Connect With Us
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Instagram

Photo Essay: Fabulous Fall

The Rough Ridge Bridge is on the Tanawha Trail in North Carolina near Grandfather Mountain. From the photographer: “I’ve been on Rough Ridge Trail when the fog was so thick you couldn’t see your own nose, only to have the wind change direction and give you vista views for miles. Add to this the changing of seasons, varying weather conditions and different angles of light from the sun and you have something truly magical.”

The color! The crisp air! The lure of a mountain vista and a cool-flowing stream! It’s autumn, and our contributing photographers have the lovely proof.

View is from Smith Mountain Road in Pendleton County, West Virginia. From the photographer: “After many years photographing Seneca Rocks from the parking area in front of the rocks I accidentally discovered this view while exploring backroads. Since then it has become one of my favorite views of Seneca Rocks...especially during autumn.”
View is from Smith Mountain Road in Pendleton County, West Virginia. From the photographer: “After many years photographing Seneca Rocks from the parking area in front of the rocks I accidentally discovered this view while exploring backroads. Since then it has become one of my favorite views of Seneca Rocks…especially during autumn.”
Shillalah Falls is a hidden, little-trafficked gem located along a service road to the Hensley Settlement in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, at the border of Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. From the photographer: “If you take a tour of the Hensley Settlement and ask the park ranger nicely, I am sure they would pull over to let you get a look.”
Shillalah Falls is a hidden, little-trafficked gem located along a service road to the Hensley Settlement in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, at the border of Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. From the photographer: “If you take a tour of the Hensley Settlement and ask the park ranger nicely, I am sure they would pull over to let you get a look.”
Cowee Mountain Overlook is south of Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 430.7, with views of endless mountain ridges to the west. From the photographer: “It was rather cold and quite windy on this particular evening, but the conditions made for some really interesting patterns in the clouds, and what a lovely scene we were lucky enough to stand in front of when the setting sun lit up the sky in vivid color for us.”
Cowee Mountain Overlook is south of Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 430.7, with views of endless mountain ridges to the west. From the photographer: “It was rather cold and quite windy on this particular evening, but the conditions made for some really interesting patterns in the clouds, and what a lovely scene we were lucky enough to stand in front of when the setting sun lit up the sky in vivid color for us.”
Abbott Lake at the Peaks of Otter Lake along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. From the photographer: “I had my 8mm lens attached to one of my cameras and it was the perfect lens to capture this beautiful autumn view of one of the Peaks, with floating leaves in the foreground.”
Abbott Lake at the Peaks of Otter Lake along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. From the photographer: “I had my 8mm lens attached to one of my cameras and it was the perfect lens to capture this beautiful autumn view of one of the Peaks, with floating leaves in the foreground.”
One of two benches overlooking Babcock State Park in West Virginia. From the photographer: “This spot is far removed from the crowds that visit the popular gristmill in the park. This is one of the most peaceful developed locations I have ever photographed; captured in late October.”
One of two benches overlooking Babcock State Park in West Virginia. From the photographer: “This spot is far removed from the crowds that visit the popular gristmill in the park. This is one of the most peaceful developed locations I have ever photographed; captured in late October.”
Tallulah Gorge in North Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge State Park. From the photographer: “The first of the five falls in the gorge is the L’Eau D’or Falls (“Golden Water”). The sights and sounds of this powerful waterfall and the golden light that surrounds it in the early morning makes this a special location to spend a cool fall morning. The L’Eau D’or Falls can be viewed from the Tallulah Gorge trail from overlooks 2 and 3.”
Tallulah Gorge in North Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge State Park. From the photographer: “The first of the five falls in the gorge is the L’Eau D’or Falls (“Golden Water”). The sights and sounds of this powerful waterfall and the golden light that surrounds it in the early morning makes this a special location to spend a cool fall morning. The L’Eau D’or Falls can be viewed from the Tallulah Gorge trail from overlooks 2 and 3.”
Spoonauger Falls in Sumter National Forest, South Carolina. From the photographer: “This is a special and unique waterfall because it is just a short hike from the trailhead, from which you can access several beautiful waterfalls. Despite the easy access, this is one of the lesser-visited waterfalls in the region.”
Spoonauger Falls in Sumter National Forest, South Carolina. From the photographer: “This is a special and unique waterfall because it is just a short hike from the trailhead, from which you can access several beautiful waterfalls. Despite the easy access, this is one of the lesser-visited waterfalls in the region.”
This moody scene is along Newfound Gap Road just above the Chimneys Picnic area on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the photographer: “Fall colors often look best when viewed on a rainy misty day. Add a little fog and an autumn forest can turn surreal.”
This moody scene is along Newfound Gap Road just above the Chimneys Picnic area on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the photographer: “Fall colors often look best when viewed on a rainy misty day. Add a little fog and an autumn forest can turn surreal.”

The story above first appeared in our September/October 2021 issue.

You Might Also Like:

Built in Roanoke, Virginia, in the 1950s, the “Queen of Steam” remains one of the nation’s most celebrated steam locomotives.

The Queen Still Reigns

More than 70 years after she first took to the rails, the legendary Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 continues to inspire both passengers and the volunteers who keep her running.
In West Virginia, the rugged trails of Dolly Sods Wilderness lead to sweeping overlooks and untamed mountain scenery.

Blue Ridge Base Camp Towns

More than outposts for gearing up, these seven mountain communities are destinations in their own right, pairing easy access to some of the region’s best outdoor adventures with walkable downtowns, local flavor, and much more.
Interior designer Maisie Leach and her pup Stella Bea traded Roanoke’s bustling Grandin Village for a slower pace of life in Eagle Rock

Refuge in the Woods

A log cabin in Eagle Rock, Virginia, is the latest project for Maisie Leach of Hermione Interiors—and her most personal.
Author Tim Carmichael’s grandmother, Granny Woman Stella Gosnell Norton, served her Madison County, North Carolina, community as a trusted healer and caregiver.

The Heart of the Hills

Long before modern healthcare reached many Appalachian communities, Granny Women became trusted healers and caregivers, delivering babies, treating illness and injury, and preserving generations of healing knowledge.
Sherwood Anderson and printer Howard White outside the Marion news office, in one of the last photos taken of Anderson.

Finding Home in the Mountains

In 1926, renowned writer Sherwood Anderson moved from center stage in Chicago to the mountains of far Southwest Virginia. Why?
Carly Pearson smiles at the summit of McAfee Knob in Virginia

Trailblazer

Former wildland firefighter Carly Pearson became an accidental advocate for people with disabilities.
The hotel’s rooftop terrace, affectionately known as The Perch, offers exceptional mountain views.

Walking in the Footsteps of an American First Lady

The owners of Wytheville’s Bolling Wilson Hotel and Graze on Main make sure the town never forgets her legacy.
Roanoke, Virginia, USA downtown skyline at dawn

2026 Happiest Mountain Towns

Ten years after this poll’s inaugural launch, we once again turned to our knowledgeable readers for their picks. The results? A brand-new collection of 71 exceptional Blue Ridge communities that excel at bringing big smiles to the faces of both residents and visitors.
Kayaks on Toccoa River Below the Falls

7 Fabulous Float-to-Stays

Paddling trips on scenic rivers to great mountain towns make for perfect summer getaways.
Blooming rosebay rhododendrons frame a lovely, fast-moving cascade along the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo by Robert Stephens

Currents & Cascades: A Photo Essay

Our contributing photographers followed the flow of summer.

Current Issue

CALENDAR OF EVENTS