Lake Chatuge Lake level and Current Conditions

The perfect
Smoky Mountain Lake Cabin Rental
Enjoy a lakefront vacation getaway in the North Carolina and North Georgia Mountains in our cozy
 3 bedroom lake cabin.
 

Contact Us to make your reservation at Hidden Cove Lakefront Cabin.
 

Smokey and Blue Ridge Mountains: Fall Foliage Colors Season in Hiawassee GA and Hayesville NC

North Georgia and North Carolina Mountains are home to some of the best fall foliage leaf viewing in North America

Enjoy the Spectacular
Colors of Fall

Late September through early November offers some of the very best times to visit
Lake Chatuge. 

Come enjoy warm sunny days, cool cozy nights and brilliant fall foliage.

  October is the heart of fall foliage season in the Blue Ridge Mountains - this is when the mountains reach their most vibrant peak.

Check out current conditions on our Live Lake Chatuge Webcam

What is Fall Foliage season in North Georgia and Western North Carolina?

Summer in the North Georgia mountains brings shady oaks, maples, dogwoods, sumacs, and evergreens to their emerald colored peak.  However, it is in the fall that Mother Nature truly takes her turn to shine.

In the fall, the leafy foliage takes its most spectacular hues and shades. The scarlet reds, firey oranges, bright yellows, and warm browns make the trees like jewels that blanket the flanks of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of North Georgia and North Carolina.  Thousands of trees and millions of colored leaves become an unforgettable sight and a must-see in the Appalachian mountains.

For the fall colors season, many “leaf lookers” or “leaf peepers” and visitors flock to the North Georgia mountains to experience the spectacular foliage display that only happens for a short few months per year. Through scenic drives, trail walks, and from mountaintop visitors centers, thousands appreciate the brilliant and firey colors on display in the fall.

Its no wonder that the fall foliage in the Appalachian reason is known as one of the best times per year to visit. Sunny days, cool cozy nights, and Mother Nature dressed to impress.

Why do the leaves change colors?

As the days shorten and temperatures become cooler, the green colored chemical chlorophyll breaks down as the tree prepares for winter. As the chlorophyll’s presence fades, chemical in the leaves such as carotenes and xanthophyll pigments shine through – in brilliant hues of orange, yellow, and red.

Water, temperature, and light all help determine the intensity and hue each leaf takes on – making every year a different blend of colors and surprises for fall foliage visitors.

Top 5 reasons to visit North Georgia and Western North Carolina Mountains in the fall

• Colorful hiking through in cool temperatures and spectacular fall foliage with changing colors on the Appalachian Trail, up Brasstown Bald, in the Natahala National Forest, or many other trails.

• The historic Great Smokey Mountains Railroad runs daily trips for Leaf Looker season – combine American rail history with Nature’s most spectacular mountain season!

• Fall is the harvest season on the Georgia Wine Highway – visit award winning local wineries for tastings, tours, and more!
   
• Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia – travel to “little Bavaria” in Georgia.  You will swear you are in Germany as you enjoy dancing, oompah bands, beer, music, shopping, and family fun all month long!
   
• Light a fire at Hidden Cove Cabin’s lakeside stone firepit and enjoy a glass of wine or a family smores night as the sunset lights up the brilliant colors of the autumn leaves reflecting off the placid waters of Lake Chatuge.

Combine your fall foliage colors experience with:

• A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway or Southern Highlands Trail
   
• A hike on the Appalachian Trail or Brasstown Bald (the highest peak in Georgia)
   
• A rafting or kayaking trip on the Nantahala, Chattooga, Ocoee or Cheoah rivers. (Rated from Class I to Class IV out of V)
  
  The Ocoee was used for the Atlanta Olympics (local outfitters cater to all levels of ability and ages). All four rivers are less than an hour’s scenic drive from Hidden Cove Lakefront Cabin.