Table Mound Trail, Elk City State Park
Elk City Reservoir, Kansas · 842 ft
Typical peak
Oct 20 – Oct 28
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Limestone bluffs on the east shore of Elk City Reservoir, with blackjack and post oak turning rust and deep red against pale shelf rock. The trail alternates between open prairie edge and closed oak-hickory woods, so the same walk gives both a wide lake view and a canopy interior.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
low
Usually quieter, especially around dawn.
Getting there
Park at the Table Mound trailhead in Elk City State Park, about 5 miles northwest of Independence and 1 mile north of US-160, then follow the 2.75-mile trail to the bluff sections. A state park vehicle permit is required.
What turns here
- blackjack oak
- post oak
- hickory
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 24Typical color progression for Table Mound Trail, Elk City State Park. No change from Sep 16 to Oct 3. First color from Oct 3 to Oct 12. Approaching peak from Oct 12 to Oct 20. Peak from Oct 20 to Oct 28. Past peak from Oct 28 to Nov 7. Bare from Nov 7 to Nov 21.
Table Mound Trail, Elk City State Park is typically at past peak 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
75°F / 53°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
Table Mound Trail, Elk City State Park on October 24, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:13 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 104° | 7:39 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:15 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:07 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 5:59 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 256° | 6:35 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:01 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · 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.
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.