Minnesota Fall Foliage 2026
In a typical 2026 season, high ground around 2,300 feet peaks around September 23, with the statewide peak window running September 22–30 and the typical peak on September 26. The Arrowhead and North Shore typically peak in the last week of September; valleys near 600 feet peak around September 29, while the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota typically reach peak color in mid-October.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
When Minnesota peaks
Sep 22 – Sep 30
Centered on Sep 26. The Arrowhead peaks in the last week of September; the Twin Cities and south in mid-October.
moderate confidence. A few weeks out. Expect this to move by several days.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- sugar maple
- aspen
- birch
- tamarack
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 26Typical color progression for Minnesota. No change from Aug 19 to Sep 5. First color from Sep 5 to Sep 14. Approaching peak from Sep 14 to Sep 22. Peak from Sep 22 to Sep 30. Past peak from Sep 30 to Oct 10. Bare from Oct 10 to Oct 24.
Minnesota is typically at approaching peak on this date.
Minnesota by county
13 days from Cook County to Martin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Approaching peak | 1,271 ft | 0 days |
| Anoka County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 899 ft | 0 days |
| Becker County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Approaching peak | 1,452 ft | 1 days |
| Beltrami County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,212 ft | 1 days |
| Benton County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,114 ft | 0 days |
| Big Stone County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,110 ft | 1 days |
| Blue Earth County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 999 ft | 1 days |
| Brown County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,023 ft | 0 days |
| Carlton County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 1,159 ft | 1 days |
| Carver County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 972 ft | 0 days |
| Cass County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Approaching peak | 1,320 ft | 1 days |
| Chippewa County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,030 ft | 0 days |
| Chisago County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 920 ft | 0 days |
| Clay County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 952 ft | 1 days |
| Clearwater County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,432 ft | 2 days |
| Cook County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Approaching peak | 1,738 ft | 1 days |
| Cottonwood County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,355 ft | 0 days |
| Crow Wing County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 1,240 ft | 1 days |
| Dakota County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 942 ft | 0 days |
| Dodge County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,269 ft | 1 days |
| Douglas County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 1,379 ft | 1 days |
| Faribault County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | First color | 1,119 ft | 0 days |
| Fillmore County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,282 ft | 1 days |
| Freeborn County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | First color | 1,248 ft | 1 days |
| Goodhue County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,078 ft | 1 days |
| Grant County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 1,144 ft | 1 days |
| Hennepin County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 917 ft | 1 days |
| Houston County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | First color | 1,071 ft | 1 days |
| Hubbard County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Approaching peak | 1,422 ft | 1 days |
| Isanti County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 944 ft | 0 days |
| Itasca County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,337 ft | 1 days |
| Jackson County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,415 ft | 0 days |
| Kanabec County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,045 ft | 1 days |
| Kandiyohi County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 1,126 ft | 0 days |
| Kittson County | Sep 21 – Sep 29 | Approaching peak | 907 ft | 0 days |
| Koochiching County | Sep 21 – Sep 29 | Approaching peak | 1,198 ft | 0 days |
| Lac qui Parle County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,068 ft | 0 days |
| Lake County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,529 ft | 2 days |
| Lake of the Woods County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Approaching peak | 1,144 ft | 0 days |
| Le Sueur County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,017 ft | 1 days |
| Lincoln County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 1,758 ft | 0 days |
| Lyon County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,452 ft | 2 days |
| Mahnomen County | Sep 23 – Oct 1 | Approaching peak | 1,317 ft | 1 days |
| Marshall County | Sep 21 – Sep 29 | Approaching peak | 1,083 ft | 1 days |
| Martin County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | First color | 1,194 ft | 1 days |
| McLeod County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,047 ft | 0 days |
| Meeker County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 1,112 ft | 0 days |
| Mille Lacs County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 1,201 ft | 1 days |
| Morrison County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 1,236 ft | 1 days |
| Mower County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,299 ft | 1 days |
| Murray County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,611 ft | 1 days |
| Nicollet County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 980 ft | 0 days |
| Nobles County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,571 ft | 1 days |
| Norman County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Approaching peak | 926 ft | 1 days |
| Olmsted County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,161 ft | 0 days |
| Otter Tail County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 1,351 ft | 1 days |
| Pennington County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,135 ft | 0 days |
| Pine County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 1,053 ft | 0 days |
| Pipestone County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,688 ft | 0 days |
| Polk County | Sep 23 – Oct 1 | Approaching peak | 889 ft | 2 days |
| Pope County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,181 ft | 1 days |
| Ramsey County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 917 ft | 0 days |
| Red Lake County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Approaching peak | 1,094 ft | 1 days |
| Redwood County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,085 ft | 0 days |
| Renville County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,066 ft | 1 days |
| Rice County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,065 ft | 1 days |
| Rock County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,498 ft | 1 days |
| Roseau County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Approaching peak | 1,081 ft | 0 days |
| Scott County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 964 ft | 0 days |
| Sherburne County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 982 ft | 0 days |
| Sibley County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 1,010 ft | 0 days |
| St. Louis County | Sep 23 – Oct 1 | Approaching peak | 1,353 ft | 1 days |
| Stearns County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,221 ft | 0 days |
| Steele County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,231 ft | 0 days |
| Stevens County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,111 ft | 0 days |
| Swift County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | First color | 1,041 ft | 0 days |
| Todd County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 1,322 ft | 1 days |
| Traverse County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 1,056 ft | 0 days |
| Wabasha County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,069 ft | 2 days |
| Wadena County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Approaching peak | 1,348 ft | 0 days |
| Waseca County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,129 ft | 0 days |
| Washington County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 936 ft | 1 days |
| Watonwan County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,102 ft | 0 days |
| Wilkin County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 979 ft | 0 days |
| Winona County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | First color | 1,162 ft | 1 days |
| Wright County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,000 ft | 1 days |
| Yellow Medicine County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | First color | 1,071 ft | 2 days |
Peak by elevation
6 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 | 2,300 ft | Sep 23 | Approaching peak |
| Mid elevation | 1,400 ft | Sep 26 | Approaching peak |
| Valleys & lowlands | 600 ft | Sep 29 | Approaching 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%
Light at peak
Minnesota on September 26, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:24 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 91° | 6:54 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 41 min of low, warm light | 7:35 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:54 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 41 min before sunset | 6:12 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 269° | 6:53 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:23 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 11h 59m · 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 Minnesota
4 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Honeymoon Bluff Approaching peak
Gunflint Trail · 1,868 ft · peaks Sep 23
A rock ledge 150 feet above Hungry Jack Lake looking due west into the Boundary Waters, with birch and aspen stands broken by dark spruce ridgelines. Tamarack in the bogs turns gold a week or two after the birch drops, giving a late second window.
- Oberg Mountain Approaching peak
North Shore · 1,537 ft · peaks Sep 26
Nine overlooks ring the summit loop; the north-facing ones drop onto Oberg Lake with solid sugar maple running to the ridgeline behind it. The south side turns to face Lake Superior and Leveaux Mountain, so both directions work from one 2.2-mile loop.
- High Falls of the Baptism River Approaching peak
North Shore · 782 ft · peaks Sep 29
The tallest waterfall entirely inside Minnesota drops 60 feet into a basalt gorge, with cedar and birch leaning over both rims. A suspension footbridge upstream gives a second angle looking down the length of the gorge.
- Palisade Head Approaching peak
North Shore · 791 ft · peaks Sep 29
A 200-foot rhyolite cliff drops straight into Lake Superior, and the view northeast runs down the shoreline to Shovel Point with birch and aspen packed on the headlands between. First light hits the cliff faces directly and separates the rock from the water.
Recent reports from Minnesota
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Minnesota?
- Minnesota typically peaks Sep 22 – Sep 30, centered on Sep 26. The Arrowhead peaks in the last week of September; the Twin Cities and south in mid-October. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Minnesota?
- Yes, by about 6 days. High ground around 2,300 ft peaks near Sep 23, while valleys near 600 ft wait until Sep 29. 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 Minnesota?
- The guide includes 4 researched locations in Minnesota, including Honeymoon Bluff, Oberg Mountain, High Falls of the Baptism River. Honeymoon Bluff turns first, around Sep 23, and Palisade Head is last, around Sep 29. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Minnesota?
- Mainly sugar maple, aspen, birch, tamarack. 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.