Lake Metigoshe, Turtle Mountains
Turtle Mountains, North Dakota · 2,138 ft
Typical peak
Sep 16 – Sep 24
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
A wooded lake in the Turtle Mountains on the Manitoba line, where aspen and birch turn the hills a solid yellow that reads nothing like the oak country further south. Still water before the wind picks up doubles the shoreline.
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
Lake Metigoshe State Park sits on the shore north of Bottineau and holds the Old Oak Nature Trail, a 3-mile interpretive loop that was North Dakota's first National Recreation Trail. A state park entry permit is required.
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- paper birch
- bur oak
- balsam poplar
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 20Typical color progression for Lake Metigoshe, Turtle Mountains. No change from Aug 13 to Aug 30. First color from Aug 30 to Sep 8. Approaching peak from Sep 8 to Sep 16. Peak from Sep 16 to Sep 24. Past peak from Sep 24 to Oct 4. Bare from Oct 4 to Oct 18.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Aug 30.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 16
6 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
50°F / 36°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
Lake Metigoshe, Turtle Mountains on September 20, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:53 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 87° | 7:24 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 42 min of low, warm light | 8:06 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:34 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 42 min before sunset | 7:02 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 272° | 7:44 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 8:16 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 12h 20m · 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.