National Forest·Nebraska·115,772 acres
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 9, 5:27pm ET
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 Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest around Oct 12, and the four days to aim for are Oct 11 to 14.
That's 5 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 2,000 to 3,000 ft, 3,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 3,000–4,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1244%
- 2,000–3,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1256%
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 5 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.
Sunday, October 11 to Monday, October 12
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- 3,000–4,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
- 2,000–3,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
- What turns
- plains cottonwood, green ash, boxelder, willow, American elm
What turns, and when
- plains cottonwood36%
- green ash25%
- 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 Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest around Oct 12, and the four days to aim for are Oct 11 to 14.
- Where is the best fall color at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest right now?
On Nov 9 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 2,000 to 3,000 feet, around Oct 12.
- How long does peak last at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 11 to 14, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive.
- Is Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 12, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest?
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
- Peak Oct 11 best Oct 10 to 13
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
- Peak Oct 20 best Oct 19 to 22
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
- Peak Oct 23 best Oct 22 to 25
- Peak Oct 14 best Oct 13 to 16