When And Where To Expect Kentucky S Fall Foliage To Peak This Year

There’s nothing quite like fall in Kentucky. Come September and October, the iconic blue hills of the state are painted in rich red, bold orange, vibrant yellow, and stunning gold hues. The first day of fall is Sept. 22; and, if you’re like us, you’re already counting down the days (with a pumpkin spice latte in hand, of course)! If you’re wondering when and where to expect Kentucky’s fall foliage to peak this year, read on. Thanks to the experts at the Smoky Mountains, we have an online tool that will help you with your fall planning and let you know when to be out and about in the beautiful Bluegrass this season.

Fall in Kentucky is a glorious time of year, when the state’s iconic blue hills turn red, yellow, orange, and gold.

James Robert Smith/iStock via Getty Images Plus Red River Gorge, Kentucky 40387, USA

On the Smoky Mountains website, they’ve created a sophisticated algorithm to predict when each region of the country’s fall foliage will peak.

smokymountains.com

Here in the Bluegrass, the trees begin to change right around the first official week of fall.

smokymountains.com

Those in the southeastern corner of Kentucky are first to experience this seasonal sea change. Yahoo Falls, for example, becomes even more divine with the addition of rich autumn shades.

Jonathan D. Goforth/Moment Collection via Getty Images Yahoo Falls, Kentucky 42653, USA

And by the second and third week of October, Kentuckians all over the state will be basking in autumn beauty.

smokymountains.com

At this point, our advice is to get out and enjoy the beauty any way you can! A fall ride aboard My Old Kentucky Dinner Train is positively perfect.

Visit Bardstown/Facebook My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, 602 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA

There’s no question that Kentucky is a beautiful state all year-round, but when you factor in fall foliage, the Bluegrass becomes positively breathtaking. You’ll quite literally see the state in a totally different light, and it’s sublime.

Kentucky Horse Park/Facebook Horse Park Road, Horse Park Rd, Kentucky 41008, USA

Hop in the car and go for a scenic day trip. A drive through Mammoth Cave becomes even more spectacular in the autumn.

Mammoth Cave National Park/Facebook Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA

Wander through a favorite park or forest – it’s an absolutely magical experience during this time.

Visit Bardstown/Facebook Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Bernheim Forest Rd, Shepherdsville, KY 40165, USA

And visiting a wondrous place like Cumberland Falls in the fall? Well, you’ll just have to go and experience that magic for yourself.

Kentucky State Parks/Facebook Cumberland Falls, Kentucky, USA

The Bluegrass State really does shine all year long. To learn more about when to expect peak fall foliage in your neck of the woods, visit the Smoky Mountains website.

James Robert Smith/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Red River Gorge, Kentucky 40387, USA

smokymountains.com

Jonathan D. Goforth/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Yahoo Falls, Kentucky 42653, USA

Visit Bardstown/Facebook

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, 602 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA

Kentucky Horse Park/Facebook

Horse Park Road, Horse Park Rd, Kentucky 41008, USA

Mammoth Cave National Park/Facebook

Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Bernheim Forest Rd, Shepherdsville, KY 40165, USA

Kentucky State Parks/Facebook

Cumberland Falls, Kentucky, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.