Pumpkin spice is back, and that means cooler temps, cozy sweaters and prime-time leaf-peeping season. Just in time for planning to begin, the foliage experts at Smokymountains.com have released the 2023 Fall Foliage Prediction Map to pinpoint when the leaves will be at their prettiest across the country.
The Smoky Mountains boast some of the most gorgeous fall foliage around, and the team responsible for promoting the region wants to share their knowledge to help you make the most of your leaf-peeping. Using data like historical temperature and precipitation, forecast temperature and precipitation, common trees in each region, historical trends and user data, the interactive map shows the predicted path of the fall color takeover. Users can drag the timeline tool to see regional changes in the map as the season progresses. You can even report foliage sightings—with photos—in real-time to help make the tool more accurate for next year. While there, you can read about the science behind the changing leaves.
The leaf experts also offer projected peak times for foliage in various parts of the country. Tennessee is expected to peak in mid-October from October 23 to 27, with the lower elevations peaking in mid-November. Most of New England and those in Washington State should be at the ready around October 9 to 13. North Carolina and Maryland will peak in late October and Oregon should be in full bloom for most of October.
However, New England and the Northwest aren’t the only spots with top-notch foliage displays. Smokymountains.com has a list of the best places to see foliage in every state.