New Jersey Fall Foliage 2026
The northwest highlands peak around October 10, about two weeks ahead of the Pine Barrens to the south. Sugar maples and red maples dominate the higher ground along the Appalachian ridge, while oaks fill in the valleys. The Delaware Water Gap marks the western edge of the best color, with elevation changes creating a twelve-day spread from ridge to lowland.
When New Jersey peaks
Oct 10 – Oct 18
Centered on Oct 14. Northwest highlands lead the Pine Barrens by about two weeks.
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
- red maple
- oak
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 14Typical color progression for New Jersey. No change from Sep 6 to Sep 23. First color from Sep 23 to Oct 2. Approaching peak from Oct 2 to Oct 10. Peak from Oct 10 to Oct 18. Past peak from Oct 18 to Oct 28. Bare from Oct 28 to Nov 11.
Color starts around Sep 23.
Peak by elevation
12 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 | 3,400 ft | Oct 5 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 900 ft | Oct 14 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 0 ft | Oct 17 | 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
New Jersey on October 14, 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 | 6:41 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 100° | 7:09 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 7:46 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:44 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 5:43 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:20 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:48 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 11m · 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 New Jersey
2 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- High Point Monument No change
Kittatinny Ridge · 1,803 ft · peaks Oct 10
New Jersey's highest point, where a 220-foot obelisk rises straight out of the ridge-top forest. The monument is the subject, framed against color from the summit loop, and the deck at the top opens onto farmland in three states.
- Mount Tammany, Delaware Water Gap No change
Delaware Water Gap · 1,441 ft · peaks Oct 13
The open rock ledge at the top of the Red Dot Trail looks southwest through the gap at Mount Minsi and the Delaware River bending below. Early sun clears the ridge behind you and front-lights the Pennsylvania wall across the water.
Recent reports from New Jersey
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in New Jersey?
- New Jersey typically peaks Oct 10 – Oct 18, centered on Oct 14. Northwest highlands lead the Pine Barrens by about two weeks. 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 New Jersey?
- Yes, by about 12 days. High ground around 3,400 ft peaks near Oct 5, while valleys near 0 ft wait until Oct 17. 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 New Jersey?
- We track 2 verified locations in New Jersey, including High Point Monument, Mount Tammany, Delaware Water Gap. High Point Monument turns first, around Oct 10, and Mount Tammany, Delaware Water Gap is last, around Oct 13. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in New Jersey?
- Mainly sugar maple, red maple, oak. 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.