Bold Colors on the Blue Ridge
	Pisgah National Forest, NC

The northern forests of New England and the Midwest may get most of the fall-foliage hype, but down south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the Blue Ridge puts on a vibrant show of its own. Come October, few places are more inviting than the deeply wrinkled topography around Asheville, North Carolina, most of which lies within the borders of Pisgah National Forest.

Crisp fall weather brings every shade of gold, red, and auburn to Pisgah's variegated "cove forests," the mixed-hardwood glories of the southern Appalachians. There's no better vantage on all this splendor than the hundred miles of Blue Ridge Parkway that wind through Pisgah's highlands, and the end of summer heat makes the forest's bounty of footpaths, fat-tire bike trails, horse trails, two-lane cycling routes, and paddling waters all the more inviting. Just remember: If you want to tour the Blue Ridge Parkway at this time of year, have your camping or lodging reservations made long in advance — the area is packed to the gills this time of year.

More on Pisgah National Forest
GORPtravel Trips: North Carolina