Great places to see fall color at ETSU
Wondering where the best places are to see fall colors on the ETSU campus? Check out these great spots.
As September gives way to October each year, this region becomes awash in color when the trees turn from green to brilliant shades of gold, crimson and orange. The East Tennessee State University campus features several great places to enjoy this spectacle.
Amphitheatre
The grounds surrounding ETSU’s landmark Amphitheatre provide the stage for plenty
of fall color, from the bright gold gingko biloba leaves to the crimson leaves of
the dogwood.
Carillon
The ETSU Foundation Carillon and Alumni Plaza is a great vantage point to see maple leaves in a variety of red and orange shades, as well as many other species.
Brown Hall Courtyard
Find a friend, get coffee, and head for the courtyard of Brown Hall, where ginkgo biloba trees create both a canopy and a carpet of gold.
Archives of Appalachia
Fall is a great time to visit the Archives of Appalachia on the fourth floor of ETSU’s Sherrod Library, where you can not only sit in a rocking chair to admire a stunning view of Borchuck Plaza, but also peruse displays of Appalachian artifacts from the early 19th century to the present, photographs, pottery, and more.
Greene Stadium
Buccaneer football fans get a special treat on Saturday afternoons in October when they visit William B. Greene Jr. Stadium and the sun shines on the University Woods and the surrounding campus. The Homecoming game against Mercer on Oct. 7 and the Oct. 14 game against Wofford both begin at 3:30 p.m. should offer a particularly colorful backdrop for cheering on the Bucs! Visit ETSUBucs.com for information and tickets.
University Woods
Visitors to ETSU’s University Woods can immerse themselves in fall color as they hike, run or ride mountain bikes through a five-mile trail system. This 30-acre site, featuring a ridgeline covered by old trees, is protected under an agreement with the Old-Growth Forest Network. The trails can be accessed from parking lot 13 off Southwest Avenue and from behind the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, 1012 Seminole Drive, Johnson City.
VA Campus
Although not a part of the main ETSU campus, the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center at Mountain Home, across State of Franklin Road from the university, houses ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine, Gatton College of Pharmacy and Medical Library, as well as several additional health sciences programs. VA patients and staff, ETSU visitors, and the community can enjoy lots of beautiful fall color during walks or drives around the lovely grounds.
The whole campus
In addition to these specific places, the entire ETSU campus is painted in vibrant color throughout the fall. The campus is an arboretum, with hundreds of species of trees and shrubs identified to inform the public of the scientific, aesthetic and economic values of plants in the local environment. Take a walk to enjoy the color, exercise, and learn about the botanical richness of the region!
ETSU offers a weekly fall color report, published every Thursday until the season ends. Find it at etsu.edu/etsu-news.
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