North Dakota Fall Foliage 2026
North Dakota's fall color runs late September into early October, anchored by cottonwood, aspen, and ash. Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers the state's standout combination: golden cottonwood against red and gray badlands formations. The Pembina Gorge in the northeast and the Little Missouri Grasslands add aspen pockets, though the season is brief and the palette leans heavily yellow.
When North Dakota peaks
Sep 20 – Sep 28
Centered on Sep 24. Late September into the first week of October, statewide.
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
- cottonwood
- aspen
- ash
- 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 24Typical color progression for North Dakota. No change from Aug 17 to Sep 3. First color from Sep 3 to Sep 12. Approaching peak from Sep 12 to Sep 20. Peak from Sep 20 to Sep 28. Past peak from Sep 28 to Oct 8. Bare from Oct 8 to Oct 22.
Color starts around Sep 3.
Peak by elevation
16 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 | 5,100 ft | Sep 15 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 2,600 ft | Sep 24 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 600 ft | Oct 1 | 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
North Dakota on September 24, 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 | 6:13 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 90° | 6:43 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 40 min of low, warm light | 7:23 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:46 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 40 min before sunset | 6:08 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 270° | 6:48 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:18 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 12h 5m · 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 North Dakota
No verified locations here yet. We'd rather show none than guess at coordinates. See the states already covered.
Recent reports from North Dakota
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in North Dakota?
- North Dakota typically peaks Sep 20 – Sep 28, centered on Sep 24. Late September into the first week of October, statewide. 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 North Dakota?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 5,100 ft peaks near Sep 15, while valleys near 600 ft wait until Oct 1. 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.
- What trees turn color in North Dakota?
- Mainly cottonwood, aspen, ash, 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.