Wyoming Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 12 – Sep 20
Centered on Sep 16 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
The Tetons and high country peak in the last week of September; the basins in early October.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
Across Wyoming, the typical peak is September 16, within a September 12–20 window; high ground around 8,450 feet peaks near September 11, while valleys around 6,750 feet peak near September 17. The Tetons and high country typically peak in the last week of September, with the basins following in early October; look for quaking aspen, cottonwood and willow.
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- cottonwood
- willow
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 16Typical color progression for Wyoming. No change from Aug 9 to Aug 26. First color from Aug 26 to Sep 4. Approaching peak from Sep 4 to Sep 12. Peak from Sep 12 to Sep 20. Past peak from Sep 20 to Sep 30. Bare from Sep 30 to Oct 14.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Aug 26.
Wyoming by county
19 days from Park County to Goshen 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. Fremont County spans 16 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | Sep 17 – Sep 25 | Bare | 7,164 ft | 5 days |
| Big Horn County | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | Bare | 4,568 ft | 5 days |
| Campbell County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,640 ft | 3 days |
| Carbon County | Sep 17 – Sep 25 | Bare | 7,120 ft | 6 days |
| Converse County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 5,208 ft | 3 days |
| Crook County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,329 ft | 4 days |
| Fremont County | Sep 13 – Sep 21 | Bare | 7,357 ft | 16 days |
| Goshen County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Bare | 4,543 ft | 3 days |
| Hot Springs County | Sep 18 – Sep 26 | Bare | 5,410 ft | 13 days |
| Johnson County | Sep 18 – Sep 26 | Bare | 5,113 ft | 16 days |
| Laramie County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 5,928 ft | 6 days |
| Lincoln County | Sep 14 – Sep 22 | Bare | 7,475 ft | 8 days |
| Natrona County | Sep 18 – Sep 26 | Bare | 5,991 ft | 2 days |
| Niobrara County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 4,686 ft | 4 days |
| Park County | Sep 6 – Sep 14 | Bare | 8,281 ft | 11 days |
| Platte County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 5,403 ft | 6 days |
| Sheridan County | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | Bare | 4,174 ft | 11 days |
| Sublette County | Sep 12 – Sep 20 | Bare | 7,623 ft | 13 days |
| Sweetwater County | Sep 18 – Sep 26 | Bare | 6,769 ft | 4 days |
| Teton County | Sep 8 – Sep 16 | Bare | 8,057 ft | 5 days |
| Uinta County | Sep 17 – Sep 25 | Bare | 7,405 ft | 8 days |
| Washakie County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 4,755 ft | 5 days |
| Weston County | Sep 22 – Sep 30 | Bare | 4,269 ft | 3 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 | 8,450 ft | Sep 11 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 7,000 ft | Sep 16 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 6,750 ft | Sep 17 | 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
Wyoming on September 16, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:34 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 85° | 7:03 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light | 7:41 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:17 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset | 6:54 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 274° | 7:32 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 8:00 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 12h 29m · 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 Wyoming
3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Snake River Overlook Bare
Grand Teton National Park · 6,906 ft · peaks Sep 16
This is the pullout where Ansel Adams made The Tetons and the Snake River in 1942, with the river curving through cottonwood flats under the range. Conifers have grown up since then, so a longer lens on the bend and the peaks beats copying the wide original.
- Oxbow Bend Bare
Grand Teton National Park · 6,755 ft · peaks Sep 17
Mount Moran rises nearly 6,000 feet above a slack bend of the Snake River, with aspen and cottonwood packed along the far bank. Windless mornings hold the reflection, and moose working the willow flats turn up in the same frame.
- Schwabacher Landing Bare
Grand Teton National Park · 6,547 ft · peaks Sep 18
Beaver ponds off the main channel give still water the Snake River itself does not, with the Grand, Middle, and South Teton lined up to the west. Cottonwood and aspen along the bank carry the color in the foreground.
Recent reports from Wyoming
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Wyoming?
- Wyoming typically peaks Sep 12 – Sep 20, centered on Sep 16. The Tetons and high country peak in the last week of September; the basins in early October. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Wyoming?
- Yes, by about 6 days. High ground around 8,450 ft peaks near Sep 11, while valleys near 6,750 ft wait until Sep 17. 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 Wyoming?
- The guide includes 3 researched locations in Wyoming, including Snake River Overlook, Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing. Snake River Overlook turns first, around Sep 16, and Schwabacher Landing is last, around Sep 18. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Wyoming?
- Mainly quaking aspen, cottonwood, willow. 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.