Sep 1Dec 31
The predicted color stage on the selected date, modelled from years of fall color records. A forecast, not a live observation.When each area's color is predicted to peak this season. The date doesn't change this view.
Fall foliage near Carter County, Kentucky
Explore locations and scenic byways near Carter County, Kentucky.
In Carter County
1 to 2 hours
Shawnee State Forest55 mi · 1 hr 43 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorDaniel Boone National Forest71 mi · 1 hr 51 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorRed River Gorge90 mi · 1 hr 56 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorOld Frankfort Pike94 mi · 1 hr 57 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Peak colorDawkins Line Rail Trail88 mi · 1 hr 57 minPeak: Mid OctoberNatural Bridge State Resort Park90 mi · 2 hrPeak: Late October
2 to 3 hours
Scenic driveHocking Hills Scenic Byway123 mi · 2 hr 55 minDramatic gorges and waterfalls framed by some of the best fall colors in the Midwest.Cherokee Park95 mi · 2 hr 2 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorRaven Run Nature Sanctuary98 mi · 2 hr 13 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorApple Hill113 mi · 2 hr 55 minCaliforniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorSmale Riverfront Park116 mi · 2 hr 58 minOhioPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Peak color
Over 3 hours
Scenic driveHighland Scenic Highway199 mi · 4 hr 3 minCrosses the mountains of the Monongahela National Forest.Scenic driveAmish Country Byway232 mi · 5 hr 10 minRolling hills and farmland backed by autumn color.Hocking Hills State Park126 mi · 3 hr 1 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorTaylorsville Lake State Park148 mi · 3 hr 2 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorMy Old Kentucky Home State Park152 mi · 3 hr 4 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorE.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park155 mi · 3 hr 7 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Peak colorAult Park118 mi · 3 hr 8 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorMt. Airy Forest123 mi · 3 hr 11 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorClear Creek Metro Park142 mi · 3 hr 22 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorSharon Woods128 mi · 3 hr 23 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorIroquois Park168 mi · 3 hr 24 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorJefferson Memorial Forest171 mi · 3 hr 24 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorQuarry Trails Metro Park157 mi · 3 hr 25 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorBernheim Arboretum and Research Forest167 mi · 3 hr 26 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorShawnee Lookout139 mi · 3 hr 27 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorCumberland Falls State Park173 mi · 3 hr 28 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorCamp Creek State Park179 mi · 3 hr 39 minWest VirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Peak colorBlendon Woods Metro Park167 mi · 3 hr 40 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorHighbanks Metro Park165 mi · 3 hr 40 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorSharon Woods Metro Park166 mi · 3 hr 40 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorBabcock State Park162 mi · 3 hr 41 minWest VirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorGreen River Lake State Park182 mi · 3 hr 41 minPeak: Late OctoberMercer County (Camp Creek, Pinnacle Rock)185 mi · 3 hr 45 minWest VirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Peak colorMiamisburg Mound157 mi · 3 hr 58 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorVersailles State Park161 mi · 4 hrIndianaPeak: Late OctoberClifty Falls State Park180 mi · 4 hr 7 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorPinnacle Rock State Park204 mi · 4 hr 7 minWest VirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Peak colorNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve180 mi · 4 hr 8 minWest VirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorHungry Mother State Park253 mi · 5 hr 1 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorGrayson Highlands State Park238 mi · 5 hr 46 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: High color
Driving distance and time by road from Carter County.
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Planning Your Trip to Carter County
From Carter County you can reach 20 fall color locations and 1 scenic byways in Kentucky, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.
When to Visit
Across the destinations we track around Carter County, peak color has historically landed in Mid October, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.
Highlights around Carter County
Daniel Boone National Forest
US Forest Service - Southern Region · Public domain
Red River Gorge
A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation · Public domain
Old Frankfort Pike
Pro. by M. P. Linney Co., Lexington, KY. · Public domain
Hocking Hills State Park
Public domain
How we know when Carter County peaks
Each date above comes from years of fall color records at that specific spot, checked against what observers on the ground saw — not a regional average wearing a local name. Where a location has no usable observations of its own, we withhold the date and point you somewhere nearby that does.