Soon we will be fascinated with the beautiful colors that the season brings. Ranger Ashley Audette at Table Rock State Park provides a weekly report starting in October and running through mid-November.
October 29,2025
It’s Here!
I think our peak is arriving! The colors are showing all throughout the park, but the picture from the overlook just does not do it justice. If you are planning to visit Table Rock State Park for some leaf peeping, this weekend would be a great time to do so. Saturday is supposed to be partly cloudy and in the 50s. Perfect for a fall hike!
Did You Know? Leaf piles are essential for wildlife! Leaf litter acts as pollinator support, because native bees and butterflies rely on it to complete their life cycles. Amphibians, small mammals, and insects use leaf piles for shelter and camouflage from predators during the colder months. Many critters like birds and squirrels forage through the leaves to find acorns and other food sources. That is why it is important to leave the leaves!
October 22, 2025
We are still looking at a lot of green on our mountain, but throughout the park we are starting to see a few trees changing. You can see some sourwoods turning red in the main day-use area of Table Rock State Park. As I was hiking to the Pinnacle Mountain summit today, I could see that our red maples are starting to show their signature deep red! We are getting close!
Did You Know? Anthocyanins are the pigments that are responsible for the reds and purples we see in the trees like red maples, sourwoods, and dogwoods. These chemicals are produced by sugars that get trapped in the leaves. Warm nights can hinder this process, and an early frost or freeze can halt the process completely.
October 15, 2025
We are not yet at our peak; there is still a lot of green. We are getting some deep reds from a few trees, mixed with the yellows and oranges scattered throughout the park. We are (not so) patiently waiting for more color to show!
October 8, 2025
Green is still our dominant color here at Table Rock State Park, but we are seeing some bright yellows and oranges throughout the park. My favorite tree, the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), is responsible for some of the golden-yellow we are starting to see!
October 2, 2025
Happy Fall Y’all!
As you can see, Table Rock State Park is still showing a lot of green. Leaves are falling and some trees are starting to present some color, but the primary hue we are seeing right now is green.
Did You Know? Without Chlorophyl, leaves would be “Fall colors” year-round. Chlorophyl is the green pigment that allows plants to absorb sunlight and make food through photosynthesis. As the days get shorter in the Fall, the production of Chlorophyll slows down and eventually stops, letting the leaves’ “true” color show.
Keep a live look on the fall foliage from the Upcountry with our Table Rock webcam, and don’t miss SC State Park’s fall foliage reports posted each Thursday here.
What we have to look forward to:
Also, check out this story on fall foliage viewing in our state parks and visit our State Parks Facebook Page and post your best photos of fall foliage across our parks.
Looking for an easy fall hike? Check out this story about three beautiful hikes to take this fall!
Best Parks for Fall Foliage Viewing
- Caesars Head State Park
- Chester State Park
- Devils Fork State Park
- Jones Gap State Park
- Keowee-Toxaway State Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Musgrove Mill State Historic Site
- Oconee State Park
- Oconee Station State Historic Site
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Poinsett State Park
- Table Rock State Park
Read more about color change and autumn here.
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Read more at our comprehensive fall color guide: Finding Fall Foliage in Upcountry South Carolina.