Georgia Fall Foliage 2026
The Blue Ridge corner peaks in late October, with high ground above 5,000 feet turning first around mid-month and valleys following two weeks later. Atlanta and points south see their best color in early to mid-November. Sourwood leads the show with deep red, joined by red maple, hickory, oak and sassafras across a 16-day elevation spread.
When Georgia peaks
Oct 19 – Oct 27
Centered on Oct 23. The Blue Ridge corner peaks late October; Atlanta and south are early-to-mid November.
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
- sourwood
- red maple
- hickory
- oak
- sassafras
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 23Typical color progression for Georgia. No change from Sep 15 to Oct 2. First color from Oct 2 to Oct 11. Approaching peak from Oct 11 to Oct 19. Peak from Oct 19 to Oct 27. Past peak from Oct 27 to Nov 6. Bare from Nov 6 to Nov 20.
Color starts around Oct 2.
Peak by elevation
16 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 | 5,300 ft | Oct 14 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 2,800 ft | Oct 23 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 800 ft | Oct 30 | 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
Georgia on October 23, 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 | 7:22 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 103° | 7:47 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 8:22 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:19 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 6:16 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 257° | 6:51 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:17 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 4m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises ESE, sets WSW.
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 Georgia
3 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Brasstown Bald Observation Deck No change
Chattahoochee National Forest · 4,784 ft · peaks Oct 16
Georgia's highest summit carries a 360-degree observation deck above the surrounding ridges, so color reads as receding layers rather than one hillside. Peak arrives here a week or two ahead of the valleys below.
- Black Rock Mountain Summit Overlook No change
Blue Ridge Mountains · 3,622 ft · peaks Oct 20
The summit overlooks sit on the Eastern Continental Divide and drop into the valleys toward North Carolina, stacking ridge lines four and five deep. Morning fog pools below and leaves the colored ridge tops standing above it.
- Lake Trahlyta, Vogel State Park No change
Blue Ridge Mountains · 2,238 ft · peaks Oct 25
A small CCC-built lake ringed by hardwood slopes with Blood Mountain behind it, putting color and its reflection in one frame. Still water before mid-morning is what makes the shot work.
Recent reports from Georgia
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Georgia?
- Georgia typically peaks Oct 19 – Oct 27, centered on Oct 23. The Blue Ridge corner peaks late October; Atlanta and south are early-to-mid November. 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 Georgia?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 5,300 ft peaks near Oct 14, while valleys near 800 ft wait until Oct 30. 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 Georgia?
- We track 3 verified locations in Georgia, including Brasstown Bald Observation Deck, Black Rock Mountain Summit Overlook, Lake Trahlyta, Vogel State Park. Brasstown Bald Observation Deck turns first, around Oct 16, and Lake Trahlyta, Vogel State Park is last, around Oct 25. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Georgia?
- Mainly sourwood, red maple, hickory, oak, sassafras. 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.