Schwabacher Landing
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming · 6,547 ft
Typical peak
Sep 14 – Sep 22
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces WNW (287°)
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.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Turn west off US 26/89/191 about 4 miles north of Moose onto the one-mile gravel Schwabacher Road, then walk 300 yards upstream from the north lot to the ponds.
What turns here
- narrowleaf cottonwood
- quaking aspen
- willow
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 18Typical color progression for Schwabacher Landing. No change from Aug 11 to Aug 28. First color from Aug 28 to Sep 6. Approaching peak from Sep 6 to Sep 14. Peak from Sep 14 to Sep 22. Past peak from Sep 22 to Oct 2. Bare from Oct 2 to Oct 16.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Aug 28.
This season so far
First frost
Sep 15
11 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
54°F / 32°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
Schwabacher Landing on September 18, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:36 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 87° | 7:05 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 38 min of low, warm light | 7:43 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:16 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 38 min before sunset | 6:50 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 273° | 7:28 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:56 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 12h 23m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Sunset: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Classic composition faces WNW (287°).
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.