Hues of red, orange and brown will be washing over the Great Smoky Mountains this fall, making it a prime area for leaf-peeping. Colors might not be as vibrant as usual in some areas, however.
"The overarching theme for this year is variability," arborist Travis Watson at East Tennessee State University said in a 2026 fall forecast. "Local weather patterns and conditions have varied greatly across our region this year, and that variation will be reflected in the fall color display.”
The timing of when leaves will change is expected to be normal, but the vibrancy of the color could vary depending on where you are in the Smokies and what tree species are in the area.
It’s hard to predict an exact date for peak fall colors, but the higher elevations
in the Smokies (which are over 4,000 feet) usually peak early- to mid-October, and the lower elevations around mid-October to early November, according to the National Park Service.
Why will fall colors in the Smokies vary this year?
Spring and summer had abundant rainfall this year, helping to produce trees with healthy, full canopies, according to Watson. However, fall has brought extended periods of hot and dry weather.
"As rainfall becomes less dependable, trees begin to experience water stress,” Watson explained. “One of their first responses is to shed leaves, particularly species that prefer wetter conditions or trees growing in shallow soils."
Early leaf shedding is already visible in parts of the Tri-Cities. This could reduce the intensity and duration of fall color in some locations.
When are the peak fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains?
Smokymountains.com has an interactive 2026 Fall Foliage Map with a visual prediction of fall colors across the United States each week of the fall season. The tool cannot guarantee 100% accuracy but is helpful for planning.
Here’s what to expect this season and when it's best to plan those leaf-peeping visits.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Sept. 21
Colors are expected to be minimal on the Tennessee side of Smokies and patchy on the most western parts on the North Carolina side, with minimal change further east in North Carolina.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Sept. 28
Patchy autumn hues will start appearing in the higher elevations in East Tennessee around the end of September. Most of the area will see minimal change, though.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Oct. 5
By early October, there should be a variety of fall colors across east and middle Tennessee. Partial and patchy colors are expected in the Smokies and Tennessee Valley, and then you’ll notice some changes as you move toward the Cumberland Plateau and further west.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Oct. 12
This might be the time to visit the Smoky Mountains or to plan your day trips. The higher elevations of the Smokies will reach “near peak” colors, while most of the Tennessee River Valley and Middle Tennessee will have partial or patchy fall colors.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Oct. 19
Radiant reds, opulent oranges and brilliant browns will blanket the Great Smoky Mountains during mid-October! The Smokies, and even Knox County, are predicted to have peak colors during this time. The rest of East Tennessee can expect near peak or partial fall colors.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Oct. 26
The western parts of East Tennessee will reach peak colors during the final week of October, when Middle Tennessee will have near peak colors. Unfortunately, the beautiful fall colors in the Smoky Mountains region could be past their peak around this time, according to the smokymountains.com fall foliage map.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Nov. 2
By early November, it’s expected to be past peak colors in most of East Tennessee. But you can still catch them in Middle Tennessee.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Nov. 9
Fall leaves across most of the state are expected to turn dull and pass their peak by the second week of November. Peak colors can be admired in West Tennessee, though, if you don’t mind traveling to find leaf peeping spots.
East Tennessee fall colors: Week of Nov. 16
The entire state will be past peak colors, an early indicator that winter is coming.
How do fall colors in the Smoky Mountains look now? How to get updates
For up-to-date status of fall colors as the season progresses, East Tennessee State University produces a weekly fall color report for Southern Appalachia at etsu.edu/etsu-news. Tennessee’s official climate office is housed at ETSU.
Several webcams tracking the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and what the leaves look like can help you decide when the best time is to head to the Smokies to see them in person. These webcams can be found at visitmysmokies.com.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Your ultimate guide to seeing Smoky Mountains fall colors, week by week
