Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Oklahoma?

Yes, by about 6 days. High ground around 2,450 ft peaks near Oct 25, while valleys near 700 ft wait until Oct 31. 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 Oklahoma?

The guide includes 3 researched locations in Oklahoma, including Emerald Vista, Talimena National Scenic Byway, Cedar Lake, Ouachita National Forest, Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River. Emerald Vista, Talimena National Scenic Byway turns first, around Oct 27, and Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River is last, around Nov 2. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.

What trees turn color in Oklahoma?

Mainly oak, hickory, sweetgum, sumac, bald cypress. 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.

Oklahoma Fall Foliage 2026

Q: When do the leaves change in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma typically peaks Oct 23 – Oct 31, centered on Oct 27. The Ouachitas peak late October into early November; the western plains barely register. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.

Past peak 40–70%, dropping Typical peak was 5 days ago

Typical peak window

Oct 23 – Oct 31

Centered on Oct 27 at reference elevation.

high confidence in typical timing.

The Ouachitas peak late October into early November; the western plains barely register.

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

Seasonal timing

For 2026 planning, a typical Oklahoma peak centers on Oct 27, within the Oct 23–31 window. Higher ground around 2,450 feet typically peaks near Oct 25, while valleys around 700 feet peak near Oct 31. The Ouachitas usually peak from late October into early November, while the western plains show little fall color.

What turns here

oak
hickory
sweetgum
sumac
bald cypress

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 27

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

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

Oklahoma by county

19 days from Cimarron County to McCurtain County.

36 of 77 counties are typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026. 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
Adair County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,027 ft	1 days
Alfalfa County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	1,328 ft	0 days
Atoka County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	684 ft	1 days
Beaver County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	2,566 ft	2 days
Beckham County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,928 ft	2 days
Blaine County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,600 ft	2 days
Bryan County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	618 ft	0 days
Caddo County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,476 ft	1 days
Canadian County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	1,365 ft	1 days
Carter County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	923 ft	0 days
Cherokee County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	851 ft	1 days
Choctaw County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	521 ft	0 days
Cimarron County	Oct 10 – Oct 18	Bare	4,162 ft	2 days
Cleveland County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,137 ft	0 days
Coal County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	694 ft	0 days
Comanche County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,278 ft	1 days
Cotton County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,009 ft	1 days
Craig County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	793 ft	1 days
Creek County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	850 ft	1 days
Custer County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,691 ft	1 days
Delaware County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	960 ft	1 days
Dewey County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	1,898 ft	1 days
Ellis County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	2,290 ft	1 days
Garfield County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,164 ft	1 days
Garvin County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	968 ft	0 days
Grady County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,194 ft	1 days
Grant County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	1,084 ft	1 days
Greer County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,668 ft	0 days
Harmon County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,777 ft	2 days
Harper County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	1,926 ft	2 days
Haskell County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	566 ft	1 days
Hughes County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	797 ft	1 days
Jackson County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,403 ft	1 days
Jefferson County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	892 ft	1 days
Johnston County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	888 ft	2 days
Kay County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	1,020 ft	1 days
Kingfisher County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	1,117 ft	1 days
Kiowa County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,491 ft	1 days
Latimer County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	876 ft	1 days
Le Flore County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	825 ft	3 days
Lincoln County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	937 ft	1 days
Logan County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,044 ft	1 days
Love County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	791 ft	1 days
Major County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,335 ft	2 days
Marshall County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	723 ft	1 days
Mayes County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	667 ft	0 days
McClain County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,085 ft	1 days
McCurtain County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	461 ft	2 days
McIntosh County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	655 ft	1 days
Murray County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,027 ft	2 days
Muskogee County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	567 ft	0 days
Noble County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	1,005 ft	1 days
Nowata County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	725 ft	1 days
Okfuskee County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	800 ft	1 days
Oklahoma County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,176 ft	0 days
Okmulgee County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	747 ft	0 days
Osage County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	919 ft	1 days
Ottawa County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	836 ft	0 days
Pawnee County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	888 ft	0 days
Payne County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	915 ft	1 days
Pittsburg County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	733 ft	1 days
Pontotoc County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,023 ft	1 days
Pottawatomie County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	996 ft	1 days
Pushmataha County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	669 ft	1 days
Roger Mills County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	2,193 ft	1 days
Rogers County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	639 ft	0 days
Seminole County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	952 ft	0 days
Sequoyah County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	543 ft	1 days
Stephens County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,015 ft	1 days
Texas County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	3,096 ft	2 days
Tillman County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,181 ft	0 days
Tulsa County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	689 ft	1 days
Wagoner County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	594 ft	0 days
Washington County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	715 ft	0 days
Washita County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	1,568 ft	1 days
Woods County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	1,553 ft	1 days
Woodward County	Oct 18 – Oct 26	Past peak	2,045 ft	2 days

Peak by elevation

6 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	2,450 ft	Oct 25	Past peak
Mid elevation	1,800 ft	Oct 27	Past peak
Valleys & lowlands	700 ft	Oct 31	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

Oklahoma on October 27, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Oklahoma on October 27, 2026
Event	Time
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	7:09 AM
Sunrise Rises ESE · 105°	7:34 AM
Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light	8:09 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light	1:02 PM
Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset	5:55 PM
Sunset Sets WSW · 255°	6:30 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	6:56 PM

Times in America/Chicago · day length 10h 56m · 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 Oklahoma

3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations

Recent reports from Oklahoma

Report what you saw

Common questions

When do the leaves change in Oklahoma?: Oklahoma typically peaks Oct 23 – Oct 31, centered on Oct 27. The Ouachitas peak late October into early November; the western plains barely register. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Oklahoma?: Yes, by about 6 days. High ground around 2,450 ft peaks near Oct 25, while valleys near 700 ft wait until Oct 31. 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 Oklahoma?: The guide includes 3 researched locations in Oklahoma, including Emerald Vista, Talimena National Scenic Byway, Cedar Lake, Ouachita National Forest, Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River. Emerald Vista, Talimena National Scenic Byway turns first, around Oct 27, and Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River is last, around Nov 2. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
What trees turn color in Oklahoma?: Mainly oak, hickory, sweetgum, sumac, bald cypress. 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.