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Gallery of Parkway Wildflowers Blooming in Late September

Listen Along:

Fall is fast approaching with all its glorious colors!

Here in the latter half of September, we are beginning to see some of the telltale signs of fall. The days are getting shorter, the mornings cooler, and a few of the trees are starting to get a hint of fall color. The Parkway is still predominately green, but a few trees are starting to turn at the highest elevations. We are still a few weeks away from significant color changes, with the peaks commonly coming in early to mid October. To follow the color change this fall, check out our Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Color Tracker.

In the meantime…

The Late Summer Flowers

Many of the common late summer varieties of our beautiful blooming flowers can still be seen. Typically, in late September, there are a handful of flowers that fill the fields and meadows.

Milepost 280 to Milepost 331 – Boone/Blowing Rock to the Minerals Museum

These wildflowers can still be found in bloom from the Boone and Blowing Rock areas around Milepost 280 southward to the Minerals Museum at Milepost 331.

Near and Around Milepost 364 – The Craggy Gardens Area

The Craggy Gardens area at Milepost 364 is a great spot along the Parkway to find wildflowers, and these flowers can be found blooming at Craggy Gardens and in the surrounding areas.

Milepost 380 to Milepost 410 – Asheville south towards Mt. Pisgah

From the Asheville valley up in elevation to Mt. Pisgah, these flowers can be seen in bloom.

The Highest Elevations

At the very highest elevations all along the Parkway, the red berries of the Hawthorne tree and Mountain Ash tree are showing.

The Parkway is a beautiful place to take a drive this time of year, but it is not like most other roads, so take some special precautions while driving. Above all, slow down and take your time. Use the overlooks to let traffic that backs up behind you go by. Enjoy the view, but watch the road.

Additional Wildflower Information

Visit Virtual Blue Ridge’s complete Wildflower Bloom Schedule, or follow the links below for more information about the wildflowers currently blooming.