Tidal Basin
National Mall, Washington, D.C. · 10 ft
Typical peak
Oct 19 – Oct 27
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces SSE (157°)
The cherries that draw the April crowds go bronze and dull red in late October, a week or so behind Rock Creek. From the northwest bank the Jefferson Memorial sits across the water at 157 degrees, so first light rakes the far shore while the near trees stay in shadow.
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
Metro to Smithsonian, then ten minutes southwest on foot. The paddle boat dock on the northwest bank is the open shoreline; street parking on Ohio Drive fills by 7am on a clear weekend.
What turns here
- willow oak
- yoshino cherry
- american elm
- red maple
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 23Typical color progression for Tidal Basin. No change from Sep 15 to Oct 2. First color from Oct 2 to Oct 11. Approaching peak from Oct 11 to Oct 19. Peak from Oct 19 to Oct 27. Past peak from Oct 27 to Nov 6. Bare from Nov 6 to Nov 20.
Tidal Basin 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
66°F / 45°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
Tidal Basin on October 23, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:58 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 104° | 7:25 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 8:02 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:52 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 5:42 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 256° | 6:19 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:46 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 10h 54m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Both ends of the day: side-lit
Side light. Best for texture and depth across a ridge, and the safest bet for contrast.
Classic composition faces SSE (157°).
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.
- Theodore Roosevelt Island Past peak
Washington, D.C. · 2 mi away
38 ft · peaks Oct 23 - U.S. National Arboretum Past peak
Washington, D.C. · 4 mi away
53 ft · peaks Oct 23 - Boulder Bridge, Rock Creek Park Past peak
Washington, D.C. · 4 mi away
71 ft · peaks Oct 22 - Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Bare
Maryland · 56 mi away
1,395 ft · peaks Oct 16