Oregon Fall Foliage 2026
Oregon's fall runs from late September through early November, with high-elevation larch and vine maple coloring first, followed by the Cascades in mid-October, and finally the Willamette Valley in early November. The Columbia River Gorge delivers reliable reds from vine maple beneath evergreen canopy. Eastern Oregon's western larch stands turn gold in late October at higher elevations.
When Oregon 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.
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
- 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.
Color starts around Sep 10.
Peak by elevation
14 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 | 4,000 ft | Sep 22 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 1,500 ft | Oct 1 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 0 ft | Oct 6 | 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
Oregon on October 1, 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 | 6:35 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
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 Oregon
3 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Lost Lake No change
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 No change
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 No change
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, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Oregon?
- Yes, by about 14 days. High ground around 4,000 ft peaks near Sep 22, while valleys near 0 ft wait until Oct 6. 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.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Oregon?
- We track 3 verified 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 has real 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.