When do the leaves change in Ohio?

Ohio typically peaks Oct 14 – Oct 22, centered on Oct 18. Northeast Ohio peaks around mid-October; the southwest a week or so later. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.

Where are the best places to see fall color in Ohio?

The guide includes 3 researched locations in Ohio, including Brandywine Falls, Steamboat Rock, Clifton Gorge, Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave. Brandywine Falls turns first, around Oct 14, and Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave is last, around Oct 18. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.

What trees turn color in Ohio?

Mainly sugar maple, oak, hickory, beech, tulip poplar. 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.

Ohio Fall Foliage 2026

Past peak 40–70%, dropping Typical peak was 14 days ago

Typical peak window

Oct 14 – Oct 22

Centered on Oct 18 at reference elevation.

moderate confidence in typical timing.

Northeast Ohio peaks around mid-October; the southwest a week or so later.

Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated Nov 1, 2026.

Seasonal timing

Ohio typically peaks around Oct. 18, within the Oct. 14–22 window; high ground near 1,150 feet peaks around Oct. 17, and valleys near 750 feet around Oct. 19. Northeast Ohio typically peaks around mid-October, while the southwest follows about a week later. Sugar maple, oak, hickory, beech and tulip poplar are dominant species.

What turns here

sugar maple
oak
hickory
beech
tulip poplar

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 18

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

Ohio is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.

Ohio by county

9 days from Geauga County to Lawrence 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 on Nov 1, 2026	Median elev.	Spread
Adams County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	904 ft	2 days
Allen County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	827 ft	0 days
Ashland County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,132 ft	0 days
Ashtabula County	Oct 9 – Oct 17	Bare	939 ft	1 days
Athens County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	841 ft	1 days
Auglaize County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	931 ft	1 days
Belmont County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	1,156 ft	0 days
Brown County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	910 ft	2 days
Butler County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	663 ft	1 days
Carroll County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,192 ft	1 days
Champaign County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	1,177 ft	1 days
Clark County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	1,061 ft	1 days
Clermont County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	848 ft	1 days
Clinton County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	1,013 ft	0 days
Columbiana County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,140 ft	0 days
Coshocton County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	935 ft	1 days
Crawford County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,013 ft	1 days
Cuyahoga County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	832 ft	1 days
Darke County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	1,058 ft	0 days
Defiance County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	720 ft	0 days
Delaware County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	922 ft	0 days
Erie County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	657 ft	1 days
Fairfield County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	993 ft	0 days
Fayette County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	1,001 ft	1 days
Franklin County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	865 ft	1 days
Fulton County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	728 ft	1 days
Gallia County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	692 ft	1 days
Geauga County	Oct 8 – Oct 16	Bare	1,166 ft	1 days
Greene County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	957 ft	1 days
Guernsey County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	900 ft	1 days
Hamilton County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	766 ft	1 days
Hancock County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	814 ft	1 days
Hardin County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	969 ft	0 days
Harrison County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,136 ft	1 days
Henry County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	706 ft	0 days
Highland County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	1,012 ft	1 days
Hocking County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	940 ft	0 days
Holmes County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,055 ft	1 days
Huron County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	870 ft	0 days
Jackson County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	784 ft	1 days
Jefferson County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,034 ft	2 days
Knox County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,136 ft	1 days
Lake County	Oct 9 – Oct 17	Bare	690 ft	1 days
Lawrence County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	771 ft	1 days
Licking County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	1,063 ft	1 days
Logan County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,092 ft	2 days
Lorain County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	791 ft	1 days
Lucas County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	648 ft	0 days
Madison County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	1,002 ft	0 days
Mahoning County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,090 ft	1 days
Marion County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	928 ft	0 days
Medina County	Oct 9 – Oct 17	Bare	1,068 ft	1 days
Meigs County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	761 ft	1 days
Mercer County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	921 ft	1 days
Miami County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	944 ft	1 days
Monroe County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	976 ft	1 days
Montgomery County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	897 ft	1 days
Morgan County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	878 ft	1 days
Morrow County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	1,166 ft	1 days
Muskingum County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	871 ft	0 days
Noble County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	994 ft	1 days
Ottawa County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	579 ft	0 days
Paulding County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	724 ft	0 days
Perry County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	958 ft	1 days
Pickaway County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	790 ft	0 days
Pike County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	767 ft	1 days
Portage County	Oct 9 – Oct 17	Bare	1,099 ft	1 days
Preble County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	1,007 ft	0 days
Putnam County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	741 ft	0 days
Richland County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,163 ft	0 days
Ross County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	840 ft	1 days
Sandusky County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	642 ft	1 days
Scioto County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	733 ft	1 days
Seneca County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	847 ft	1 days
Shelby County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	1,000 ft	1 days
Stark County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,106 ft	1 days
Summit County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,012 ft	1 days
Trumbull County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	958 ft	1 days
Tuscarawas County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	992 ft	1 days
Union County	Oct 12 – Oct 20	Bare	985 ft	0 days
Van Wert County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	787 ft	0 days
Vinton County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	777 ft	1 days
Warren County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	899 ft	1 days
Washington County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	792 ft	1 days
Wayne County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	1,055 ft	1 days
Williams County	Oct 9 – Oct 17	Bare	871 ft	1 days
Wood County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	683 ft	0 days
Wyandot County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	883 ft	0 days

Peak by elevation

2 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	1,150 ft	Oct 17	Bare
Mid elevation	900 ft	Oct 18	Past peak
Valleys & lowlands	750 ft	Oct 19	Past 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%

Plan the light

Ohio on October 18, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Ohio on October 18, 2026
Event	Time
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	7:15 AM
Sunrise Rises ESE · 102°	7:42 AM
Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light	8:19 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light	1:15 PM
Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset	6:10 PM
Sunset Sets WSW · 258°	6:47 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	7:14 PM

Times in America/New York · day length 11h 5m · 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 ESE, sets WSW.

Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.

Where to shoot in Ohio

3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations

Recent reports from Ohio

Report what you saw

Common questions

When do the leaves change in Ohio?: Ohio typically peaks Oct 14 – Oct 22, centered on Oct 18. Northeast Ohio peaks around mid-October; the southwest a week or so later. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
Where are the best places to see fall color in Ohio?: The guide includes 3 researched locations in Ohio, including Brandywine Falls, Steamboat Rock, Clifton Gorge, Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave. Brandywine Falls turns first, around Oct 14, and Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave is last, around Oct 18. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
What trees turn color in Ohio?: Mainly sugar maple, oak, hickory, beech, tulip poplar. 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.