Indiana Fall Foliage 2026
Indiana’s typical peak is October 19, within an October 15–23 window. High ground around 1,050 feet typically peaks about October 18, while valleys near 550 feet peak about October 20, a two-day elevation spread. Northern counties generally peak in mid-October, while the Ohio River valley typically reaches peak in late October.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
When Indiana peaks
Oct 15 – Oct 23
Centered on Oct 19. Northern counties peak in mid-October, the Ohio River valley in late October.
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
- oak
- hickory
- tulip poplar
- 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 19Typical color progression for Indiana. No change from Sep 11 to Sep 28. First color from Sep 28 to Oct 7. Approaching peak from Oct 7 to Oct 15. Peak from Oct 15 to Oct 23. Past peak from Oct 23 to Nov 2. Bare from Nov 2 to Nov 16.
Indiana is typically at no change on this date.
Indiana by county
11 days from Elkhart County to Spencer County.
Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage today | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 836 ft | 0 days |
| Allen County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 802 ft | 1 days |
| Bartholomew County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 644 ft | 1 days |
| Benton County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 742 ft | 0 days |
| Blackford County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 898 ft | 0 days |
| Boone County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 933 ft | 0 days |
| Brown County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 719 ft | 1 days |
| Carroll County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 677 ft | 0 days |
| Cass County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 728 ft | 1 days |
| Clark County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 578 ft | 1 days |
| Clay County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 627 ft | 1 days |
| Clinton County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 846 ft | 1 days |
| Crawford County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 680 ft | 0 days |
| Daviess County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 485 ft | 1 days |
| Dearborn County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 868 ft | 1 days |
| Decatur County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 882 ft | 1 days |
| DeKalb County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 860 ft | 1 days |
| Delaware County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 950 ft | 0 days |
| Dubois County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 475 ft | 0 days |
| Elkhart County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 867 ft | 0 days |
| Fayette County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 1,000 ft | 1 days |
| Floyd County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 760 ft | 1 days |
| Fountain County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 648 ft | 1 days |
| Franklin County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 952 ft | 1 days |
| Fulton County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 770 ft | 0 days |
| Gibson County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | No change | 433 ft | 0 days |
| Grant County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 869 ft | 0 days |
| Greene County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 579 ft | 1 days |
| Hamilton County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 815 ft | 0 days |
| Hancock County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 872 ft | 0 days |
| Harrison County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 698 ft | 0 days |
| Hendricks County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 885 ft | 1 days |
| Henry County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 1,058 ft | 1 days |
| Howard County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 825 ft | 0 days |
| Huntington County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 823 ft | 0 days |
| Jackson County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 571 ft | 1 days |
| Jasper County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 688 ft | 0 days |
| Jay County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 943 ft | 1 days |
| Jefferson County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 781 ft | 1 days |
| Jennings County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 680 ft | 0 days |
| Johnson County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 759 ft | 1 days |
| Knox County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 459 ft | 1 days |
| Kosciusko County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 846 ft | 0 days |
| LaGrange County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 924 ft | 0 days |
| Lake County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 660 ft | 0 days |
| LaPorte County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 721 ft | 1 days |
| Lawrence County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 619 ft | 1 days |
| Madison County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 878 ft | 0 days |
| Marion County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 777 ft | 0 days |
| Marshall County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 801 ft | 0 days |
| Martin County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 555 ft | 1 days |
| Miami County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 799 ft | 1 days |
| Monroe County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 723 ft | 1 days |
| Montgomery County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 818 ft | 0 days |
| Morgan County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 773 ft | 1 days |
| Newton County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 670 ft | 0 days |
| Noble County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 912 ft | 1 days |
| Ohio County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 825 ft | 0 days |
| Orange County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 715 ft | 1 days |
| Owen County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 651 ft | 1 days |
| Parke County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 641 ft | 1 days |
| Perry County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | No change | 521 ft | 0 days |
| Pike County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 488 ft | 0 days |
| Porter County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 700 ft | 0 days |
| Posey County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 397 ft | 1 days |
| Pulaski County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 686 ft | 0 days |
| Putnam County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 827 ft | 0 days |
| Randolph County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 1,116 ft | 0 days |
| Ripley County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 931 ft | 0 days |
| Rush County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 978 ft | 1 days |
| Scott County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 620 ft | 0 days |
| Shelby County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 770 ft | 1 days |
| Spencer County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 422 ft | 1 days |
| St. Joseph County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 802 ft | 1 days |
| Starke County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 707 ft | 0 days |
| Steuben County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 994 ft | 1 days |
| Sullivan County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 501 ft | 1 days |
| Switzerland County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 832 ft | 0 days |
| Tippecanoe County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 698 ft | 0 days |
| Tipton County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 876 ft | 0 days |
| Union County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 992 ft | 1 days |
| Vanderburgh County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | No change | 414 ft | 1 days |
| Vermillion County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 595 ft | 1 days |
| Vigo County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | No change | 547 ft | 1 days |
| Wabash County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 785 ft | 0 days |
| Warren County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 690 ft | 0 days |
| Warrick County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | No change | 442 ft | 0 days |
| Washington County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 765 ft | 0 days |
| Wayne County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | No change | 1,045 ft | 0 days |
| Wells County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 842 ft | 0 days |
| White County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 689 ft | 0 days |
| Whitley County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 857 ft | 0 days |
Peak by elevation
2 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 | 1,050 ft | Oct 18 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 800 ft | Oct 19 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 550 ft | Oct 20 | 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
Indiana on October 19, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:31 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 102° | 7:58 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 8:35 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:29 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 6:24 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 258° | 7:01 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:28 PM |
Times in America/Indiana/Indianapolis · day length 11h 3m · 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 Indiana
3 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Sunset Point, Turkey Run No change
Sugar Creek · 552 ft · peaks Oct 18
A sandstone bluff above Sugar Creek where white sycamore trunks line the water and hemlock leans off the far bank. Late light runs down the creek corridor and lights the opposite bluff while the near side goes to shadow.
- Hesitation Point No change
Brown County Hills · 1,004 ft · peaks Oct 19
The highest pull-off in Brown County State Park looks across ridge after ridge of maple and tulip poplar with no roofs or towers in the frame. Valley fog holds for an hour past sunrise and separates the ridge lines into bands.
- Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge No change
Muscatatuck River Bottoms · 578 ft · peaks Oct 21
Bottomland and shallow marsh along the Muscatatuck in southern Indiana, water-level country rather than the ridge overlooks the state already has. Oak and hickory carry the color and the impoundments give it somewhere to land.
Recent reports from Indiana
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Indiana?
- Indiana typically peaks Oct 15 – Oct 23, centered on Oct 19. Northern counties peak in mid-October, the Ohio River valley in late October. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Indiana?
- The guide includes 3 researched locations in Indiana, including Sunset Point, Turkey Run, Hesitation Point, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. Sunset Point, Turkey Run turns first, around Oct 18, and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge is last, around Oct 21. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Indiana?
- Mainly sugar maple, oak, hickory, tulip poplar, 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.