Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Georgia?

Yes, by about 12 days. High ground around 4,800 ft peaks near Oct 16, while valleys near 1,450 ft wait until Oct 28. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.

Where are the best places to see fall color in Georgia?

The guide includes 3 researched 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 includes 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.

Georgia Fall Foliage 2026

Q: 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; current conditions may differ.

Past peak 40–70%, dropping Typical peak was 9 days ago

Typical peak window

Oct 19 – Oct 27

Centered on Oct 23 at reference elevation.

moderate confidence in typical timing.

The Blue Ridge corner peaks late October; Atlanta and south are early-to-mid November.

Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated Nov 1, 2026.

Seasonal timing

For typical 2026 planning, Georgia’s peak is around October 23, with a broader October 19–27 window. High ground near 4,800 feet often peaks around October 16, while valleys near 1,450 feet peak around October 28; the Blue Ridge corner typically peaks in late October, and Atlanta and points south in early to mid-November.

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 23

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

Georgia is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.

Georgia by county

19 days from Union County to Echols County.

75 of 159 counties are typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026. Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method

A county is still an average. Towns County spans 5 days on its own, ridge to valley.

Every county, as text

County	Typical peak	Stage on Nov 1, 2026	Median elev.	Spread
Appling County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	172 ft	0 days
Atkinson County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	205 ft	0 days
Bacon County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	190 ft	1 days
Baker County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	170 ft	0 days
Baldwin County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	352 ft	0 days
Banks County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	838 ft	1 days
Barrow County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	878 ft	0 days
Bartow County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	825 ft	1 days
Ben Hill County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	264 ft	1 days
Berrien County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	246 ft	0 days
Bibb County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	406 ft	1 days
Bleckley County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	343 ft	0 days
Brantley County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	59 ft	0 days
Brooks County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	167 ft	1 days
Bryan County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	28 ft	0 days
Bulloch County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	156 ft	1 days
Burke County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	271 ft	1 days
Butts County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	651 ft	1 days
Calhoun County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	228 ft	1 days
Camden County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	6 ft	0 days
Candler County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	218 ft	0 days
Carroll County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,091 ft	1 days
Catoosa County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	855 ft	1 days
Charlton County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	118 ft	0 days
Chatham County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	7 ft	0 days
Chattahoochee County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	394 ft	1 days
Chattooga County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	777 ft	1 days
Cherokee County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	995 ft	1 days
Clarke County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	718 ft	1 days
Clay County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	303 ft	0 days
Clayton County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	886 ft	0 days
Clinch County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	152 ft	0 days
Cobb County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,001 ft	1 days
Coffee County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	242 ft	0 days
Colquitt County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	288 ft	0 days
Columbia County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	402 ft	1 days
Cook County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	233 ft	0 days
Coweta County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	849 ft	1 days
Crawford County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	505 ft	1 days
Crisp County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	317 ft	0 days
Dade County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,226 ft	3 days
Dawson County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,409 ft	4 days
Decatur County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	130 ft	0 days
DeKalb County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	926 ft	1 days
Dodge County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	300 ft	1 days
Dooly County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	359 ft	1 days
Dougherty County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	190 ft	1 days
Douglas County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	999 ft	0 days
Early County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	209 ft	0 days
Echols County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	146 ft	0 days
Effingham County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	75 ft	0 days
Elbert County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	526 ft	1 days
Emanuel County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	251 ft	0 days
Evans County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	153 ft	0 days
Fannin County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	1,955 ft	3 days
Fayette County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	850 ft	1 days
Floyd County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	671 ft	0 days
Forsyth County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,127 ft	1 days
Franklin County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	717 ft	1 days
Fulton County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	907 ft	1 days
Gilmer County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,635 ft	4 days
Glascock County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	402 ft	1 days
Glynn County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	10 ft	0 days
Gordon County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	670 ft	1 days
Grady County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	207 ft	0 days
Greene County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	578 ft	0 days
Gwinnett County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	985 ft	1 days
Habersham County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,517 ft	3 days
Hall County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,127 ft	1 days
Hancock County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	494 ft	0 days
Haralson County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,152 ft	1 days
Harris County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	667 ft	1 days
Hart County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	743 ft	1 days
Heard County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	867 ft	1 days
Henry County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	798 ft	1 days
Houston County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	359 ft	1 days
Irwin County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	314 ft	0 days
Jackson County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	843 ft	0 days
Jasper County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	592 ft	1 days
Jeff Davis County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	236 ft	0 days
Jefferson County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	328 ft	1 days
Jenkins County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	209 ft	1 days
Johnson County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	301 ft	0 days
Jones County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	482 ft	0 days
Lamar County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	765 ft	1 days
Lanier County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	195 ft	0 days
Laurens County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	264 ft	0 days
Lee County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	266 ft	1 days
Liberty County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	19 ft	0 days
Lincoln County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	406 ft	0 days
Long County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	51 ft	1 days
Lowndes County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	199 ft	0 days
Lumpkin County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,546 ft	3 days
Macon County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	366 ft	0 days
Madison County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	728 ft	1 days
Marion County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	579 ft	0 days
McDuffie County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	467 ft	0 days
McIntosh County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	4 ft	0 days
Meriwether County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	830 ft	1 days
Miller County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	154 ft	0 days
Mitchell County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	206 ft	1 days
Monroe County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	557 ft	1 days
Montgomery County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	206 ft	0 days
Morgan County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	637 ft	0 days
Murray County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	787 ft	2 days
Muscogee County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	408 ft	1 days
Newton County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	701 ft	1 days
Oconee County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	712 ft	0 days
Oglethorpe County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	615 ft	0 days
Paulding County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,023 ft	1 days
Peach County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	460 ft	0 days
Pickens County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,420 ft	2 days
Pierce County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	113 ft	0 days
Pike County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	811 ft	1 days
Polk County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	907 ft	0 days
Pulaski County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	272 ft	1 days
Putnam County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	500 ft	0 days
Quitman County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	289 ft	1 days
Rabun County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	2,146 ft	3 days
Randolph County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	393 ft	1 days
Richmond County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	330 ft	1 days
Rockdale County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	763 ft	0 days
Schley County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	479 ft	1 days
Screven County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	152 ft	1 days
Seminole County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	127 ft	0 days
Spalding County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	842 ft	0 days
Stephens County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	890 ft	1 days
Stewart County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	409 ft	1 days
Sumter County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	402 ft	1 days
Talbot County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	591 ft	1 days
Taliaferro County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	554 ft	0 days
Tattnall County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	165 ft	1 days
Taylor County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	499 ft	1 days
Telfair County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	193 ft	1 days
Terrell County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	326 ft	1 days
Thomas County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	211 ft	0 days
Tift County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	315 ft	0 days
Toombs County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	178 ft	0 days
Towns County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	2,240 ft	5 days
Treutlen County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	245 ft	0 days
Troup County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	732 ft	1 days
Turner County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	378 ft	1 days
Twiggs County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	375 ft	0 days
Union County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	2,473 ft	4 days
Upson County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	702 ft	1 days
Walker County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	942 ft	2 days
Walton County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	852 ft	1 days
Ware County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	139 ft	0 days
Warren County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	517 ft	1 days
Washington County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	371 ft	0 days
Wayne County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	106 ft	0 days
Webster County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	466 ft	1 days
Wheeler County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	192 ft	0 days
White County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,547 ft	3 days
Whitfield County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	793 ft	2 days
Wilcox County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	301 ft	0 days
Wilkes County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	532 ft	1 days
Wilkinson County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	382 ft	0 days
Worth County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	323 ft	0 days

Peak by elevation

12 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.

Elevation band	Approx. elevation	Typical peak	Today
High ridges & passes	4,800 ft	Oct 16	Bare
Mid elevation	2,800 ft	Oct 23	Past peak
Valleys & lowlands	1,450 ft	Oct 28	Peak

Foliage stages

No change 0–10%
First color 10–25%
Approaching peak 25–60%
Peak 60–90%
Past peak 40–70%, dropping
Bare <20%

Plan the light

Georgia on October 23, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Georgia on October 23, 2026
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.

Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.

Which way to point the camera

Sun rises ESE, sets WSW.

Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.

Where to shoot in Georgia

3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations

Recent reports from Georgia

Report what you saw

Common 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; current conditions may differ.
Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Georgia?: Yes, by about 12 days. High ground around 4,800 ft peaks near Oct 16, while valleys near 1,450 ft wait until Oct 28. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
Where are the best places to see fall color in Georgia?: The guide includes 3 researched 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 includes 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.