5 Best Places To See The Fall Colors In The Smoky Mountains

Fall has finally arrived, and with it, the gorgeous reds, yellows, and oranges that create such a beautiful and vibrant atmosphere in our Smoky Mountains. As the leaves begin to change, the air also begins to feel a little crisper and the autumn temperatures drop so that the Smoky Mountains is one of the most perfect places to spend some time. We hope you’re planning to join us this year for a fun fall getaway to the Smokies, and if you are, we wanted to give you 5 awesome places to visit so that you can see the best fall colors that our area has to offer. 

1. Cades Cove: Cades Cove is by far one of the most beautiful areas in the Smokies to visit. During fall, it’s gorgeous - vibrant colors shine from every turn. Even the drive to Cades Cove has some beautiful colors. Trees line both sides of the road, and there’s a portion of the road that has a flurry of yellow leaves giving the illusion you are driving through a golden forest. 

2. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a great place to visit during the fall. You will get to autotour the Smokies in your own vehicle and drive straight up to some of the most breathtaking views you can reach by driving in the Smoky Mountains. It’s a great part of any autotouring day trip. You can stop off and picnic at so many amazing places, or just zip through the trail to see all the gorgeous views it has to offer. 

3. Gatlinburg Bypass: If you’re looking for a pulloff with spectacular views of downtown, you can’t miss the Gatlinburg bypass. It’s a must stop anytime of the year, but in the fall you will get to see a spectacular birds eye view from above of the city and with the mountains and trees surrounding it. It’s a great place to see beautiful autumn colors. 

4. A Cabin Porch: Another great place to see some of the best fall views is from the porch of one of our Gatlinburg cabins. We have a wide selection of cabins with spectacular views, and it is one of the most peaceful ways to enjoy the fall weather and the beautiful views the Smokies have to offer.  

5. Clingmans Dome: Clingmans Dome is a bit of a drive, but it’s worth it for the views that you can see there. Stunning views of the Smoky Mountains nearly in a panorama is one of the biggest draws of Clingmans Dome. You will also get to see some natural beauty on your drive there and back. 

We hope this list will help you find some of the best views in the Smoky Mountains! Send us your photos on Facebook or Instagram and hashtag #DiamondMountain when you do so we can see them!