New Mexico Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 25 – Oct 3
Centered on Sep 29 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
High aspen peaks late September to early October; the bosque cottonwoods in early November.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
Typical peak centers on September 29, with a September 25–October 3 window. High aspen in the Sangre de Cristos usually peak in late September to early October; high ground near 10,350 feet peaks around September 24, while valleys near 7,200 feet peak around October 5. Rio Grande bosque cottonwoods typically extend the season into early November.
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- cottonwood
- gambel 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 Sep 29Typical color progression for New Mexico. No change from Aug 22 to Sep 8. First color from Sep 8 to Sep 17. Approaching peak from Sep 17 to Sep 25. Peak from Sep 25 to Oct 3. Past peak from Oct 3 to Oct 13. Bare from Oct 13 to Oct 27.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 8.
New Mexico by county
27 days from Taos County to Eddy County.
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. Lincoln County spans 12 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | Bare | 5,495 ft | 6 days |
| Catron County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 7,095 ft | 6 days |
| Chaves County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | Past peak | 4,001 ft | 7 days |
| Cibola County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 7,025 ft | 6 days |
| Colfax County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | Bare | 6,794 ft | 9 days |
| Curry County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 4,436 ft | 2 days |
| De Baca County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | Past peak | 4,346 ft | 4 days |
| Doña Ana County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 4,255 ft | 2 days |
| Eddy County | Oct 23 – Oct 31 | Past peak | 3,399 ft | 4 days |
| Grant County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 5,799 ft | 5 days |
| Guadalupe County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 5,178 ft | 4 days |
| Harding County | Oct 8 – Oct 16 | Bare | 5,104 ft | 5 days |
| Hidalgo County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 4,626 ft | 3 days |
| Lea County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 3,752 ft | 3 days |
| Lincoln County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 5,879 ft | 12 days |
| Los Alamos County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | Bare | 7,429 ft | 9 days |
| Luna County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 4,242 ft | 3 days |
| McKinley County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | Bare | 6,754 ft | 2 days |
| Mora County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | Bare | 7,261 ft | 9 days |
| Otero County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | Past peak | 4,539 ft | 11 days |
| Quay County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 4,199 ft | 4 days |
| Rio Arriba County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | Bare | 7,183 ft | 7 days |
| Roosevelt County | Oct 16 – Oct 24 | Past peak | 4,257 ft | 1 days |
| San Juan County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 5,956 ft | 6 days |
| San Miguel County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 5,992 ft | 11 days |
| Sandoval County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 6,508 ft | 8 days |
| Santa Fe County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 6,689 ft | 5 days |
| Sierra County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | Past peak | 5,283 ft | 10 days |
| Socorro County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | Bare | 5,598 ft | 9 days |
| Taos County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | Bare | 8,053 ft | 10 days |
| Torrance County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 6,417 ft | 2 days |
| Union County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 5,590 ft | 6 days |
| Valencia County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 5,265 ft | 4 days |
Peak by elevation
11 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 | 10,350 ft | Sep 24 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 9,000 ft | Sep 29 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 7,200 ft | Oct 5 | Bare |
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
New Mexico on September 29, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:31 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 92° | 6:56 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 34 min of low, warm light | 7:30 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:53 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset | 6:16 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 267° | 6:50 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:15 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 11h 54m · 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 E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Where to shoot in New Mexico
3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Bobcat Pass Bare
Enchanted Circle · 9,810 ft · peaks Sep 24
The highest highway pass in New Mexico, with aspen running up both sides of the saddle and open grass meadows at the top. Late light along the ridgelines separates the aspen edges that midday sun flattens.
- Aspen Vista Bare
Sangre de Cristo Mountains · 9,974 ft · peaks Sep 26
An old service road climbs from the picnic area through unbroken aspen toward Tesuque Peak, with the Rio Grande valley showing west through gaps in the trees. The first two miles hold the densest stand and the grade stays easy enough to walk with a tripod.
- Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Past peak
Rio Grande Valley · 4,518 ft · peaks Oct 20
Cottonwood bosque along the Rio Grande between the Chupadera and San Pascual ranges, more than five thousand feet below the aspen country in the north of the state. Cottonwood gold against desert scrub and bare mountain is the whole composition here, and the refuge loop puts the light behind it at dawn.
Recent reports from New Mexico
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in New Mexico?
- New Mexico typically peaks Sep 25 – Oct 3, centered on Sep 29. High aspen peaks late September to early October; the bosque cottonwoods in early November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in New Mexico?
- Yes, by about 11 days. High ground around 10,350 ft peaks near Sep 24, while valleys near 7,200 ft wait until Oct 5. 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 New Mexico?
- The guide includes 3 researched locations in New Mexico, including Bobcat Pass, Aspen Vista, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Bobcat Pass turns first, around Sep 24, and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is last, around Oct 20. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in New Mexico?
- Mainly quaking aspen, cottonwood, gambel 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.