With Blue Ridge Parkway closed, try these five other routes for scenic drives to see fall colors

It's that time of year again.

The morning air is crisp and the leaves are starting to show hints of bright red, yellow and orange hues which, in a few weeks, will paint the Tennessee mountains into the perfect, picturesque autumn landscape.

Typically, fall lovers would flock to Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina to admire the scenery. However, this year, thanks to Tropical Storm Helene, that is not an option .

The National Park Service announced on Sept. 29 that America's favorite drive would be closed indefinitely in North Carolina due to damage from the storm.

However, East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains have plenty more beautiful drives to offer. Here are five more scenic routes to take this fall.

1. Cades Cove Loop

Like Blue Ridge Highway, Cades Cove is a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The popular auto tourism route is an 11-mile route that offers amazing views of the mountain valley, wildlife and historic buildings.

Cades Cove has three restored churches, a working gristmill, barns and log houses, all eighteenth and nineteenth-century structures that tell the story of the Cherokee Indians and later European settlers called home.

The National Parks Service recommends allocating at least two to four hours to drive this loop.

2. Upper Tremont Road

This route is the perfect fall getaway.

Upper Tremont Road is a less popular but equally as beautiful route to enjoy from your vehicle. It is located in near Wears Valley, or a 30-minute drive from Gatlinburg.

The road is about two miles long, and is a popular destination for fly fishing, hiking and horseback riding, according to the City of Townsend.

3. Roaring Fork

Roaring Fork is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the NPS. It is located only miles away from Gatlinburg and often exceeds capacity.

This 5.5-mile-long, one-way, loop road showcases old-growth forests, historic structures and waterfalls. If you're able to explore on foot, you can stop at Noah “Bud” Ogle for a self-guided walking tour of a historic homestead. Or, hike to explore Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls.

Due to the steep, windy nature of the road, buses, trailers and motorhomes are prohibited.

This seasonal trail closes for the winter on Dec. 1, so be sure to check it out soon.

4. Newfound Gap

The Newfound Gap Road is renowned for its beautiful landscapes.

The 33-mile route runs from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to Cherokee, North Carolina, offering views of Campbell Overlook and more. Along the way, you'll find the Rockefeller Memorial, Kuwohi, and North Carolina's Mingus Mill.

The Newfound Gap is also known as the lowest pass through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Driving along Newfound Gap will take around an hour to complete, according to Pigeon Forge's approximations. This route is open 24 hours a day, year-round.

5. Cherohala Skyway

The Cherohala Skyway is a 41-mile stretch that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee with Robbinsville, North Carolina. Its path will take you through the mountain terrain with few traces of civilization.

This route has a similar feel to the Blue Ridge Parkway and could be a great alternative. There are many opportunities to picnic, camp, and hike along way.

Some popular detours and strops include the the old wagon train road at the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, a 30-mile, gravel, Forest Service Road, and a stop at the Bald River Falls, located near paved Forest Service Road 210.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: With Blue Ridge Parkway closed, try these five other routes for scenic drives to see fall colors