Fall foliage has arrived in the High Country. The autumnal change arrived on time and the colors are popping with golds and reds, says Howard Neufeld, a biologist at Appalachian State University, who is also known as the "Fall Color Guy."
“We've had mostly sunny skies, cool temperatures in the low 40s, upper 30s. And the colors are really jumping out," he says. "So people I've talked to and who are living in other places are saying it's gonna be a vibrant year this year.”
Neufeld says the colors will be at their peak in the High Country now through the middle of the month.
The color change brings thousands of tourists to the mountains, but Neufeld says there are ways around the crowds. He suggests a morning visit for those heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not only will there be fewer people, but the sun will be at a lower angle, creating more saturated colors.
For those in the Triad who can’t make it to the High Country for this month’s peak, places like Stone Mountain and Pilot Mountain will likely be at their height of color around the first week of November, Neufeld says.