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Fall Foliage
 From late September to early November the hills in the Cherokee National Forest, which covers 633,000 acres in ten east Tennessee Counties, from Chattanooga to Bristol, are ablaze with color. Beauty comes in many colors as trees are at or near the fall color season. The last two weekends in October are usually the best time for seeing nature's beauty pageant at its peak. Colors will peak first at the higher elevations. Viewing fall colors is a popular activity. People travel from near and far to see nature show off its many colors during the fall of the year. The Ocoee Ranger District is home to the first National Forest Scenic Byway in the Nation. The Byway is located in Polk County, TN. It consists of segments of two roads: Seven miles of Forest Service Road 77 up Chilhowee Mountain and 19 miles of Us Highway 64 along Parksville Lake and the Ocoee River. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is located at the upper end of the Gorge, five miles east of Ducktown. Internationally recognized as the site of the 1996 Canoe/Kayak Olympic events, the Whitewater Center is the starting point for hiking the Old Copper Road Trail which takes you past the 'Blue Hole' a spot favored by many for swimming and picnicking. and the Arbutus Trail (easy), both offer an opportunity for wildlife viewing. The Cherohala Skyway is located in the Tellico Ranger District and was begun some 38 years ago. The Skyway, which is 50 miles long, now connects Tellico Plans to Robbinsville, NC. Although the official name for this spectacular road is the Cherohala Skyway, the highway names that will be listed on many maps are Highway 165 in Tennessee and Highway 143 in North Carolina. Across the state line is the Nantahala National Forest. As you drive the Skyway and look out across the lower Tennessee Valley the variety and brilliance of the fall colors will amaze you. Dedicated in the fall of 1996, the Skyway became an immediate hit with folks who were looking for a colorful and serene setting.  Heights of over 5,000 feet are reached as you wind your way past the Indian boundary Recreation Area, the Citico/Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock area, Stratton Meadows, and through Beech Cap. Both the Cherohala and the Ocoee Scenic Byway are easy to connect by following Highway 411 or 68. For a lovely drive that is not as well traveled as other spots, take Highway 30 East from Highway 411 north of Benton. Follow it along the Hiwassee River to Reliance for breathtaking views of the river. Walk along the John Muir Recreational Trail for brilliant color. From Reliance go north on Highway 310 back to Highway 411 at Etowah.
- Brilliant Red: Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Beech, Gum, and Silver Maple.
- Deep Red to Purple: Dogwood, Sumac, Sourwood, and Sassafras
- Red: Scarlet Oak, Sweet Gum and Northern Red Oak
- Yellow: Yellow Poplar and Hickory
- Bronze: Beech To find out what colors are showing and where contact: Cherokee National Forest Fall
Color Hotline: 1-800-204-6366
National Fall Color Hotline: 1-800-354-4595
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