Next week is peak leaf-watching season in the Smoky Mountains

Peak leaf-watching season is fast approaching in the Smoky Mountains, according to this year's fall foliage map. 

Thousands of visitors will make the annual pilgrimage to the national park for the year's best look at the brilliant red, yellow and gold canopies in eastern Tennessee and North Carolina.

According to the annual predictions from the website SmokyMountains.com , this week is the beginning of the change of leaves in the Smokies. 

The very best views are forecast along the Tennessee/North Carolina border during the week of Oct. 20, but they won't last long. By the week of Oct. 27, Smoky Mountain leaves will have lost their peak colors, but most of the northern half of Kentucky will be in their peak week.

Western Kentucky is forecast to see peak fall colors during the first week of November, and west Tennessee by the week of Nov. 10.

You can check the map and get visitor information at this link .



Maps: peak fall foliage for weeks of 10/13; 10/20; 1027 and 11/03 (Smokymountains.com)