Where to see fall colors in South Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Thursday marked the Autumnal Equinox–when the sun is directly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length–which signifies the first day of Fall.

Fall ushers in chillier temperatures, shorter days, and a phenomenon that is synonymous with the season: the leaves changing color.

Beginning in late September, leaves shed their natural green color and fade into breathtaking hues of red, purple, yellow, and orange.

“The sun angle gets lower, you get less sunlight, so they’re not producing as much chlorophyll and as that fades that’s what causes the change in the color,” Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Josh Marthers explained.

And while other states may be better known for their autumnal landscapes, South Carolina’s Upstate still boasts an impressive display.

According to the State Parks Department, fall colors typically peak in South Carolina in late October and often appear more brilliantly and last longer than in other parts of the United States.

Even so, Lowcountry residents will need to travel further upstate if they want to experience South Carolina’s fall foliage in all its glory.

“We do have a little bit of a higher sun angle, we stay milder in the winter, our trees are a little different and it’s mostly climate-driven,” Josh said.

So where do sightseers have the best chance of finding fall foliage in the Palmetto State? Take a ride along Scenic SC Highway 11, also known as Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, as it winds through the southernmost parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains.