Oregon Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 27 – Oct 5
Centered on Oct 1 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
The Cascades peak mid-October; the Willamette Valley in early November; eastern larch in late October.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
Oregon’s typical peak window is September 27 to October 5, centered on October 1; high ground near 5,950 feet peaks around September 15, while valleys near 150 feet peak around October 6. The Cascades typically peak in mid-October, eastern larch in late October, and the Willamette Valley in early November; common species include bigleaf maple, vine maple, western larch, and cottonwood.
What turns here
- bigleaf maple
- vine maple
- western larch
- cottonwood
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 1Typical color progression for Oregon. No change from Aug 24 to Sep 10. First color from Sep 10 to Sep 19. Approaching peak from Sep 19 to Sep 27. Peak from Sep 27 to Oct 5. Past peak from Oct 5 to Oct 15. Bare from Oct 15 to Oct 29.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 10.
Oregon by county
19 days from Wallowa County to Curry 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. Hood River County spans 14 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,003 ft | 13 days |
| Benton County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | Bare | 413 ft | 3 days |
| Clackamas County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | Bare | 1,725 ft | 11 days |
| Clatsop County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | Bare | 610 ft | 4 days |
| Columbia County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | Bare | 748 ft | 3 days |
| Coos County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 941 ft | 10 days |
| Crook County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,377 ft | 5 days |
| Curry County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 1,288 ft | 7 days |
| Deschutes County | Sep 21 – Sep 29 | Bare | 4,430 ft | 7 days |
| Douglas County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 1,048 ft | 10 days |
| Gilliam County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Bare | 2,390 ft | 6 days |
| Grant County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,137 ft | 10 days |
| Harney County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 4,662 ft | 4 days |
| Hood River County | Sep 21 – Sep 29 | Bare | 3,256 ft | 14 days |
| Jackson County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | Bare | 3,246 ft | 10 days |
| Jefferson County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 3,455 ft | 7 days |
| Josephine County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | Bare | 2,777 ft | 7 days |
| Klamath County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 4,894 ft | 6 days |
| Lake County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 4,818 ft | 5 days |
| Lane County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | Bare | 1,299 ft | 14 days |
| Lincoln County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | Bare | 447 ft | 6 days |
| Linn County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | Bare | 1,999 ft | 11 days |
| Malheur County | Sep 23 – Oct 1 | Bare | 4,295 ft | 8 days |
| Marion County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | Bare | 563 ft | 14 days |
| Morrow County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Bare | 2,279 ft | 13 days |
| Multnomah County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | Bare | 118 ft | 8 days |
| Polk County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | Bare | 583 ft | 3 days |
| Sherman County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | Bare | 1,996 ft | 4 days |
| Tillamook County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | Bare | 1,170 ft | 5 days |
| Umatilla County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 3,022 ft | 14 days |
| Union County | Sep 17 – Sep 25 | Bare | 4,369 ft | 9 days |
| Wallowa County | Sep 16 – Sep 24 | Bare | 4,447 ft | 7 days |
| Wasco County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Bare | 2,440 ft | 9 days |
| Washington County | Sep 29 – Oct 7 | Bare | 964 ft | 6 days |
| Wheeler County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 3,939 ft | 10 days |
| Yamhill County | Oct 2 – Oct 10 | Bare | 195 ft | 3 days |
Peak by elevation
21 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 | 5,950 ft | Sep 15 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 1,500 ft | Oct 1 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 150 ft | Oct 6 | 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
Oregon on October 1, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:35 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 94° | 7:05 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:44 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:56 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 6:08 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 266° | 6:48 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:17 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 11h 43m · 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 Oregon
3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Lost Lake Bare
Mount Hood National Forest · 3,143 ft · peaks Sep 25
Mount Hood sits southeast across the water and reflects from the north-shore day-use beach on a still morning. Vine maple and bigleaf maple in the old-growth understory along the shoreline loop carry the color at lake level.
- South Falls, Silver Falls State Park Bare
Silver Falls State Park · 1,142 ft · peaks Oct 4
Bigleaf maple on the canyon rim drop yellow leaves into the bowl below the 177-foot falls, and the trail passes behind the curtain for a backlit frame shot through the water. Silver Creek runs low in October, so the falls read as a thin ribbon rather than a wall.
- Multnomah Falls Bare
Columbia River Gorge · 122 ft · peaks Oct 6
Bigleaf maple frame the 620-foot falls from the paved plaza, and Benson Bridge gives a higher line that separates the upper and lower drops. Overcast keeps the white water from blowing out against the wet basalt.
Recent reports from Oregon
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Oregon?
- Oregon typically peaks Sep 27 – Oct 5, centered on Oct 1. The Cascades peak mid-October; the Willamette Valley in early November; eastern larch in late October. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Oregon?
- Yes, by about 21 days. High ground around 5,950 ft peaks near Sep 15, while valleys near 150 ft wait until Oct 6. 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 Oregon?
- The guide includes 3 researched locations in Oregon, including Lost Lake, South Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Multnomah Falls. Lost Lake turns first, around Sep 25, and Multnomah Falls is last, around Oct 6. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Oregon?
- Mainly bigleaf maple, vine maple, western larch, cottonwood. 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.