Autumn Photos of Western North Carolina Mountains

Western North Carolina in Autumn is beautiful. Picture this: leaves changing colors against the backdrop of the mountains creating spectacular views. Here you will find Mountain pictures with splashes of vivid red, yellow and orange against breathtaking scenery. Mount Airy celebrates autumn leaves with their annual Autumn leaves festival every October.

In this photo gallery, you will find mountain pictures in the springtime, autumn, summer and winter. All of these seasons are beautiful.

These Photos were taken from the Great Smokey Mountain National Park,  Blue Ridge Parkway, around the  Asheville area North Carolina, some around Maggie Valley and Cherokee.  Some pics were taken from atop Mt Mitchell and a few from around Mt. Pisgah.

 

Download Free WNC screensaver - made from autumn photos of western North Carolina taken in the Fall of 2002. View or Install option.

NC Mountain Pictures

Picture taken off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Fall when leaves were at their peak

Waterfalls	Mt. Mitchell trail	sunset in the mountains
Lake Julian Asheville	a top Mt. Mitchell

 

Blue Ridge Mountain Range Facts

The Blue Ridge are a range of the Appalachian mountain chain in the United States that extends from southwest of Carlisle Pennsylvania through parts of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina to Mt. Oglethorpe Georgia. Included in the Blue Ridge mountain range are the Black, the Great Smoky and the Unaka mountains. Mt. Mitchell  is the tallest Mountain peak east of Mississippi, 6684 ft. Virginia's highest mountain peak  is Mt. Rogers at 5,729 ft. The Skyline drive in Virginia connects to the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap, VA via the Blue Ridge Parkway that continues the scenic drive through Asheville  and ends at Cherokee at the Great Smoky National Park.  Within the Blue Ridge you will find the following national forests: Nantahala, Pisgah, Cherokee, Jefferson and George Washington. There are more than 700 varieties of trees and plants within the Blue Ridge.

 

The Blue Ridge Parkway was established in 1936. and is about 469 miles. It was apart of the new deal by Roosevelt to produce more jobs. Since the speed limit is 45, it is a long drive. At some places, you may want to drive slower as the road is very winding. Following along mountain crests, the parkway links the Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky National Park. These are federal lands, wilderness areas and are protected by law. You cant pick flowers or dig up plants, but you can hike the many mountain trails. Graveyard fields is a wilderness area that is south of Asheville North Carolina near Mt. Pisgah. Linville gorge is another wilderness area north of Asheville near Mt. Mitchell.

for  a list of towns on the Blue Ridge Parkway and lodging see Blue Ridge Parkway accommodations

Asheville Pictures

more Asheville Tourist Attractions

Related sites

North Carolina mountains