Chasing Color: Your 2026 Fall Foliage Guide to the USA & Canada
Why this is the fall to go
There is a short stretch each year when whole mountainsides turn red, orange and gold, and 2026 is shaping up to be a good one. After a snowy winter and timely summer rains, forests across much of the Northeast are well watered and full. Forecasters expect a big improvement over last year’s dull season.
The best part is that peak color doesn’t arrive everywhere at once. It starts in the high Rockies and the far north in late September and rolls south and toward the coasts until late November. That gives you almost two months and dozens of places to choose from, whether you want a weekend drive close to home or a trip to Quebec or Nova Scotia.
You don’t need to be a photographer or a hiker to enjoy it. A scenic byway, a small-town main street, a lakeside cabin or a city park can all deliver the show. The trick is timing, and that is what this guide is for: find your region on the chart below, pick the middle of its window and start planning.
When color peaks, region by region
Forecasts as of September 28, 2026. Hover or tab through a bar for dates and condition outlook.
| # | Region | Country | Window | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | USA | Aug 28 – Sep 8 | Past peak |
| 2 | Canadian Rockies larches (AB/BC) | Canada | Sep 21 – Oct 5 | Golden larches; high trails |
| 3 | Colorado & Wyoming Rockies | USA | Sep 22 – Oct 10 | Good at high elevation, mixed lower |
| 4 | Algonquin & Northern Ontario | Canada | Sep 24 – Oct 7 | Strongest maple reds in Ontario |
| 5 | Northern New England (N. VT, NH, ME) | USA | Sep 25 – Oct 7 | Good to excellent |
| 6 | Upper Midwest (MN, WI, MI UP) | USA | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | Fair to mixed; dry in spots |
| 7 | Quebec: Laurentides, Québec City | Canada | Oct 1 – Oct 10 | Official provincial forecast |
| 8 | Southern Ontario & Muskoka | Canada | Oct 1 – Oct 14 | Good |
| 9 | Nova Scotia (Cabot Trail to coast) | Canada | Oct 5 – Oct 25 | Highlands first, coast last |
| 10 | Utah & New Mexico | USA | Oct 5 – Oct 25 | Good in higher canyons |
| 11 | Quebec: Charlevoix, Mauricie, Outaouais | Canada | Oct 8 – Oct 18 | Good |
| 12 | S. New England, Catskills, Pennsylvania | USA | Oct 8 – Oct 22 | Good |
| 13 | Pacific Northwest & California | USA | Oct 10 – Nov 3 | Poor to mixed |
| 14 | BC Fraser Valley & Okanagan | Canada | Oct 11 – Oct 31 | Mid to late October |
| 15 | ★ Central Appalachians (VA, WV) | USA | Oct 12 – Oct 28 | Excellent — Best Bet 2026 |
| 16 | Montréal & Montérégie | Canada | Oct 15 – Oct 28 | Late urban peak |
| 17 | S. Appalachians (Smokies, Blue Ridge) | USA | Oct 20 – Nov 7 | Good to excellent |
| 18 | Coastal New England (Boston, CT, RI) | USA | Oct 21 – Nov 7 | Improved over 2025 |
| 19 | Arizona, Texas & Deep South | USA | Oct 25 – Nov 20 | Spotty |
Late September: the early starters
Canadian Rockies larches (Alberta & BC) · Sep 21 – Oct 5
Larches are conifers that turn bright gold before dropping their needles, and they only do it for a couple of weeks. Larch Valley near Lake Louise and the trails around Banff are the classic spots, with the Kootenays close behind. Go on a weekday and start early, because parking fills fast and snow can close high trails without much warning.
Colorado & Wyoming Rockies · Sep 22 – Oct 10
This is aspen country, where whole hillsides turn a solid, glowing yellow. High elevations peak first, so start high in late September and follow the color downhill into early October. Kebler Pass, the Maroon Bells and the Grand Tetons are standouts. Forecasts call conditions good at elevation but mixed lower down.
Algonquin & Northern Ontario · Sep 24 – Oct 7
Algonquin Park is known for some of the deepest maple reds in Canada, and its average peak falls around September 27. The Highway 60 corridor makes it an easy drive-through, and the lookout trails give you views over miles of color. Agawa Canyon near Sault Ste. Marie is another favorite, reached by a scenic train ride.
Northern New England (northern VT, NH & ME) · Sep 25 – Oct 7
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, the White Mountains and northwestern Maine are the first in New England to turn. This year’s outlook is good to excellent thanks to well-watered soils after a snowy winter. Drive the Kancamagus Highway or Vermont’s Route 100, and book lodging early since this is the busiest foliage stretch in the country.
Upper Midwest (MN, WI & Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) · Sep 28 – Oct 12
Minnesota’s North Shore along Lake Superior, Wisconsin’s Northwoods and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offer maples, birch and tamarack with lake views. The outlook is fair to mixed because some areas are dry, so check local color reports before driving far. Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are strong picks.
Alaska · Aug 28 – Sep 8 (already past)
Alaska’s tundra and birch forests peaked in early September. Keep it in mind for next year: late August in Denali is one of the earliest and most striking displays on the continent.
Early October: the heart of the season
Quebec: Laurentides & Québec City · Oct 1 – Oct 10
Quebec’s official forecast puts the Laurentides, Lanaudière and the Québec City area at peak in the first week of October. Mont-Tremblant is the easy choice, with a gondola ride over the color and a walkable village at the base. Pair it with a few days in Québec City for old-town strolls and cafés.
Southern Ontario & Muskoka · Oct 1 – Oct 14
Muskoka’s lakes and granite shorelines frame maples at their best in the first two weeks of October. It is an easy drive north from Toronto, and Thanksgiving weekend in Canada (October 12 this year) is a popular time to go. Expect busier roads and book cottages early.
Nova Scotia (Cabot Trail to the coast) · Oct 5 – Oct 25
The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is one of the world’s great fall drives, with color peaking in the highlands in early to mid-October. The wave then moves to the Annapolis Valley and finally the South Shore and Halifax in late October. Build in time for the Celtic Colours music festival and a lobster dinner.
Utah & New Mexico · Oct 5 – Oct 25
In the Southwest, golden aspens and cottonwoods stand out against red rock and blue sky. Look for color in Utah’s higher canyons, along the Alpine Loop and the Wasatch Mountains, and in New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle near Taos and the Santa Fe ski basin road. Cool mornings and warm afternoons make it great hiking weather.
Quebec: Charlevoix, Mauricie & Outaouais · Oct 8 – Oct 18
These regions peak a week later than the Laurentides, giving you a second chance in Quebec. Charlevoix pairs river views with rolling hills, La Mauricie National Park has quiet lakeside roads, and Gatineau Park in the Outaouais sits just across the river from Ottawa.
Southern New England, the Catskills & Pennsylvania · Oct 8 – Oct 22
Southern Vermont and New Hampshire, the Berkshires, the Hudson Valley, the Catskills and Pennsylvania’s Poconos all peak in mid-October. Forecasters rate the outlook good, though beech leaf disease may mute some of the golden tones this year. These are easy weekend trips from Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
Mid to late October: the long middle
Pacific Northwest & California · Oct 10 – Nov 3
The West Coast rarely has wall-to-wall color, but it rewards people who know where to look. Try the Columbia River Gorge, Leavenworth in Washington’s Cascades, and California’s Eastern Sierra, where aspens along Highway 395 glow at high elevation. Forecasts rate the region poor to mixed overall, so treat it as a bonus if you live nearby.
BC Fraser Valley & Okanagan · Oct 11 – Oct 31
In southern British Columbia, color arrives with the wine harvest. Vineyards and orchards around Kelowna and Penticton turn gold, and the Fraser Valley’s maples brighten the drive east from Vancouver. It is a relaxed, food-and-wine style of foliage trip.
Central Appalachians (Virginia & West Virginia) · Oct 12 – Oct 28 — Best Bet 2026
The Farmers’ Almanac names this region its “Best Bet” for 2026, with an excellent outlook. Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park is the headline drive, and West Virginia’s Monongahela Forest and Blackwater Falls usually turn a little earlier. If you can choose only one trip this fall, this is a strong candidate.
Montréal & Montérégie · Oct 15 – Oct 28
Montréal peaks late because the city runs warmer than the countryside. Walk up Mount Royal for maples framing the skyline, then head into Montérégie’s orchards for apple picking and cider. It works well as the last stop of a longer Quebec trip.
Late October into November: the grand finale
Southern Appalachians (Smokies & Blue Ridge) · Oct 20 – Nov 7
The Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway have one of the longest seasons on the continent, because color moves slowly down the mountains. Ridgetops near 5,000 feet can turn in early October, while the valleys hold color into early November. The outlook is good to excellent. Visit on a weekday to avoid heavy traffic in Gatlinburg and Cades Cove, or pick a quieter base like Asheville or Boone.
Coastal New England (Boston, Connecticut & Rhode Island) · Oct 21 – Nov 7
If you missed the northern peak, the coast gives you a second chance. Boston’s red maples, the Connecticut River Valley and Rhode Island’s coastal roads peak in late October and early November. Forecasters expect a big improvement over last year’s dull colors. It is also the easiest foliage trip to combine with city sightseeing.
Arizona, Texas & the Deep South · Oct 25 – Nov 20
The season’s last color shows up in the South and Southwest, but it comes in patches rather than whole hillsides. Look for golden aspens around Flagstaff and sycamores in Sedona’s Oak Creek Canyon, and bigtooth maples at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas. Forecasts call the Deep South’s lowlands spotty, so go for a specific spot rather than a broad drive.
Tips before you go
- Aim for the middle of the window. Forecasts are usually accurate to within about five days, so the middle gives you room on both sides.
- Follow the elevation. If you arrive early, drive higher. If you arrive late, head down into the valleys or toward the coast.
- Check a live report the week before. State and provincial foliage reports and online foliage maps update through the season.
- Book early and travel midweek. Popular areas fill up on October weekends, especially around Canadian Thanksgiving (October 12) and Columbus Day in the US.
- Pack layers. Mountain mornings can be near freezing even when afternoons are warm.
The colors only last a few weeks, and they won’t wait for next year’s calendar. Pick a region, mark your dates and get out there this fall.