Washington, D.C. Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Oct 18 – Oct 26
Centered on Oct 22 at reference elevation.
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Rock Creek turns through the last two weeks of October; the street trees and the Tidal Basin run several days behind it, and the willow oaks hold into November.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
In a typical season, Washington, D.C., peaks around Oct. 22, within an Oct. 18–26 window. The 400-foot high ground peaks about Oct. 21 and 50-foot valleys about Oct. 22; Rock Creek turns through the last two weeks of October, while street trees and the Tidal Basin follow several days later and willow oaks hold into November.
What turns here
- tulip poplar
- red oak
- red maple
- ginkgo
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 22Typical color progression for Washington, D.C. No change from Sep 14 to Oct 1. First color from Oct 1 to Oct 10. Approaching peak from Oct 10 to Oct 18. Peak from Oct 18 to Oct 26. Past peak from Oct 26 to Nov 5. Bare from Nov 5 to Nov 19.
Washington, D.C. is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.
Peak by elevation
1 day between the ridges and the valleys below them.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 400 ft | Oct 21 | Past peak |
| Mid elevation | 200 ft | Oct 22 | Past peak |
| Valleys & lowlands | 50 ft | Oct 22 | Past 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
Washington, D.C. on October 22, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:57 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 103° | 7:24 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 8:01 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:52 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 5:44 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 256° | 6:20 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:47 PM |
Times in America/New York · 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 Washington, D.C.
4 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Boulder Bridge, Rock Creek Park Past peak
Rock Creek Park · 71 ft · peaks Oct 22
A 1902 arch of unmortared fieldstone carrying Beach Drive over Rock Creek, sunk in a tulip poplar and beech ravine. Flat cloud keeps the boulders and the water dark, which is the only way the yellow canopy above them holds saturation.
- Theodore Roosevelt Island Past peak
Potomac River · 38 ft · peaks Oct 23
An 88-acre wooded island in the Potomac with a boardwalk over tidal swamp along its southeast side. River fog sits in that marsh on calm mornings after a cold night, and the swamp maples there turn ahead of anything on the mainland.
- Tidal Basin Past peak
National Mall · 10 ft · peaks Oct 23
The cherries that draw the April crowds go bronze and dull red in late October, a week or so behind Rock Creek. From the northwest bank the Jefferson Memorial sits across the water at 157 degrees, so first light rakes the far shore while the near trees stay in shadow.
- U.S. National Arboretum Past peak
Northeast DC · 53 ft · peaks Oct 23
The 446-acre arboretum includes Japanese maples in the Asian Collections. For a wider frame, the Capitol Columns place 22 sandstone columns in an open meadow.
Recent reports from Washington, D.C.
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Washington, D.C.?
- Washington, D.C. typically peaks Oct 18 – Oct 26, centered on Oct 22. Rock Creek turns through the last two weeks of October; the street trees and the Tidal Basin run several days behind it, and the willow oaks hold into 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 Washington, D.C.?
- The guide includes 4 researched locations in Washington, D.C., including Boulder Bridge, Rock Creek Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Tidal Basin. Boulder Bridge, Rock Creek Park turns first, around Oct 22, and U.S. National Arboretum is last, around Oct 23. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Washington, D.C.?
- Mainly tulip poplar, red oak, red maple, ginkgo. 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.