ature’s annual kaleidoscope of color is visiting the Smokies this year with great vigor. To help travelers determine where the best latitude is for leaf viewing at any given time, Gatlinburg provides updated leaf reports at www.gatlinburg.com and a fall foliage page at www.eventsgatlinburg.com.

These links chronicle the descent of full-fledged color from the highest elevations of the Smokies in September to the climax of the color in November and even suggest walks, trails and short drives to take for the best viewing potential. Autumn in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a special time when a glorious leaf season lasting six to eight weeks is enjoyed by visitors as fall’s vibrant color changes travel down the mountainsides from high elevation of the Smokies to the foothills around Gatlinburg.

There’s always peak color at a certain altitude. The adventure is finding out where the best leaf viewing is at the moment, and that usually requires only a short ride to the top. As you Reach Higher Ground, the colors explode into a spectacle of vivid shades of red and electrifying orange, with sprinklings of deep gold and bright yellows.

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