When do the leaves change in Texas?

Texas typically peaks Nov 4 – Nov 12, centered on Nov 8. The Hill Country and Panhandle peak in early November; East Texas mid-November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.

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

The guide includes 3 researched locations in Texas, including McKittrick Canyon, Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Lost Maples State Natural Area. McKittrick Canyon turns first, around Oct 23, and Lost Maples State Natural Area is last, around Nov 8. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.

What trees turn color in Texas?

Mainly bigtooth maple, bald cypress, oak, 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.

Texas Fall Foliage 2026

Approaching peak 25–60% Typical peak in 7 days

Typical peak window

Nov 4 – Nov 12

Centered on Nov 8 at reference elevation.

high confidence in typical timing.

The Hill Country and Panhandle peak in early November; East Texas mid-November.

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

Seasonal timing

In a typical season, Texas peaks around Nov. 8, within the Nov. 4–12 window; high ground near 2,250 feet peaks around Nov. 7, and valleys near 1,800 feet around Nov. 8. The Hill Country and Panhandle typically peak in early November, while East Texas is usually at peak in mid-November. Look for bigtooth maple at Lost Maples, plus bald cypress, oak, and cottonwood across the state.

What turns here

bigtooth maple
bald cypress
oak
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 Nov 8

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

Texas is typically at approaching peak on Nov 1, 2026.

Texas by county

30 days from Dallam County to Orange County.

88 of 194 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

60 hatched counties sit below the latitude this model was fitted for. We don't have a date for them.

A county is still an average. Jeff Davis County spans 6 days on its own, ridge to valley.

Every county, as text

County	Typical peak	Stage on Nov 1, 2026	Median elev.	Spread
Anderson County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	374 ft	0 days
Andrews County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	3,170 ft	1 days
Angelina County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	217 ft	0 days
Aransas County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Archer County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,078 ft	1 days
Armstrong County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	3,284 ft	3 days
Atascosa County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Austin County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Bailey County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	3,875 ft	1 days
Bandera County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Bastrop County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	466 ft	0 days
Baylor County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,295 ft	0 days
Bee County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Bell County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	650 ft	1 days
Bexar County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Blanco County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	1,358 ft	2 days
Borden County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,486 ft	1 days
Bosque County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	829 ft	1 days
Bowie County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	310 ft	1 days
Brazoria County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Brazos County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	287 ft	1 days
Brewster County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Briscoe County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	2,973 ft	3 days
Brooks County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Brown County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,553 ft	1 days
Burleson County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	343 ft	1 days
Burnet County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	1,238 ft	2 days
Caldwell County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Calhoun County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Callahan County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,741 ft	1 days
Cameron County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Camp County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	351 ft	0 days
Carson County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	3,412 ft	1 days
Cass County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	301 ft	1 days
Castro County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	3,756 ft	1 days
Chambers County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Cherokee County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	352 ft	0 days
Childress County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,724 ft	1 days
Clay County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	931 ft	0 days
Cochran County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	3,788 ft	0 days
Coke County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	2,153 ft	2 days
Coleman County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,637 ft	1 days
Collin County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	651 ft	1 days
Collingsworth County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	2,059 ft	1 days
Colorado County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Comal County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Comanche County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,376 ft	1 days
Concho County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,848 ft	2 days
Cooke County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	848 ft	2 days
Coryell County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	959 ft	1 days
Cottle County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	1,823 ft	1 days
Crane County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	2,532 ft	1 days
Crockett County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	2,472 ft	2 days
Crosby County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	2,868 ft	2 days
Culberson County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	4,179 ft	5 days
Dallam County	Oct 11 – Oct 19	Bare	4,102 ft	2 days
Dallas County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	460 ft	1 days
Dawson County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	2,918 ft	0 days
Deaf Smith County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	4,039 ft	1 days
Delta County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	454 ft	0 days
Denton County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	597 ft	0 days
DeWitt County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Dickens County	Oct 24 – Nov 1	Peak	2,290 ft	2 days
Dimmit County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Donley County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	2,470 ft	2 days
Duval County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Eastland County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	1,554 ft	1 days
Ector County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,942 ft	2 days
Edwards County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
El Paso County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	3,978 ft	3 days
Ellis County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	511 ft	1 days
Erath County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,277 ft	2 days
Falls County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	438 ft	1 days
Fannin County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	634 ft	0 days
Fayette County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Fisher County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,002 ft	2 days
Floyd County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	3,157 ft	0 days
Foard County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,524 ft	1 days
Fort Bend County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Franklin County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	420 ft	1 days
Freestone County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	401 ft	1 days
Frio County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Gaines County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	3,297 ft	2 days
Galveston County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Garza County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	2,396 ft	2 days
Gillespie County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	1,978 ft	2 days
Glasscock County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,682 ft	0 days
Goliad County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Gonzales County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Gray County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	2,962 ft	2 days
Grayson County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	711 ft	1 days
Gregg County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	337 ft	1 days
Grimes County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	306 ft	1 days
Guadalupe County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Hale County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	3,363 ft	0 days
Hall County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	1,973 ft	1 days
Hamilton County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	1,253 ft	1 days
Hansford County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	3,175 ft	1 days
Hardeman County	Oct 25 – Nov 2	Peak	1,486 ft	1 days
Hardin County	Nov 9 – Nov 17	Approaching peak	70 ft	0 days
Harris County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Harrison County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	279 ft	0 days
Hartley County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	3,892 ft	2 days
Haskell County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,530 ft	0 days
Hays County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	1,072 ft	2 days
Hemphill County	Oct 18 – Oct 26	Past peak	2,521 ft	2 days
Henderson County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	390 ft	0 days
Hidalgo County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Hill County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	615 ft	1 days
Hockley County	Oct 20 – Oct 28	Past peak	3,481 ft	0 days
Hood County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	934 ft	1 days
Hopkins County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	501 ft	0 days
Houston County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	319 ft	1 days
Howard County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,532 ft	1 days
Hudspeth County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	4,476 ft	5 days
Hunt County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	532 ft	1 days
Hutchinson County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	3,085 ft	1 days
Irion County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	2,414 ft	1 days
Jack County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,088 ft	1 days
Jackson County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Jasper County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	162 ft	1 days
Jeff Davis County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	4,892 ft	6 days
Jefferson County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Jim Hogg County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Jim Wells County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Johnson County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	809 ft	0 days
Jones County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	1,694 ft	1 days
Karnes County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Kaufman County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	395 ft	1 days
Kendall County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Kenedy County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Kent County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,095 ft	1 days
Kerr County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	2,038 ft	1 days
Kimble County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	2,074 ft	1 days
King County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,751 ft	1 days
Kinney County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Kleberg County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Knox County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,478 ft	1 days
La Salle County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Lamar County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	500 ft	0 days
Lamb County	Oct 18 – Oct 26	Past peak	3,581 ft	1 days
Lampasas County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	1,137 ft	1 days
Lavaca County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Lee County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	460 ft	1 days
Leon County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	368 ft	1 days
Liberty County	Nov 9 – Nov 17	Approaching peak	73 ft	0 days
Limestone County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	493 ft	1 days
Lipscomb County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	2,636 ft	1 days
Live Oak County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Llano County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	1,256 ft	2 days
Loving County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,882 ft	2 days
Lubbock County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	3,204 ft	0 days
Lynn County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	3,084 ft	1 days
Madison County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	273 ft	1 days
Marion County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	264 ft	0 days
Martin County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,804 ft	1 days
Mason County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	1,638 ft	1 days
Matagorda County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Maverick County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
McCulloch County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	1,757 ft	1 days
McLennan County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	550 ft	2 days
McMullen County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Medina County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Menard County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	2,108 ft	1 days
Midland County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,769 ft	1 days
Milam County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	423 ft	1 days
Mills County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	1,454 ft	1 days
Mitchell County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	2,150 ft	0 days
Montague County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	945 ft	1 days
Montgomery County	Nov 9 – Nov 17	Approaching peak	204 ft	1 days
Moore County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	3,586 ft	1 days
Morris County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	327 ft	0 days
Motley County	Oct 23 – Oct 31	Past peak	2,356 ft	2 days
Nacogdoches County	Nov 5 – Nov 13	Approaching peak	358 ft	1 days
Navarro County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	416 ft	1 days
Newton County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	153 ft	1 days
Nolan County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,423 ft	1 days
Nueces County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Ochiltree County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	2,972 ft	0 days
Oldham County	Oct 14 – Oct 22	Past peak	3,800 ft	2 days
Orange County	Nov 10 – Nov 18	First color	9 ft	0 days
Palo Pinto County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	1,042 ft	1 days
Panola County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	292 ft	1 days
Parker County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	930 ft	1 days
Parmer County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	4,053 ft	1 days
Pecos County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	3,301 ft	4 days
Polk County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	231 ft	1 days
Potter County	Oct 15 – Oct 23	Past peak	3,507 ft	3 days
Presidio County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Rains County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	441 ft	1 days
Randall County	Oct 16 – Oct 24	Past peak	3,627 ft	1 days
Reagan County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	2,643 ft	1 days
Real County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Red River County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	397 ft	1 days
Reeves County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	3,012 ft	4 days
Refugio County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Roberts County	Oct 17 – Oct 25	Past peak	2,860 ft	2 days
Robertson County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	401 ft	0 days
Rockwall County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	517 ft	0 days
Runnels County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	1,772 ft	1 days
Rusk County	Nov 3 – Nov 11	Approaching peak	381 ft	1 days
Sabine County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	247 ft	1 days
San Augustine County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	233 ft	1 days
San Jacinto County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	223 ft	1 days
San Patricio County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
San Saba County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	1,439 ft	2 days
Schleicher County	Oct 31 – Nov 8	Peak	2,358 ft	1 days
Scurry County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	2,326 ft	0 days
Shackelford County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,618 ft	1 days
Shelby County	Nov 4 – Nov 12	Approaching peak	348 ft	1 days
Sherman County	Oct 13 – Oct 21	Bare	3,558 ft	1 days
Smith County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	448 ft	1 days
Somervell County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	800 ft	1 days
Starr County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Stephens County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	1,235 ft	1 days
Sterling County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	2,511 ft	1 days
Stonewall County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,726 ft	0 days
Sutton County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	2,251 ft	1 days
Swisher County	Oct 18 – Oct 26	Past peak	3,465 ft	1 days
Tarrant County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	648 ft	1 days
Taylor County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,962 ft	1 days
Terrell County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	2,404 ft	3 days
Terry County	Oct 22 – Oct 30	Past peak	3,300 ft	1 days
Throckmorton County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,328 ft	1 days
Titus County	Nov 1 – Nov 9	Peak	348 ft	0 days
Tom Green County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	2,139 ft	2 days
Travis County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	718 ft	1 days
Trinity County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	242 ft	1 days
Tyler County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	166 ft	1 days
Upshur County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	348 ft	0 days
Upton County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	2,702 ft	1 days
Uvalde County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Val Verde County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Van Zandt County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	469 ft	0 days
Victoria County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Walker County	Nov 7 – Nov 15	Approaching peak	306 ft	0 days
Waller County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Ward County	Oct 28 – Nov 5	Peak	2,571 ft	1 days
Washington County	Nov 8 – Nov 16	Approaching peak	294 ft	1 days
Webb County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Wharton County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Wheeler County	Oct 19 – Oct 27	Past peak	2,450 ft	2 days
Wichita County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	1,051 ft	1 days
Wilbarger County	Oct 26 – Nov 3	Peak	1,234 ft	1 days
Willacy County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Williamson County	Nov 6 – Nov 14	Approaching peak	744 ft	2 days
Wilson County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Winkler County	Oct 27 – Nov 4	Peak	2,843 ft	1 days
Wise County	Oct 30 – Nov 7	Peak	854 ft	1 days
Wood County	Nov 2 – Nov 10	Approaching peak	415 ft	1 days
Yoakum County	Oct 21 – Oct 29	Past peak	3,639 ft	1 days
Young County	Oct 29 – Nov 6	Peak	1,150 ft	1 days
Zapata County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.
Zavala County	Outside the model's calibrated latitude range.

Peak by elevation

1 day 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	2,250 ft	Nov 7	Approaching peak
Mid elevation	2,000 ft	Nov 8	Approaching peak
Valleys & lowlands	1,800 ft	Nov 8	Approaching 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

Texas on November 8, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Texas on November 8, 2026
Event	Time
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	6:32 AM
Sunrise Rises ESE · 109°	6:57 AM
Morning golden hour ends 34 min of low, warm light	7:31 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light	12:22 PM
Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset	5:13 PM
Sunset Sets WSW · 251°	5:47 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon	6:11 PM

Times in America/Chicago · day length 10h 50m · 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 Texas

3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations

Recent reports from Texas

Report what you saw

Common questions

When do the leaves change in Texas?: Texas typically peaks Nov 4 – Nov 12, centered on Nov 8. The Hill Country and Panhandle peak in early November; East Texas mid-November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
Where are the best places to see fall color in Texas?: The guide includes 3 researched locations in Texas, including McKittrick Canyon, Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Lost Maples State Natural Area. McKittrick Canyon turns first, around Oct 23, and Lost Maples State Natural Area is last, around Nov 8. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
What trees turn color in Texas?: Mainly bigtooth maple, bald cypress, oak, 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.