It has started. The fall leaf change has begun in the Smoky Mountains.

Following Jackie on an evening ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville

It’s confined to the highest elevations at this point. Nearly all these photos are above 5000 feet.

It's not nearly the full show even at the high elevations. You hit pockets of color.

As it’s mostly confined to the highest areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best spots to observe the emerging color. With the leaves also comes increased traffic.

View from Waterrock Knob. There is still plenty of change and more color to come. It's just getting started.

You’ll find some nice color around Mt. Mitchell State Park along the parkway. It’s the highest mountain in the east. Craggy Gardens is mostly disappointing right now. It has no big trees and the leaves are gone from the low brush. Things will improve as the color spreads down the slopes it overlooks.

It's rare to find a deserted overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway right now. This one wasn't empty long.

There’s some decent color just north of Asheville, but most of these photos are taken on the best section of the Blue Ridge Parkway – south of Asheville. It’s the highest and most scenic.

The skies have been unusually clear lately. You can see several states from almost any overlook.

Things will probably peak up high next weekend or so. Not to worry, the show moves down the slopes once the high parts are done. There’s still a lot of green.

Right now the show will be up on the parkway. In a couple weeks, you'll find the color on the back roads which it overlooks and in the valleys below.

Living here you can see the change every day. It’s amazing how fast this all seems to happen.

Still a lot of green at the lower elevations. The exposed ridges turn first.

We had a cold snap that set things off – 3 inches of snow on Mt. Leconte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Recently, it’s been unusually warm. Temperatures in the 70’s today, you couldn’t ask for better motorcycle riding weather.

This scene will get better over the next week or so. You should be here.

Motorcycles are everywhere. This warm weather won’t last. Be sure to pack some warm gear. Mornings will get frosty again soon.

This rugged scenery is not confined to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The roads I've mapped in the surroundings are just as good if not better.

Enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway now. When you tire of the crowds and congestion, get out on some of the great back roads which surround it. I’ve mapped more than 3000 miles of them and am still finding more.

Remember, the Blue Ridge Parkway is just the beginning of the adventure. There is so much more to see.

UPDATE – here are a few more photos from today. We did a little hike out to one of our favorite panoramic spots on a 6000 foot bald this morning.

Wayne and Jackie, with Ajax and Sophie, at Max Patch. Awesome views from 6000 feet.

We know the colors come in first at the high points. Max Patch is just across the North Carolina border in Tennessee. On a clear day like today, it was a good time to go see the start of the leaf show.

It's so wonderful to have such clear skies. You can see the pockets of leaf color that stretch to the horizons.

It’s a magic time in the Smoky Mountains and I’ll be out riding as much as I can over the next few weeks. I’ll do my best to slow down and snap a photo or two to share now and then, but somehow the colors just make the great motorcycle rides all that more fun. It’s hard to stop.

No enhancement or PhotoShop on any of these photos.This is just as they came out of the camera.

I hope you’ve made plans for a visit. If not, add this to your list for next year. You’ve got to plan ahead for lodging and such during leaf season. The rides are always there and are just as enjoyable in the spring and summer. If you’re hard core like me, it’s a year round passion. Hope you’ve enjoyed these pics, and with luck I’ll have more soon.

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