Connect With Us
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Instagram

Photo Essay: Ah, Fall is Back!

The sun rises upon the red carpet at Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia.

Temperatures cool. Colors sharpen. Trails beckon. Time to drink in the best of autumn with these great shots from our contributing photographers.

The 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail utilizes several arched bridges and boardwalks that are designed to blend with, and protect, the fragile ecosystem it passes through. Completed in 1993, this trail is accessible from several overlooks along the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 299 and 305.
The 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail utilizes several arched bridges and boardwalks that are designed to blend with, and protect, the fragile ecosystem it passes through. Completed in 1993, this trail is accessible from several overlooks along the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 299 and 305.
Golden light and autumn color reflect amid the time-worn boulders in a hidden stream in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
Golden light and autumn color reflect amid the time-worn boulders in a hidden stream in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
An early, autumn morning hike to Little Stony Man summit takes you to breathtaking views against an almost 360-degree horizon. (Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive Milepost 40, Virginia)
An early, autumn morning hike to Little Stony Man summit takes you to breathtaking views against an almost 360-degree horizon. (Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive Milepost 40, Virginia)
The Hensley Settlement School House is at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park on the Kentucky side. You can either hike up to it or join a tour and ride up with the National Park Service.
The Hensley Settlement School House is at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park on the Kentucky side. You can either hike up to it or join a tour and ride up with the National Park Service.
Within Tallulah State Park in Northern Georgia, a 1,000-foot Gorge is carved out by the Tallulah River, with Tallulah Falls visible from several overlooks along the hiking trail.
Within Tallulah State Park in Northern Georgia, a 1,000-foot Gorge is carved out by the Tallulah River, with Tallulah Falls visible from several overlooks along the hiking trail.
The Skyline Drive in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park passes through Marys Rock Tunnel on a cold October morning.
The Skyline Drive in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park passes through Marys Rock Tunnel on a cold October morning.
Amid the splendor of autumn in Southern Appalachia and with excited curiosity, Ellic (photographer’s son) and Oscar (the accompanying videographer’s son)climb the steep stairs of the Olson Observation Tower in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.
Amid the splendor of autumn in Southern Appalachia and with excited curiosity, Ellic (photographer’s son) and Oscar (the accompanying videographer’s son)climb the steep stairs of the Olson Observation Tower in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.

The story above appears in our September/October 2019 issue. For more, subscribe today or log in to the digital edition with your active digital subscription. Thank you for your support!

You Might Also Like:

2027 Best of the Mountains Awards

2026 Best of the Mountains Awards

Submit your nominations for the finest in the Blue Ridge today!
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.
Sunrise Landscape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg TN and Oconaluftee Valley Cherokee NC

Summer Fun in the Smokies

Our longtime contributing editor knows Great Smoky Mountains National Park like the back of her hand. Drawing inspiration from countless visits over the years, she shares some of her favorite spots to explore during the warm months, plus insider tips for spotting wildlife, discovering waterfalls, finding the best family-friendly experiences in the park—and more!
Mural at the George Buckley Community Center in Marmet, starting point of the Miners’ March.

Courage in the Hollers

More than a century after the 1921 West Virginia Miners’ March that ended with the Battle of Blair Mountain, the story is being told in new and unforgettable ways.
©Steven Reinhold

Fueling Adventure

Lee “Natty” Trebotich transforms wild plants and outdoor know-how into unique experiences worth savoring.
Grandmaw’s Pepperoni Roll

Mountaineers Are Always Free!

The Mountain State’s signature snack—just the way Grandmaw made it.
Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA, - May 15, 2021: Reenactment at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park of the Siege of Fort Watauga in 1776.

Revolutionary Roundup

On July 4, 1776, a new nation was born. In honor of this historic day, we explore the forts, battlefields, museums, trails, and more that trace the Patriots’ journey to freedom in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
2025 Festivals and Events

2026 Festivals & Events Guide

From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion.

Current Issue

CALENDAR OF EVENTS