Where is the best fall color at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area right now?

On Nov 10 the recreation area is fading. The last band to peak was 3,750 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 23.

How long does peak last at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area?

About four days at the top, Oct 22 to 25, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the recreation area's elevations the color moves over about 4 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 8 days.

Is Pine Ridge National Recreation Area past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Oct 23, and on Nov 10 it's fading.

Back to the map

National Recreation Area·Nebraska·6,651 acres

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area

Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET

Peak colorOct 23Aim for Oct 22 to 25

In the recreation area today, Nov 10Fading

Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.

Weather Wind to 35 mph Tuesday. Color may come down before it turns.

No new reports from the ground here this week.

Still greenStartingNearly peakPeakPast peakNo fall canopy we forecastInside the line, each band of elevation is painted on its own date.

Around Pine Ridge National Recreation Area Nearly all of the recreation area is in Dawes County, which is fading today.

When is peak fall foliage at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area around Oct 23, and the four days to aim for are Oct 22 to 25.

The recreation area runs from about 3,890 to 4,472 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 4 days: the high stands around Oct 20, the low ground around Oct 23. That's 5 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.

Pine Ridge, fall color week by week, 2026
Week	In the recreation area	Elevation at peak
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Starting to turn
Oct 12 to Oct 18	Nearly peak
Oct 19 to Oct 25	Peak color	3,750 to 4,000 ft, 4,000 to 4,250 ft, 4,250 to 4,500 ft
Oct 26 to Nov 1	Just past peak
Nov 2 to Nov 8	Just past peak

By elevation The recreation area runs from about 3,890 to 4,472 feet. That’s 4 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Oct 20, the low ground holds until about Oct 23, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 3,750 to 4,000 foot band.

4,250–4,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 2045%
4,000–4,250 ftFadingpeak Oct 2236%
3,750–4,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2317%

Height off 3DEP inside the recreation area’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the recreation area stands in it.

That’s 5 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.

Plan this trip

If you can only come on certain days

Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.

ArrivingLeaving

Thursday, October 22 to Friday, October 23

You’ll find it just past peak up high, peak color lower down.

Up at 4,250 feet the stands peak around Oct 20; down at 4,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 23. Pick your elevation for the day you come.

4,250–4,500 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 20
4,000–4,250 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 22
3,750–4,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 23

What turns: plains cottonwood, green ash, boxelder, willow, American elm

What turns, and when

plains cottonwood37%
green ash23%
boxelder12%
willow12%
American elm12%
bur oak2%

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, Hackberry.

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.

Questions people ask about Pine Ridge National Recreation Area

When is peak fall foliage at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area?: Our forecast puts peak color at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area around Oct 23, and the four days to aim for are Oct 22 to 25.
Where is the best fall color at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area right now?: On Nov 10 the recreation area is fading. The last band to peak was 3,750 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 23.
How long does peak last at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area?: About four days at the top, Oct 22 to 25, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the recreation area's elevations the color moves over about 4 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 8 days.
Is Pine Ridge National Recreation Area past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Oct 23, and on Nov 10 it's fading.
What trees turn color at Pine Ridge National Recreation Area?: 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

All of Nebraska

Nearby, and when they turn

Nebraska is on the map above, with its own date.

Wind Cave National ParkSD · about 66 miles
Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
Badlands National ParkSD · about 92 miles
Peak Oct 20 best Oct 19 to 22
Black Hills National ForestSD, WY · about 102 miles
Peak Oct 14 best Oct 13 to 16
Samuel R. McKelvie National ForestNE · about 108 miles
Peak Oct 12 best Oct 11 to 14
Niobrara National Scenic RiverNE · about 154 miles
Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15