Here's When Fall Foliage Will Reach Peak Color in Your Area

Just as we'll be swapping out our sandals for sweaters soon, the trees are getting ready to change looks too—going from verdant green to beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. To help you prepare for leaf-peeping season, the Farmers’ Almanac recently released its predictions for peak fall foliage times along with some of the top spots to visit this year.

You can expect to see leaves change colors as early as mid-September through early November, with the second and third weeks of October typically being peak times. Although prime foliage schedules will shift depending on where you live and the local weather conditions. Overall, northern states and higher elevations will experience the changing colors first, while southern regions peak later in the season.

For example, according to the Farmers’ Almanac, residents in the northern states, particularly those in the West and Midwest, will see the leaves begin to transform in late September. By October 4, the leaves in some areas will be past their prime. Much of New England, as well as the Pacific Northwest, will be at or near peak color by October 11. And further south in the Blue Ridge Mountains, mid-October is predicted to be the best time for leaf peeping.

Here are when fall colors are expected to peak at some of the country's prime leaf-peeping locations:

• Arkansas Ozark Mountains: Late October
• Connecticut Connecticut River Valley: Mid–October
• Georgia Vogel State Park: Late October
• Illinois Pere Marquette State Park: Mid–October
• Kentucky Buckhorn Lake State Park: Late October
• Maine Acadia National Park: Mid–October
• Massachusetts The Berkshires: Late September to Mid–October
• Michigan Traverse City: Mid–October
• New Hampshire Kancamagus Highway: Early October
• New Mexico Taos: Late September
• New York Adirondack Mountains: Early October
• New York Catskill Mountains: Early to Mid–October
• North Carolina & Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway: Late September to Late October
• Ohio Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Mid–October
• Pennsylvania Poconos: Mid–October
• South Dakota Black Hills: Late September
• Tennessee Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains: Early October to Early November
• Utah Logan Canyon Scenic Byway: Early October
• Vermont Green Mountain Byway: Early October
• Wisconsin Door County: Mid–October
• Wyoming Jackson & Grand Teton National Park: Late September
  

You can check out this animated map showing the progression of fall colors across the U.S. based on past seasons to get an idea of when and where the leaves will peak in your state. Yellow marks the beginning of the foliage season, orange and red indicate peak season, and brown signifies past peak.

If you're planning a leaf-peeping trip, the Farmers’ Almanac suggests avoiding rainy, windy days when the leaves will be soggy. Also, strong winds can result in prematurely bare trees, so keep that in mind while planning. However, a lightly overcast day may actually show off the colors of the leaves better than a sunny day. Peak foliage usually lasts 7 to 10 days in a given location, but the exact window can shift due to temperature, rainfall, and wind.