National Scenic River·Nebraska·185 acres
Niobrara National Scenic River
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Photograph: More Than Just Parks
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Thursday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Niobrara National Scenic River in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Niobrara National Scenic River around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15.
That's 4 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the river |
|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
That’s 4 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
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.
Monday, October 12 to Tuesday, October 13
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- What turns
- bur oak, green ash, hackberry, plains cottonwood, boxelder
What turns, and when
- bur oak48%
- green ash21%
- hackberry16%
- plains cottonwood8%
- boxelder3%
- willow3%
Every one of these turns yellow or gold here. The shades only tell the species apart.
Also named across Nebraska, outside what the canopy read measures here: Red Oak.
Cottonwoods along the Platte and Niobrara rivers turn gold, and the Pine Ridge in the northwest produces a surprising mix of ponderosa pine and hardwood color.
Across Nebraska as a whole: Early-to-mid October in the north, late October along the Platte and Missouri rivers.
Questions people ask about Niobrara National Scenic River
- When is peak fall foliage at Niobrara National Scenic River?
Our forecast puts peak color at Niobrara National Scenic River around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15.
- Where is the best fall color at Niobrara National Scenic River right now?
On Nov 10 the river is leaves down.
- How long does peak last at Niobrara National Scenic River?
About four days at the top, Oct 12 to 15, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive.
- Is Niobrara National Scenic River past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 13, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Niobrara National Scenic River?
Cottonwood, Bur Oak, Red Oak, Hackberry, Green Ash. Cottonwoods along the Platte and Niobrara rivers turn gold, and the Pine Ridge in the northwest produces a surprising mix of ponderosa pine and hardwood color.
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
Nearby, and when they turn
Samuel R. McKelvie and Nebraska are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 20 best Oct 19 to 22
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
- Peak Oct 16 best Oct 15 to 18
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25