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 Pickens, South Carolina

Explore locations and scenic byways near Pickens, South Carolina.

1 to 2 hours

Oconee County & Sumter National Forest40 mi · 1 hr 11 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorParis Mountain State Park30 mi · 1 hr 13 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorPisgah National Forest41 mi · 1 hr 14 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Balsam Knob43 mi · 1 hr 17 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields44 mi · 1 hr 20 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorChimney Rock State Park50 mi · 1 hr 23 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorth Carolina Arboretum56 mi · 1 hr 25 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBiltmore Estate60 mi · 1 hr 32 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCatawba Falls65 mi · 1 hr 43 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorTallulah Gorge State Park75 mi · 1 hr 49 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park70 mi · 1 hr 52 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCraggy Gardens81 mi · 1 hr 58 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway99 mi · 2 hr 27 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Scenic driveCherohala Skyway113 mi · 2 hr 44 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Kings Mountain State Park96 mi · 2 hr 12 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCrowders Mountain State Park103 mi · 2 hr 17 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorMount Mitchell State Park102 mi · 2 hr 20 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway93 mi · 2 hr 23 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberLinville Gorge97 mi · 2 hr 28 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlood Mountain106 mi · 2 hr 29 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorVogel State Park110 mi · 2 hr 35 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden118 mi · 2 hr 37 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSouth Mountains State Park108 mi · 2 hr 38 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFoothills Parkway117 mi · 2 hr 39 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway116 mi · 2 hr 45 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBrasstown Bald101 mi · 2 hr 46 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)104 mi · 2 hr 46 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFreedom Park & Little Sugar Creek Greenway129 mi · 2 hr 49 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway116 mi · 2 hr 55 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway232 mi · 5 hr 8 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Great Smoky Mountains National Park111 mi · 3 hr 1 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberAmicalola Falls State Park126 mi · 3 hr 2 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCherokee121 mi · 3 hr 4 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrandfather Mountain117 mi · 3 hr 4 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRoan Mountain State Park135 mi · 3 hr 4 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLake Norman State Park138 mi · 3 hr 11 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Scenic Railway143 mi · 3 hr 13 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorChattahoochee Nature Center148 mi · 3 hr 13 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge138 mi · 3 hr 13 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGibbs Gardens133 mi · 3 hr 16 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBoone & Blowing Rock131 mi · 3 hr 21 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSeven Islands State Birding Park153 mi · 3 hr 23 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorGeorgia Highway 197145 mi · 3 hr 28 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park171 mi · 3 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorIjams Nature Center170 mi · 3 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherohala Skyway161 mi · 4 hr 1 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorNorris Dam State Park193 mi · 4 hr 5 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorHungry Mother State Park204 mi · 4 hr 15 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPilot Mountain State Park198 mi · 4 hr 25 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorFrozen Head State Park208 mi · 4 hr 28 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrayson Highlands State Park199 mi · 4 hr 45 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTennessee Riverpark206 mi · 4 hr 52 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorTennessee River Gorge206 mi · 4 hr 55 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorStringer's Ridge Park209 mi · 4 hr 57 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Pickens.

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Planning Your Trip to Pickens

From Pickens you can reach 11 fall color locations and 0 scenic byways in South Carolina, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

Across the destinations we track around Pickens, peak color has historically landed in Early November, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.

Highlights around Pickens

How we know when Pickens 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.