See Where Fall Colors Are Starting

Last updated: September 22, 2026
Update schedule: Tuesdays during fall color season

Fall color season has officially started, but it's not quite time to hit the road for that leaf-peeping trip you have planned.

The latest fall foliage report shows most of the country in the “not much change” category. However, the first pockets of color are beginning to show up in northern New England, around the western Great Lakes and in some of the highest elevations of the Rockies and Southwest.

No large areas have reached patchy, partial, near-peak or peak color yet. In other words, fall has entered the chat, but it is still typing.

Northeast Fall Color Report

The Northeast is showing some of the most noticeable early color on the map.

Northern Maine is leading the region, with scattered beginning color also showing up across parts of northern Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York. Most of southern New England, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, remains predominantly green.

If you are planning a trip farther north, you may begin to spot changing trees. Just do not expect the full wall-to-wall color quite yet.

Midwest and Great Lakes Fall Color Report

The first fall colors are also beginning to appear around the western Great Lakes.

Scattered early change is showing up near Lake Superior, including portions of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Farther south across the Midwest, most trees are still holding onto their summer green.

These northern areas will be important to watch over the next couple of reports as cooler nights become more common.

Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Fall Color Report

From Pennsylvania south through the Appalachians and into the Southeast, there is not much widespread color change to report yet.

Even the higher elevations of West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina remain mostly green on the national map. A few individual trees may be getting an early start, but we're still looking very green. 

Rockies and Southwest Fall Color Report

Elevation is doing most of the work in the West.

Beginning color is showing up in parts of northern New Mexico, with smaller pockets across the higher terrain of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Wyoming. These mountain areas cool sooner than the surrounding lower elevations, allowing fall color to begin while nearby valleys may still feel firmly stuck in summer.

West Coast and Alaska Fall Color Report

Most of the West Coast and Alaska remain in the “not much change” category on the latest national report.

Local conditions can change quickly in mountainous areas, so you should check individual parks, forests and scenic routes before heading out. One elevation change can sometimes feel like skipping ahead a week on the calendar.

What Do the Fall Color Map Categories Mean?

• Not much change: Trees are still predominantly green.

• Beginning color: The first noticeable yellow, orange or red leaves are appearing.

• Patchy color: Color is scattered, but green still dominates the landscape.

• Partial color: Color is becoming widespread, although many trees remain green.

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

When Will Fall Colors Peak Near You?

Fall color usually spreads from north to south and from higher elevations into lower terrain, but it does not follow a perfect schedule. Temperature, rainfall, drought stress, wind and the types of trees growing in an area can all affect the timing and quality of the season.

For a broader look at how this year could unfold, read our 2026 fall foliage forecast. If you are planning a road trip, we also have a guide to peak fall color at 12 popular U.S. destinations.

We will update this report each Tuesday as new observations arrive, so check back before packing the car and making a beeline for the nearest mountain.

Map data: The Foliage Report, report dated September 21, 2026.