Fontenelle Forest Boardwalk
Missouri River bluffs, Nebraska · 1,160 ft
Typical peak
Oct 9 – Oct 17
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
Oak savanna and bluff hardwood fifteen minutes from downtown Omaha, with a mile of raised boardwalk running out through the canopy. Flat light suits a closed canopy, and the boardwalk gives a clean receding line that a leaf-covered forest floor never does.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Nature center at 1111 Bellevue Blvd N in Bellevue, with 17 miles of trail plus the boardwalk loop. Trails are open sunrise to sunset daily; a day pass or membership is required.
What turns here
- bur oak
- basswood
- bitternut hickory
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 13Typical color progression for Fontenelle Forest Boardwalk. No change from Sep 5 to Sep 22. First color from Sep 22 to Oct 1. Approaching peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Peak from Oct 9 to Oct 17. Past peak from Oct 17 to Oct 27. Bare from Oct 27 to Nov 10.
Fontenelle Forest Boardwalk is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
71°F / 51°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Fontenelle Forest Boardwalk on October 13, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:05 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 100° | 7:33 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 8:10 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:10 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 6:09 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:46 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:14 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 11h 14m · 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.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.