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rrlund 08-15-2012 09:44:02 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Just curious,when does peak fall color usually occur in East Tennessee? The wife and I gave up on a summer vacation this year because of the heat,thought we'd plan to head down to the Blue Ridge or something for a fall vacation instead. Our oldest son does chores when we're gone. He was here last night and said he was going to Sweden Oct 7 to go moose hunting,would be gone a week. We're just trying to get some target date to shoot for,hopefully after he gets back. Just didn't want to get there too late. [Reply]   [No Email]
jm. 08-16-2012 13:50:22 75.105.128.37 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   I like Tom also live here in Tennessee, for years we have used the date 26 Oct but weather and othere things can move it a week or more either way but I would say if you were there the first week of Nov you would be o.k. Have lived here all my life so really never pay much attention to the folage but went to Durango Colorado and rode a train up to Silverton last fall, they had a special see the color train. Was supposed to be the peak for the Yellow aspens. Was pretty but think the somkeys have more variaty. Enjoy your trip and welcome to TENNESSEE [Reply]  [No Email]
KF 08-16-2012 10:04:22 165.252.92.98 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   I live just 20 miles from the Great Smoky Mountain Park. If you are going into the mountains, the trees turn sooner at the higher elevations. If you are going to be in the foothills at the lower elevations, the trees will turn a little later. Usually, from the middle of October to the first week of November for the foothills area. The best bet is to call the Great Smoky Mountain Headquarters (865-436-1200) as they usually know when the peaks will be occurring for both the mountains and the foothills. [Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund 08-16-2012 13:23:14 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to KF, 08-16-2012 10:04:22   Do you think maybe a little later up around Bulls Gap then? [Reply]  [No Email]
KF 08-17-2012 08:12:55 165.252.92.98 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-16-2012 13:23:14   That is a foothills area so nearer to the end of October should be a good time to see color. We are getting some regular rain now and it should be a standard year for the color change. [Reply]  [No Email]
ShadetreeRet 08-15-2012 15:46:52 184.4.18.44 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   If you visit the Great Smokies during peak season, be sure you have accommodations booked ahead of time, because rooms get kinda scarce, especially on weekends. (Don't ask how I know). Of course, during the week would be different and a lot less traffic as well. [Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund 08-15-2012 16:09:36 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to ShadetreeRet, 08-15-2012 15:46:52   Yea,I'm thinking maybe a cabin on Cherokee Lake or something. There's a resort where we rent cabins most every summer on Dale Hollow,but we thought we might go a little farther east. [Reply]  [No Email]
kornfused 08-15-2012 14:34:27 69.151.61.4 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   with the drought and now cooler weather sooner than normal it may have an impact on that. I would contact dept of tourism and see what they say - maybe state biologist have the answer. [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike (WA) 08-15-2012 12:06:52 69.10.199.107 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   Moose hunting in Sweden? Guess I'd never given any thought as to whether they had moose(s) over there, but if they do, whether they'd ever let anybody shoot one. [Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund 08-15-2012 13:07:09 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to Mike (WA), 08-15-2012 12:06:52   Ain't sure if they're the same thing we call moose or if they're caribou or something. Togar comes over here to hunt deer on our place. He's bringing his son with him this year,so he's invited Jon to go over there to hunt with them. Said he'll even pay for the whole thing if he can bring one more person over here with him. [Reply]  [No Email]
DScott 08-15-2012 10:35:10 50.194.3.155 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   I don't know the official date but The Smoky Mountains usually peak between Oct. 20 and Nov. 15 with the first week of Nov. being the safest bet. For the last 20 something years I have been there the first week of Nov. on business and it is really pretty. I think the date varies depending on the weather, I have seen it warm (80's and sunny) and I have seen it cold (20's and snow) in early November. Of course the brightness of the colors depend on the weather leading up to then and it has been very dry this year so I would guess that the colors might be somewhat muted. [Reply]  [No Email]
Tom in TN 08-15-2012 10:23:33 166.248.85.221 Report to Moderator	Re: Peak color in east Tennessee in reply to rrlund, 08-15-2012 09:44:02   rrlund, I live in Middle Tennessee so I'm no authority on East Tennessee. However, here's a link to a site for a tourist train that runs out of Knoxville. Their dates are probably pretty close to the expected best dates of color. It might even be fun to book a ride on the train. Tom in TN Train ride in East Tennessee [Reply]  [No Email]