With the last day of summer quickly approaching on September 21st, and the first day of autumn arriving on September 22nd, it's time to start plotting a day trip (or longer) to do some leaf peeping this year. Now you may be wondering, "when is fall in South Carolina?" Each year, the folks at smokymountains.com use a special set of data points they push through their proprietary algorithm that miraculously predict the progression of fall foliage changes across the continental United States. It’s fascinating to peek into how the cold weather and subsequent leaf change progress throughout the country!

Believe it or not, some parts of the country in the higher elevations are already seeing partial changes in color in the landscape.

But peak fall foliage in South Carolina doesn’t tend to happen until later in the fall. It won’t be until late October that we will be graced with the splendors of fall sweeping over the Palmetto State.

If you've never seen Walhalla's Issaqueena Falls draped in the bright colors of fall, or with colorful leaves spilled all over the ledges, then add this spot to your fall agenda this year.

By the week of October 17th, some of the westernmost counties will be at near peak, as seen by the darker orange-colored South Carolina counties shown on this map. The higher elevations hit peak fall foliage earlier in the autumn than the eastern side of the state.

By this week, you should see the mountain peaks and ridges that rim Lake Jocassee striking some rich red and orange hues.

If this is your week to explore the fall foliage, then why not head to Jumping Off Rock in Sunset, South Carolina, and get high above the terrain to admire the view - and the colors?

Wait just one week further (until the last week of October,) and the colors absolutely peak in Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville Counties.

This trifecta of counties has so many outdoor attractions to enjoy the colors, you can easily spend an entire weekend exploring them all. Just reference the South Carolina foliage map for the best times and places to spot it!

Campbells Covered Bridge in northern Greenville County is stunning at any time of the year you visit.

But there's something about the way the red bridge blends in with the colors of autumn that makes it extra special in the fall. Expect colors at this attraction to peak closer to Halloween weekend.

As with anywhere in the Lowcountry, vivid fall colors are difficult to find, unless you look to the sky.

But if you want to see Old Sheldon Church in Yemassee with some colorful leaves, it should be patchy and have at least a partial change by the week of October 31st through the first week of November.

By mid November, the trifecta we mentioned earlier should be past the peak so be sure to get there before this happens.

Or, just aim for places that are a little farther from the westernmost border.

In places like Peak, in Newberry County, the last weeks of October will be your best bet.

This is the perfect time to take a hike on what just may be the prettiest segment of the Palmetto Trail. The Peak to Prosperity Passage should be lit up with fall colors this week. Cross over 14 bridges and trestles on this 11.4-mile segment of this 500-mile trail. Seen here, the 1905 railroad bridge over the Broad River that's part of the Peak to Prosperity Passage.

Over in Pickens, Table Rock should be at peak by late October or early November.

The different elevations here may create a bit of a stripe across the mountains, but you'll still see some wonderful colors and have an amazing backdrop for keepsake photos.

We see that the westernmost quarter of the state is beyond the peak but the Midlands and Piedmont are still at peak when you scroll along the South Carolina foliage map.

Pick a spot like Dreher Island State Park or Chester State Park and enjoy a picnic before taking a hike along the lake or through the forest.

There are lots of reasons to love the fall season in South Carolina. Looking forward to cooler temperatures reigns high on the list for most, but those fall colors are really something else! What's your favorite season in South Carolina?

The folks at SmokyMountain.com use a number of key factors in creating their annual interactive map (see it here). They include historical precipitation, NOAA precipitation forecasts, elevation, actual temperatures, temperature forecasts, and average daylight exposure. They put them all together and send the information through their special algorithm to create nearly 50,000 data points on the continental U.S. map, which in turn, propagates the weekly forecasts you see on their map. Not all predictions will be 100% accurate, but the professionals at smokymountains.com have been producing this map each fall for nearly ten years. This year, they plan to add a mid-season update for the first time ever.

If you were wondering "When is fall in South Carolina?" We hope this helped! If you have any other questions, make sure to leave them in the comments below.

Need a little help planning your fall leaf peeping trip? Read all about why you should Take This Gorgeous Fall Foliage Road Trip To See South Carolina Like Never Before.