Where is the best fall color at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest right now?

On Nov 11 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 2,000 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 22.

How long does peak last at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?

About four days at the top, Oct 13 to 16, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 14 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 18 days.

Is Wallowa-Whitman National Forest past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Oct 14, and on Nov 11 it's leaves down.

Back to the map

National Forest·Idaho, Oregon·2,263,072 acres

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Forecast issued Nov 11, 7:48am ET

Peak colorOct 14Aim for Oct 13 to 16

In the forest today, Nov 11Leaves down

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

Weather Hard frost Tuesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.

1 report came in from Union County this week, 1 of them at peak. Our date held. See the county on the map.

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

Around Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Baker County holds most of the forest and is leaves down today. Wallowa County, to the northeast, is 7 days behind. Union County, to the northwest, is 11 days behind.

When is peak fall foliage at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest around Oct 14, and the four days to aim for are Oct 13 to 16.

The forest runs from about 2,220 to 7,240 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 14 days: the high stands around Sep 28, the low ground around Oct 22. That's 8 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.

Wallowa-Whitman, fall color week by week, 2026
Week	In the forest	Elevation at peak
Sep 14 to Sep 20	Still green
Sep 21 to Sep 27	Starting to turn
Sep 28 to Oct 4	Starting to turn	6,000 to 8,000 ft
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Nearly peak
Oct 12 to Oct 18	Peak color	4,000 to 6,000 ft
Oct 19 to Oct 25	Just past peak	2,000 to 4,000 ft
Oct 26 to Nov 1	Just past peak

By elevation The forest runs from about 2,220 to 7,240 feet. That’s 14 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Sep 28, the low ground holds until about Oct 22, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 4,000 to 6,000 foot band.

6,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2816%
4,000–6,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1252%
2,000–4,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2229%

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 8 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.

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

Tuesday, October 13 to Wednesday, October 14

You’ll find it fading up high, nearly peak lower down.

Up at 6,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 28; down at 4,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 22. Pick your elevation for the day you come.

6,000–8,000 ftFadingpeak Sep 28
4,000–6,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
2,000–4,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 22

Where to drive: Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (ID 21), about 132 miles
What turns: quaking aspen, serviceberry, Rocky Mountain maple, huckleberry, willow

What turns, and when

quaking aspen47%
serviceberry10%
Rocky Mountain maple9%
huckleberry9%
willow8%
black cottonwood7%

Also named across Oregon, outside what the canopy read measures here: Vine Maple, Bigleaf Maple, Red Alder, Western Larch.

Vine maples turn vivid scarlet in the understory of Douglas fir forests, bigleaf maples go gold with enormous leaves, and the Columbia Gorge frames it all against waterfalls and basalt.

Questions people ask about Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

When is peak fall foliage at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?: Our forecast puts peak color at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest around Oct 14, and the four days to aim for are Oct 13 to 16.
Where is the best fall color at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest right now?: On Nov 11 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 2,000 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 22.
How long does peak last at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?: About four days at the top, Oct 13 to 16, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 14 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 18 days.
Is Wallowa-Whitman National Forest past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Oct 14, and on Nov 11 it's leaves down.
What trees turn color at Wallowa-Whitman National Forest?: Vine Maple, Bigleaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Red Alder, Western Larch. Vine maples turn vivid scarlet in the understory of Douglas fir forests, bigleaf maples go gold with enormous leaves, and the Columbia Gorge frames it all against waterfalls and basalt.

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 Oregon

Nearby, and when they turn

Hells Canyon and Umatilla and Payette and Malheur are on the map above, with their own date.

Boise National ForestID · about 121 miles
Peak Oct 3 best Oct 2 to 5
Nez Perce-Clearwater National ForestsID · about 124 miles
Peak Sep 26 best Sep 25 to 28

Fall color roads near Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.

Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (ID 21) · about 132 miles, ID · 130 miles of road
Boise to Stanley, aspen and cottonwood along the South Fork of the Payette.