which to the highest.”

The place to Keep

Mark the tip of your Western North Carolina highway journey with a memorable keep at Black Mountain Inn, The Monte Vista Lodge, or Peri Social Home. Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is a 30-minute drive from Black Mountain — or you’ll be able to select so as to add a number of days onto your journey, visiting the likes of Little Switzerland, Boone, and Banner Elk.