National Forest·Idaho, Montana, Washington·3,222,565 acres
Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Forecast issued Nov 9, 5:27pm ET
quaking aspen and Rocky Mountain maple
western larch, peak Oct 18
Peak color should arrive around Oct 3 for the quaking aspen and Rocky Mountain maple, and around Oct 18 for the western larch.
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Idaho Panhandle National Forests in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Idaho Panhandle National Forests around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6. western larch peak later, around Oct 18.
The forest runs from about 2,192 to 6,099 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 11 days: the high stands around Sep 18, the low ground around Oct 6. That's 2 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Still green | |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Starting to turn | 6,000 to 7,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Nearly peak | 5,000 to 6,000 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Peak color | 4,000 to 5,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | 2,000 to 3,000 ft, 3,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Just past peak |
- 6,000–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 186%
- 5,000–6,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2418%
- 4,000–5,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 3027%
- 3,000–4,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 729%
- 2,000–3,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 618%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 2 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 5,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 24; down at 3,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 6. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 5,000–6,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 24
- 4,000–5,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 30
- 3,000–4,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 7
- 2,000–3,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 6
- Where to drive
- Sherman Pass Scenic Byway (Route 20), about 113 miles · Going-to-the-Sun Road, about 126 miles · Seeley-Swan Highway (MT 83), about 127 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, Rocky Mountain maple, serviceberry, huckleberry, western larch
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen47%
- Rocky Mountain maple15%
- serviceberry15%
- huckleberry15%
- western larch2%
- willow2%
Also named across Idaho, outside what the canopy read measures here: Black Cottonwood, Water Birch.
Aspens turn gold on the mountainsides, cottonwoods line the river corridors in yellow, and western larches in the northern panhandle go deep amber before dropping their needles.
Questions people ask about Idaho Panhandle National Forests
- When is peak fall foliage at Idaho Panhandle National Forests?
Our forecast puts peak color at Idaho Panhandle National Forests around Oct 4, and the four days to aim for are Oct 3 to 6. western larch peak later, around Oct 18.
- Where is the best fall color at Idaho Panhandle National Forests right now?
On Nov 9 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 3,000 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 7.
- How long does peak last at Idaho Panhandle National Forests?
About four days at the top, Oct 3 to 6, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 11 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 15 days.
- Is Idaho Panhandle National Forests past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 4, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Idaho Panhandle National Forests?
Quaking Aspen, Black Cottonwood, Western Larch, Rocky Mountain Maple, Water Birch. Aspens turn gold on the mountainsides, cottonwoods line the river corridors in yellow, and western larches in the northern panhandle go deep amber before dropping their needles.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. Out here we score it against NASA's satellite record of when the canopy shuts down, read inside each unit’s own boundary: two dates in three land within 12 days of it. How this map is made
Fall color roads near Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Sherman Pass Scenic Byway (Route 20)
The highest pass road in Washington. Western larch groves turn gold in mid-to-late October against dark subalpine fir.
- Going-to-the-Sun Road
Glacier National Park. Larch trees turn gold in early October on the high passes while aspens color the valley bottoms. The road closes mid-October most years.
- Seeley-Swan Highway (MT 83)
Larch gold along the Swan Valley in mid-October, under the Mission and Swan ranges.