Color is rippling through the mountains. It’s hard to believe, but it looks like much of the higher elevation could peak as early as next weekend. Reds and yellows have popped on the mountain tops and are running down the spines of the ridges.

The past week or so has been great for bringing out the bright reds. Reds are caused by the production of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are created by a combination of sugars and proteins in the cell. This reaction requires light. The brilliant bluebird skies we’ve been having lately have no doubt contributed to the recent scarlet flush. Cold temperatures help by trapping the anthocyanins in the leaf.

The pigment carotene, which produces the rusty golds and lemon yellows, has always been present in the leaves, but during the growing season it is masked by the chlorophyll. When the trees begin to shut down for the winter, the production of chlorophyll ceases and the carotenes shine through.

Many other factors — such as the health of the tree, water, soil, and climactic conditions — all have some influence on the color of fall foliage. There are, however, some general rules.

Sourwoods and black gum lead the early red charge. Dogwoods usually produce red fall foliage and sugar maples and red maples can sometimes blow the red-o-meter off the scale.

Striped maple, however, produces a golden-yellow leaf in the autumn. Other trees in the yellow group include birch, tulip poplar, the deciduous magnolias, beech and hickories.

Of course the above are generalizations. If you look at all the factors that contribute to foliage color it’s easy to see that there will be a wide spectrum with a lot of variation - sometimes even on the same tree.

One of my favorite fall foliage drives is to take U.S. 276 from Waynesville, to Bethel and pick up N.C. 215. Drive N.C. 215 through Shining Rock Wilderness and across the Blue Ridge Parkway. After the Parkway, N.C. 215 is a windy, high-elevation drive until it starts to fall down toward Rosman and U.S. 64. From N.C. 215 you get a good view of Roy Taylor Forest to the southwest.

At Rosman, take U.S. 64 west through Sapphire Valley to Cashiers and on to Highlands. You will be immersed in color. Continue on U.S. 64 west from Highlands through the Cullasaja Gorge to Franklin. The gorge provides spectacular scenery.

In Franklin, pickup U.S. 441 north to Dillsboro. The drive out of Franklin may start out a little boring, but the Cowee Mountains are sure to spice it up.

At Dillsboro you will pickup U.S. 23/74 east back to Waynesville. If you drive this road often you may not pay a lot of attention. But coming from Sylva, the Balsam mountains provide outstanding vistas during peak color.

If you are adventurous there are a few ways to alter the trip. You can pickup N.C. 281 off of U.S. 64 before you reach Fairfield. This road will take you through the Little Canada section of Jackson County and back to N.C. 107 south of Cullowhee.

Or you can continue on U.S. 64 to Cashiers, pickup N.C. 107 there and head back to Sylva past lake Glenville.

This is only one route. Any trip through the mountains next weekend and for the next couple of weekends is sure to provide plenty of color. The higher elevations are brighter now, but you can certainly see color spilling down the mountainsides.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News