Connecticut Fall Foliage 2026
The Litchfield Hills in the northwest corner peak around the first week of October, roughly a week ahead of the shoreline. Sugar maple and red maple drive the show, with oak and hickory adding late bronze tones. Elevations range from sea level to 3200 feet, spreading color over twelve days from early to mid-month.
When Connecticut peaks
Oct 9 – Oct 17
Centered on Oct 13. Northwest hills peak roughly a week before the shoreline.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- oak
- hickory
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 13Typical color progression for Connecticut. No change from Sep 5 to Sep 22. First color from Sep 22 to Oct 1. Approaching peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Peak from Oct 9 to Oct 17. Past peak from Oct 17 to Oct 27. Bare from Oct 27 to Nov 10.
Color starts around Sep 22.
Peak by elevation
12 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 3,200 ft | Oct 4 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 700 ft | Oct 13 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 0 ft | Oct 16 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Connecticut on October 13, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:34 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 100° | 7:02 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light | 7:40 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:39 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset | 5:37 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:15 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:43 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 13m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Connecticut
2 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Lake Waramaug State Park No change
Litchfield Hills · 713 ft · peaks Oct 13
The park holds the northwest tip of the lake and looks southeast down its full length toward the wooded hills above the vineyards. The bay off the picnic area stays flat before sunrise and returns a clean reflection of the far shore.
- Kent Falls No change
Litchfield Hills · 387 ft · peaks Oct 14
Falls Brook drops 250 feet over a run of limestone ledges, and the covered bridge at the base gives a built foreground most Connecticut waterfalls lack. Sugar maple and beech hang directly over the lower cascade.
Recent reports from Connecticut
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Connecticut?
- Connecticut typically peaks Oct 9 – Oct 17, centered on Oct 13. Northwest hills peak roughly a week before the shoreline. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Connecticut?
- Yes, by about 12 days. High ground around 3,200 ft peaks near Oct 4, while valleys near 0 ft wait until Oct 16. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Connecticut?
- We track 2 verified locations in Connecticut, including Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent Falls. Lake Waramaug State Park turns first, around Oct 13, and Kent Falls is last, around Oct 14. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Connecticut?
- Mainly sugar maple, red maple, oak, hickory. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.