“You have to work for it,” said a young man — about a trail to a higher perch overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway on Thursday afternoon. With a small streak of blood on his forehead, he warned of low hanging branches and sun burns. Vertically challenged and wearing a hat, I quickly ascended with his directions.

At the Linn Cove Viaduct, orange hues dominated the landscape along the Blue Ridge Parkway during the week ending on October 17. At lower altitudes on U.S. Route 221, which passes many small waterfalls and runs parallel to the parkway, reds and greens are more common.

If you are looking for color along the Parkway in the coming week I suggest the area from Asheville to Little Switzerland.

Photos made October 15-16, 2020 / copyright Sean Rayford