Last updated: October 27, 2026
Update schedule: Tuesdays during fall color season

The best fall color has shifted south, while the season is quickly wrapping up across many northern states.

Quick Breakdown:

• Where are fall colors peaking now? Peak color is showing across parts of the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, lower Great Lakes and higher terrain of the Southwest and West.

• Where is fall color past peak? Much of northern New England, the northern Great Lakes, northern Rockies and parts of the Pacific Northwest are past peak.

• Where is color still developing? Low to moderate color is spreading across the central Plains, lower Midwest and northern Southeast.

• Where are the best leaf-peeping options? The central and southern Appalachians, southern New England and pockets of the lower Great Lakes stand out this week.

• Where is it still mostly green? Much of Florida, the Gulf Coast and southern Texas still have little to no widespread color.

Fall color is making its move south, and the window is closing quickly across the northern United States.

The latest national fall color map shows widespread past-peak conditions from the northern Rockies through the upper Great Lakes and into northern New England. Meanwhile, peak color has shifted into lower elevations and farther south.

If you are planning a late-October leaf-peeping trip, the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic are becoming some of the strongest options.

Northeast Fall Color Report

The fall-color season is winding down across northern New England.

Most of Maine, northern New Hampshire and northern Vermont are now past peak. Areas farther south are showing a mix of peak, high and past-peak color, but the best viewing window is beginning to close.

Much of upstate New York has also moved past peak, including the Adirondacks. Peak and high color remains across parts of southern New York and southern New England.

Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island may offer some of the region’s best remaining color, although conditions can vary considerably between inland and coastal locations.

Midwest and Great Lakes Fall Color Report

The northern Great Lakes are now largely past peak.

That includes most of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota. Parts of northern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula have also moved past their best color.

Peak and high color has shifted south into portions of southern Michigan, central Wisconsin and the lower Great Lakes.

Farther south, moderate to high color is becoming more widespread across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. These areas may offer better viewing opportunities than the northern Great Lakes this week.

Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Fall Color Report

This is where some of the strongest fall color is showing now.

Peak and high color stretches across parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, western Maryland and western Virginia. The Appalachian Mountains are helping carry that color farther south into western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Some of the highest elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smokies are at peak or beginning to move past it. Lower elevations are still showing moderate to high color, giving travelers more options as the season progresses.

Across the rest of the Southeast, low color is becoming more widespread. Much of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and the Carolinas is beginning to change, but green still dominates closer to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

Rockies and Southwest Fall Color Report

Much of the northern and central Rockies has moved past peak.

Large parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado are now past their best color, especially at higher elevations. Isolated pockets of peak color remain, but they are becoming harder to find.

Farther south, high and peak color is showing across elevated portions of Arizona and New Mexico. Nearby lower elevations may still be green or only showing low color.

A short drive through mountainous terrain can take you from past-peak trees to areas that are just getting started, so check local conditions before heading out.

West Coast and Alaska Fall Color Report

The Pacific Northwest is entering the later part of its fall-color season.

Past-peak conditions cover large parts of Washington and Oregon, particularly across northern and higher-elevation areas. Pockets of peak and high color remain closer to the coast and in lower terrain.

In California, peak and high color continues across parts of the Sierra Nevada and northern mountains. The Central Valley, Southern California and many coastal areas remain green or are only showing early color.

Alaska’s main foliage season is over, with most areas already past peak.

What Do the Fall Color Map Categories Mean?

• Little to no color: Trees are still predominantly green.

• Low color: Early color is visible, but green still dominates.

• Moderate color: Fall color is becoming more noticeable and widespread.

• High color: Strong color is present and the area is approaching its best display.

• Peak color: The landscape is showing its most widespread and vibrant color.

• Past peak: Color is fading and significant leaf drop has begun.

When Will Fall Colors Peak Near You?

Fall color generally moves from north to south and from higher elevations into lower terrain. By late October, that means many northern destinations are past peak while the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians and lower elevations take center stage.

The national map shows broad conditions. Individual parks, scenic roads and mountain communities may be ahead of or behind the surrounding region.

Weather also matters. Strong wind, heavy rain or an early freeze can strip colorful leaves from trees and bring the season to a quick end.

Planning a fall-color drive? Check the latest hourly forecast in the WeatherBug app before you head out so wind, rain or an early freeze does not derail the trip.

For more planning help, read our 2026 fall foliage forecast or explore peak fall color at 12 popular U.S. destinations.

We will continue updating this report as the season moves south.

Map data: The Foliage Report, report dated October 26, 2026.