Missouri Fall Foliage 2026
Northern Missouri typically peaks mid-October, while the southern Ozarks hold color into early November. Sugar maple, oak, hickory, sassafras and dogwood provide a reliable show across the elevation range. The extended window lets you follow color south through the state over two to three weeks.
When Missouri peaks
Oct 19 – Oct 27
Centered on Oct 23. Northern Missouri peaks mid-October; the southern Ozarks late October into early 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
- sugar maple
- oak
- hickory
- sassafras
- dogwood
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 Missouri. 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
13 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 | 3,600 ft | Oct 14 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 1,100 ft | Oct 23 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 0 ft | Oct 27 | 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
Missouri 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 | 6:53 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 104° | 7:20 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 7:56 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:49 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 5:42 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 256° | 6:18 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:44 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 10h 58m · 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 Missouri
2 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Ha Ha Tonka Castle Bluff No change
Lake of the Ozarks · 902 ft · peaks Oct 22
Stone walls and empty window arches of a 1905 mansion sit on a bluff about 250 feet above the Niangua arm of Lake of the Ozarks. Oak and maple on the karst slopes fill the drop between the ruins and the water, and low sun rakes the limestone.
- Alley Spring Mill No change
Ozark National Scenic Riverways · 670 ft · peaks Oct 25
A red frame roller mill stands at the lip of a spring pool that pushes about 81 million gallons a day toward the Jacks Fork. Maple and sycamore close in behind the building, and cloud cover keeps the red siding and the blue-green water from blowing out.
Recent reports from Missouri
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Missouri?
- Missouri typically peaks Oct 19 – Oct 27, centered on Oct 23. Northern Missouri peaks mid-October; the southern Ozarks late October into early 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 Missouri?
- Yes, by about 13 days. High ground around 3,600 ft peaks near Oct 14, while valleys near 0 ft wait until Oct 27. 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 Missouri?
- We track 2 verified locations in Missouri, including Ha Ha Tonka Castle Bluff, Alley Spring Mill. Ha Ha Tonka Castle Bluff turns first, around Oct 22, and Alley Spring Mill is last, around Oct 25. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Missouri?
- Mainly sugar maple, oak, hickory, sassafras, dogwood. 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.