Bristol, Tn/Va and the surrounding region is known as one of the prettiest places for fall foliage, and it starts with South Holston Lake, where you’ll find the surrounding mountain vistas exploding with bright orange, red, and yellow hues when the temperatures start to cool and autumn is in the air. The setting around the lake, which sits in Tennessee and Virginia, is phenomenal any time of the year, but when October rolls around, there’s nothing like the scenery.
Steele Creek Park, which encompasses more than 2,200 acres, is Tennessee’s third-largest municipal park – and it takes autumn awesomeness to an all-new level once the leaves start changing color. The picturesque park includes a 52-acre lake surrounded by knobs and hills that turn into an artist’s palate of color each fall. You can enjoy the autumn scenery while kayaking, canoeing, fishing, or hiking the more than 24 miles of trails around the park.
The 400-acre Sugar Hollow Park also offers incredible fall foliage views. Whether you’re biking, hiking, or camping, the park offers a gorgeous setting for leaf lookers, who can also enjoy disc golf while taking in the gorgeous sights.
The Mendota Trail, a 12.5-mile hiking and biking recreational corridor, spans tranquil countryside and forests, making it an excellent location to enjoy autumn’s vibrant colors. One of the prettiest spots along the trail features a beautiful trestle known as “Abrams Creek Crossing.” When fall’s colors are at their peak, this area makes for some gorgeous photos!
Here are some other options to see fall foliage in the Bristol region: a walk or biking venture along the Virginia Creeper Trail, and if you love music and beauty – you might also want to take a drive along the Crooked Road Music Trail. The trail winds through Southwest Virginia and takes drivers through nearly 300 miles of scenic countryside that is ablaze with color during autumn.
Bristol is home to the Bristol Motor Speedway and the Birthplace of the Country Music Museum.
Begin your fall adventure here!
Cover Photo: Steele Creek Park – Jared Kreiss
