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Fall Photo Guide

Oklahoma Fall Foliage 2026

No change 0–10% Typical peak in 40 days

In a typical season, Oklahoma’s peak centers on October 27, within an October 23–31 window. High ground around 2,450 feet typically peaks near October 25, while valleys near 700 feet reach peak around October 31, giving the Ouachitas a late-October into early-November season; western plains show little fall color.

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

When Oklahoma peaks

Oct 23 – Oct 31

Centered on Oct 27. The Ouachitas peak late October into early November; the western plains barely register.

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

  • 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 color progression for Oklahoma. No change from Sep 19 to Oct 6. First color from Oct 6 to Oct 15. Approaching peak from Oct 15 to Oct 23. Peak from Oct 23 to Oct 31. Past peak from Oct 31 to Nov 10. Bare from Nov 10 to Nov 24.

typical peak

Color starts around Oct 6.

Oklahoma by county

19 days from Cimarron County to McCurtain County.

Typical fall foliage stage by county in Oklahoma on September 17 Each county is shaded by its typical foliage stage. Peak runs from Oct 14 in Cimarron County to Nov 2 in McCurtain County. Every county, its stage and its typical peak date are listed as text below the map. Adair County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Alfalfa County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 24 Atoka County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 1 Beaver County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 19 Beckham County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Blaine County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Bryan County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 2 Caddo County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Canadian County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Carter County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 31 Cherokee County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Choctaw County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 2 Cimarron County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 14 Cleveland County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 28 Coal County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 31 Comanche County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Cotton County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 31 Craig County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Creek County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Custer County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Delaware County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Dewey County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 24 Ellis County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 21 Garfield County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Garvin County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Grady County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Grant County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 24 Greer County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Harmon County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Harper County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 21 Haskell County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Hughes County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Jackson County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Jefferson County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 1 Johnston County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 31 Kay County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 24 Kingfisher County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Kiowa County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Latimer County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Le Flore County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Lincoln County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 28 Logan County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Love County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 1 Major County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Marshall County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 1 Mayes County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 McClain County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 McCurtain County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 2 McIntosh County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Murray County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Muskogee County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Noble County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Nowata County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Okfuskee County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 28 Oklahoma County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Okmulgee County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 28 Osage County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Ottawa County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 25 Pawnee County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Payne County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Pittsburg County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Pontotoc County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Pottawatomie County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Pushmataha County: No change today, typically peaks Nov 1 Roger Mills County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 23 Rogers County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Seminole County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Sequoyah County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 29 Stephens County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Texas County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 17 Tillman County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 30 Tulsa County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 27 Wagoner County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 28 Washington County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Washita County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 26 Woods County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 23 Woodward County: No change today, typically peaks Oct 22 Emerald Vista, Talimena National Scenic Byway Cedar Lake, Ouachita National Forest Beavers Bend State Park, Mountain Fork River

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 today Median elev. Spread
Adair County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,027 ft 1 days
Alfalfa County Oct 20 – Oct 28 No change 1,328 ft 0 days
Atoka County Oct 28 – Nov 5 No change 684 ft 1 days
Beaver County Oct 15 – Oct 23 No change 2,566 ft 2 days
Beckham County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,928 ft 2 days
Blaine County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,600 ft 2 days
Bryan County Oct 29 – Nov 6 No change 618 ft 0 days
Caddo County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,476 ft 1 days
Canadian County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 1,365 ft 1 days
Carter County Oct 27 – Nov 4 No change 923 ft 0 days
Cherokee County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 851 ft 1 days
Choctaw County Oct 29 – Nov 6 No change 521 ft 0 days
Cimarron County Oct 10 – Oct 18 No change 4,162 ft 2 days
Cleveland County Oct 24 – Nov 1 No change 1,137 ft 0 days
Coal County Oct 27 – Nov 4 No change 694 ft 0 days
Comanche County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 1,278 ft 1 days
Cotton County Oct 27 – Nov 4 No change 1,009 ft 1 days
Craig County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 793 ft 1 days
Creek County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 850 ft 1 days
Custer County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,691 ft 1 days
Delaware County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 960 ft 1 days
Dewey County Oct 20 – Oct 28 No change 1,898 ft 1 days
Ellis County Oct 17 – Oct 25 No change 2,290 ft 1 days
Garfield County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,164 ft 1 days
Garvin County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 968 ft 0 days
Grady County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 1,194 ft 1 days
Grant County Oct 20 – Oct 28 No change 1,084 ft 1 days
Greer County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,668 ft 0 days
Harmon County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,777 ft 2 days
Harper County Oct 17 – Oct 25 No change 1,926 ft 2 days
Haskell County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 566 ft 1 days
Hughes County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 797 ft 1 days
Jackson County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 1,403 ft 1 days
Jefferson County Oct 28 – Nov 5 No change 892 ft 1 days
Johnston County Oct 27 – Nov 4 No change 888 ft 2 days
Kay County Oct 20 – Oct 28 No change 1,020 ft 1 days
Kingfisher County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 1,117 ft 1 days
Kiowa County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,491 ft 1 days
Latimer County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 876 ft 1 days
Le Flore County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 825 ft 3 days
Lincoln County Oct 24 – Nov 1 No change 937 ft 1 days
Logan County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,044 ft 1 days
Love County Oct 28 – Nov 5 No change 791 ft 1 days
Major County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,335 ft 2 days
Marshall County Oct 28 – Nov 5 No change 723 ft 1 days
Mayes County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 667 ft 0 days
McClain County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 1,085 ft 1 days
McCurtain County Oct 29 – Nov 6 No change 461 ft 2 days
McIntosh County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 655 ft 1 days
Murray County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 1,027 ft 2 days
Muskogee County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 567 ft 0 days
Noble County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 1,005 ft 1 days
Nowata County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 725 ft 1 days
Okfuskee County Oct 24 – Nov 1 No change 800 ft 1 days
Oklahoma County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 1,176 ft 0 days
Okmulgee County Oct 24 – Nov 1 No change 747 ft 0 days
Osage County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 919 ft 1 days
Ottawa County Oct 21 – Oct 29 No change 836 ft 0 days
Pawnee County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 888 ft 0 days
Payne County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 915 ft 1 days
Pittsburg County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 733 ft 1 days
Pontotoc County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 1,023 ft 1 days
Pottawatomie County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 996 ft 1 days
Pushmataha County Oct 28 – Nov 5 No change 669 ft 1 days
Roger Mills County Oct 19 – Oct 27 No change 2,193 ft 1 days
Rogers County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 639 ft 0 days
Seminole County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 952 ft 0 days
Sequoyah County Oct 25 – Nov 2 No change 543 ft 1 days
Stephens County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 1,015 ft 1 days
Texas County Oct 13 – Oct 21 No change 3,096 ft 2 days
Tillman County Oct 26 – Nov 3 No change 1,181 ft 0 days
Tulsa County Oct 23 – Oct 31 No change 689 ft 1 days
Wagoner County Oct 24 – Nov 1 No change 594 ft 0 days
Washington County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 715 ft 0 days
Washita County Oct 22 – Oct 30 No change 1,568 ft 1 days
Woods County Oct 19 – Oct 27 No change 1,553 ft 1 days
Woodward County Oct 18 – Oct 26 No change 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 No change
Mid elevation 1,800 ft Oct 27 No change
Valleys & lowlands 700 ft Oct 31 No change

Foliage stages

  1. No change 0–10%
  2. First color 10–25%
  3. Approaching peak 25–60%
  4. Peak 60–90%
  5. Past peak 40–70%, dropping
  6. Bare <20%

Light at peak

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

Solar event times for Oklahoma on October 27
EventTime
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

Which way to point the camera

Sun rises ESE, sets WSW.

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 Oklahoma

3 researched locations, earliest peak first.

Recent reports from Oklahoma

Report what you saw
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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.

Nearby states