Mid-October is typically when the mountains around Murphy put on their full show, and I'm heading out on the fall color drives near Murphy, NC that I come back to every year. All five sit within about an hour and a half of town. Here is the order I'd drive them, what color to expect at each elevation right now, and what living close to each one means when you own a home here.
Key Takeaways
- NC State University's 2026 guide places typical peak color between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in mid-October, then moving into lower elevations from late October into early November.
- That makes this weekend a lovely time for the high roads: the Cherohala Skyway, which tops out just over 5,400 feet, and Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest point at 4,784 feet.
- The river gorges and lake coves closer to Murphy are lower, so they keep coloring up in the weeks after the ridges.
- My suggested order runs high to low, from the Skyway down to Hiwassee Dam.
- Early starts bring soft, low light, and a weekday drive feels especially relaxed, one of the simple pleasures of living here.
What are the best fall color drives near Murphy, NC for a peak weekend?
I'm Bonnie DuPree, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Town & Country and a Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS), and I live in Murphy and have worked these mountains since 2007. When you live here, you don't have to pick one October overlook. You can follow the color down the mountains, one drive at a time.
My guide to scenic drives and overlooks of the far-west NC mountains covers these routes in every season. This post is narrower: a mid-October plan built around where the color is now. Drive times are approximate, so confirm them for your own address.
| Drive | Approx. time from Murphy | Why I love it in mid-October |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cherohala Skyway and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest | Roughly 1 to 1.5 hours via Andrews and Robbinsville | The Skyway climbs into the 4,000-to-5,000-foot band right as it peaks |
| 2. Brasstown Bald (Georgia) | About an hour or a little more, by way of Blairsville | A 360-degree deck at 4,784 feet, looking out over the color |
| 3. Nantahala Gorge | About 45 minutes, per one local outfitter | Steep wooded walls and a green river, with color building from the top down |
| 4. US-64 west to the Ocoee River gorge | About an hour to the middle of the gorge, per one local outfitter | Rock bluffs, river and lake along the nation's first national forest scenic byway |
| 5. Hiwassee Dam and Hiwassee Lake | A short drive west of town via NC-294; confirm for your starting point | Forested shoreline reflected on the water, closest to home |
What color should you expect by elevation in mid-to-late October?
Fall color near Murphy walks downhill, and elevation is the best guide to where it is on any given weekend. Here is how NC State University's 2026 fall foliage forecast and guide lays out the timing:
- Above 5,000 feet: patchy color begins in late September, so by mid-October the very highest ridges are well into their season.
- Above 4,000 feet: color becomes more noticeable and widespread in early to mid-October.
- Between 4,000 and 5,000 feet: peak color typically arrives in mid-October. This is the band that makes this weekend special.
- Lower elevations: peak moves into the foothills from late October into early November, which is when the valleys, gorges and lake coves around Murphy come into their own.
The guide expects a patchwork of color this year, with sunny days and cool, but not freezing, nights bringing the most vibrant display. That's why I check my weekly Murphy, NC fall color report before choosing a route. For an owner, this elevation logic is also practical: a mid-slope home with a long view lets you watch the band of color move down the ridges from your own porch.
Saturday morning: why start with the Cherohala Skyway and Joyce Kilmer?
Because the highest road should come first while it is at its most colorful. The Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that runs from Robbinsville, North Carolina, to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, following NC-143 and TN-165. It reaches just over 5,400 feet on the slopes of Haw Knob near the state line, so it climbs straight through the elevations peaking this weekend. I head up the four-lane through Andrews to Robbinsville, top off the tank, pick up a picnic, then climb past Lake Santeetlah onto the Skyway.
On the way back down, I love adding Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The Forest Service describes a 3,800-acre old-growth tract with more than 100 tree species, many over 400 years old, and a 2-mile trail that loops through the giant trees. It sits about 16 miles from Robbinsville via NC-143 and Kilmer Road, and lower than the Skyway, so its color comes on a little later.
What this means for owning here: homes along the Valley River corridor toward Andrews, and around Robbinsville and Lake Santeetlah in Graham County, sit closest to this loop. From a home in Murphy itself, the region's highest color drive is a morning outing with lunch at an overlook, then home for dinner.
Is Brasstown Bald worth the drive into Georgia in October?
Yes, and it's my second stop for good reason. At 4,784 feet, Georgia's highest point sits squarely in the band NC State expects to peak in mid-October. The Forest Service's Brasstown Bald visitor page lists the details worth knowing before you go:
- Hours: open seven days a week, 10am to 5pm.
- Fee: a $10 day-use fee per adult, ages 16 and up.
- Getting to the top: a steep 0.6-mile paved trail, or a shuttle that runs during regular hours, with the last departure at 4:30pm and a midday break from 12:30 to 1:10pm.
- Route: from Blairsville, about 8 miles south on US-19/129, 9 miles east on GA-180, then 3 miles up the GA-180 Spur.
What this means for owning here: homes on the south side of Murphy toward the Georgia line, and across the line in Union and Towns counties, put Brasstown Bald within easy reach. I always suggest newcomers go early on, because the view lays out the whole region of lakes, valleys and ridges.
Which lower drives are best as color moves into the valleys?
Once you've seen the peaks, these three lower drives keep fall unfolding through late October.
The Nantahala Gorge. Head northeast on US-19/74 through Andrews, and the road drops into a deep, forested gorge beside the Nantahala River. One local outfitter lists the drive from Murphy at about 45 minutes. Homes around Marble, Andrews and Topton sit along this same corridor, so the gorge becomes an easy afternoon drive.
US-64 west to the Ocoee. Heading the other way, US-64 crosses into Tennessee and at Ducktown begins the Ocoee Scenic Byway, which the Forest Service calls the first designated national forest scenic byway in the nation. The 26-mile byway follows US-64 through the rocky bluffs of the Ocoee gorge and past Parksville Lake, with Forest Road 77 climbing Chilhowee Mountain for long views. Homes in western Cherokee County, from Ranger toward the state line, sit closest to this drive.
Hiwassee Dam and the lake. The closest drive of all follows NC-294 west toward the dam. TVA lists Hiwassee Dam at 307 feet high, holding back a reservoir that runs about 22 miles. About 93% of the shoreline is Forest Service land, as I note in my Lake Hiwassee guide, so the hillsides stay wooded and the reflections stay unbroken. For an owner, this is the drive you can take after work.
When is the best time of day to drive for fall color?
Early. A few simple habits make any of these drives better:
- Start soon after sunrise. Low morning light is soft and warm, and it makes reds and golds glow against the ridges.
- Save a stop for late afternoon. Lower sun backlights the leaves.
- Go high first, low later. Follow the color downhill across the weekend, just as it moves down the mountains across the season.
- Try a weekday drive. A Tuesday on the Skyway feels especially relaxed, and it is one of the best perks of living close by.
Many of these drives pass trailheads worth a stop, and my list of favorite hiking trails in Cherokee County and the surrounding mountains pairs well with a color weekend.
If you like watching the season from the very first sign, my post on how the season turns in the North Carolina mountains is where this story begins.
What do these drives say about where to own a home near Murphy?
As an RSPS, I help people turn a favorite getaway into a home base. The most dramatic color is often on public land a short drive away, so the real question is which direction you'd most like to drive. The corridor toward Andrews and Robbinsville leans toward the Skyway and the Nantahala; the south side leans toward Brasstown Bald; the west side leans toward the Ocoee and Hiwassee Dam. A home in town sits in the middle of all five. My team, The DuPree Real Estate Group, loves showing homes in October, when views and sun exposure are easy to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is peak fall color near Murphy, NC?
NC State University's 2026 guide places typical peak color between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in mid-October, with peak moving into lower elevations from late October into early November. High roads peak first, and the valleys around Murphy follow.
How far is the Cherohala Skyway from Murphy, NC?
Roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, by way of Andrews and Robbinsville, depending on your starting point. The 43-mile byway runs from Robbinsville to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and reaches just over 5,400 feet near Haw Knob.
Is there a fee to visit Brasstown Bald?
Yes. The Forest Service lists a $10 day-use fee per adult, ages 16 and up. The visitor center is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and a shuttle to the summit runs during regular hours, with the last departure at 4:30pm.
What order should I drive the fall color routes near Murphy?
I suggest going high to low: the Cherohala Skyway and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest first, then Brasstown Bald, then the Nantahala Gorge, the Ocoee Scenic Byway and Hiwassee Dam as color moves into the valleys.
What time of day is best for a fall color drive?
Early morning and late afternoon. Low sun makes the color glow, and weekday drives feel especially relaxed.
Your Local Expert
I'm Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR®, founder of The DuPree Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Town & Country. Based in Murphy, NC — the county seat of Cherokee County — I've helped buyers and sellers across these mountains and lakes since 2007. As a Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS), I help people find a home base close to the places they love, from Murphy, Andrews and Robbinsville to Hayesville, Blairsville and Hiawassee. My team follows a "One Thing" model, with each specialist focused on one part of your move.
Make every October your color season
A visitor gets one peak weekend. An owner gets the whole season, from the Skyway down to the lake. Make Murphy the home you drive from, not to. When you're ready, browse current homes for sale around Murphy and picture which of these drives you'd take first.
I'd love to help you find your place in it. Reach out to me directly, or call me at (828) 361-1027, and let's talk about the view you want to wake up to.
The DuPree Real Estate Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR® · RE/MAX Town & Country · Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
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