November report on the best Smoky Mountains drive for fall color

Fall colors in the trees are at peak or past peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but there are places to go where you can see the best fall colors in the Smokies that have a ways to go before they too are gone.

The drive in Cades Cove as always is stunning and even though most of the leaves have fallen from the trees in the Cove, there are still lots of yellow, deep and bright red and burnt orange and tan along the mountain sides that are still visible and showy.

You will also catch great fall colors from yellows to light greens that are very intense along Laurel Creek Road the road that takes you from the Townsend Wye to the entrance of Cades Cove.

The best fall color on Laurel Creek Road can be found from starting at about 5 miles is as you ascend the road up to Incline Gap and Crib Gap. There is a pull off on the right hand side of Laurel Creek Road here, use it!

The best drive in and around the park to see fall colors right now is inside Cades Cove on Rich Mountain Road. The entrance to Rich Mountain Road is just a little past Hyatt Lane and across from the Missionary Baptist Church on the right hand side.

Since Rich Mountain is past Hyatt you can circle around the back of Cades Cove past Hyatt Lane, past the 2 beautiful overlooks, the Abram Falls parking area, the Cades Cove visitor center and then circle back on Hyatt Lane.

Rich Mountain Road is less than 7 miles long but can take and hour or more to drive. This road is not paved and does have a few ruts and protruding rocks so you must drive slowly - but it is well worth it since much of Rich Mountain Road is at peak color in the foliage right now so be sure to take your time and drive slowly looking all around.

Deer and black bear are often on this road and a great time to start this tour would be around 4 pm so you stand the best chance to see wildlife and have the best afternoon sun. You should also be out of the park and on the main road far before sunset.

As soon as you get on Rich Mountain Road you start to gradually climb and right away you will get to see great fall colors and now you are away from all of the Cades Cove traffic.

If you want to stop to take a picture, be sure to pull over to the side of the road so you can let someone pass you. There are 3 trailheads on this and plenty of places along the road where you can just wander off into the woods.

While the fall colors right now on the start of the drive are in clumps right now, everything will be in full flaming colors in only a few days.

About a 1/3 of the way in on Rich Mountain Road there is an opening on the canopy on the right and you see the spectacular view of the whole Cades Cove valley and the mountains that ring it in full fall colors in the picture below.

Keep your eyes open for the Indian Gap Trail Trailhead that comes before Cold Spring Gap less than 2.4 miles in. This trail still also has some nice color and even if you walk in 15 minutes or so you will enjoy it.

After you cross Cold Spring Gap and go further in you will see a quick overlook looking out to Townsend. The foliage is still thick so the view is not as nice as it will be when the leaves are down.

You have 2 more trailheads to pass before you leave the Great Smoky Mountains national park. The first will be Rich Mountain Loop Trail on the right hand side with very limited parking. This is a very long trail with some very nice overlooks and can take you all the way back into Cades Cove.

The next trailhead is for the Ace Gap Trail on the left hand side with ample parking right which is just before you exit the part.

Right now the first mile and a half on the Ace Gap trail has some great color, of course you can hike in further if you wish to. Right now this is one of the best fall color hikes in the park and if you have the time hike it!

Rich Mountain Road closes in winter and since it is in full peak colors for leaf season now is the time to take a drive on this scenic road in the Smokies.