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Western North Carolina · NC

Highlands fall color forecast

Mostly past — look to lower valleys for late color.

WaterfallsPhotographyHigher Elevation
Lodging & trip planning

Stay near the color in Highlands

Peak window Oct 8 – Oct 22 — book a cabin or lodge close to the leaves.

Find stays near Highlands Things to do nearby Plan your leaf trip

Lodging by Stay Near It All — our sister site for places to stay and local businesses.

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Latest leaf report

October 13, 2026
Highlands at full peak above 4,000 ft

The plateau is on. Whiteside Mountain, Sunset Rock, and the US-64 waterfall corridor are all firing — 90%+ color and clear skies forecast through the weekend.

How does Highlands usually time out?

See the last 15 autumns side by side before you lock in dates.

Compare past seasons for Highlands →