National Forest·Wyoming·3,394,923 acres
Bridger-Teton National Forest
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 Wednesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Bridger-Teton National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Bridger-Teton National Forest around Sep 19, and the four days to aim for are Sep 18 to 21.
The forest runs from about 6,843 to 10,133 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 26 days: the high stands around Sep 5, the low ground around Oct 1. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17 to Aug 23 | Still green | |
| Aug 24 to Aug 30 | Starting to turn | |
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Starting to turn | 10,000 to 11,000 ft |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Nearly peak | 9,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Peak color | 8,000 to 9,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Peak color | 7,000 to 8,000 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Just past peak | 6,000 to 7,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Fading |
- 10,000–11,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 56%
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1321%
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1933%
- 7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2532%
- 6,000–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 17%
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 3 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.
Friday, September 18 to Saturday, September 19
You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.
Up at 9,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 13; down at 8,000 feet they hold on until about Sep 25. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 9,000–10,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 13
- 8,000–9,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 19
- 7,000–8,000 ftNearly peakpeak Sep 25
- Where to drive
- Teton Park Road, about 42 miles · Teton Scenic Byway (ID 31, 32 and 33), about 58 miles · Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296), about 115 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, willow, water birch, thinleaf alder
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen44%
- narrowleaf cottonwood26%
- willow17%
- water birch9%
- thinleaf alder5%
Every one of these turns yellow or gold here. The shades only tell the species apart.
Also named across Wyoming, outside what the canopy read measures here: Rocky Mountain Maple.
The Tetons rising above the golden cottonwoods of the Snake River flats is one of the most famous fall landscapes in the American West, and the aspen groves at elevation add hillsides of gold.
Questions people ask about Bridger-Teton National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Bridger-Teton National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Bridger-Teton National Forest around Sep 19, and the four days to aim for are Sep 18 to 21.
- Where is the best fall color at Bridger-Teton National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 7,000 feet, around Oct 1.
- How long does peak last at Bridger-Teton National Forest?
About four days at the top, Sep 18 to 21, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 26 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 30 days.
- Is Bridger-Teton National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Sep 19, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Bridger-Teton National Forest?
Quaking Aspen, Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Rocky Mountain Maple, Water Birch, Willow. The Tetons rising above the golden cottonwoods of the Snake River flats is one of the most famous fall landscapes in the American West, and the aspen groves at elevation add hillsides of gold.
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
Grand Teton and Jedediah Smith Wilderness and Shoshone and Caribou-Targhee are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 2 best Oct 1 to 4
- Peak Sep 30 best Sep 29 to Oct 2
Fall color roads near Bridger-Teton National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Teton Park Road
The cottonwoods along the Snake River flats with the Tetons behind them. This is the most famous fall landscape in the American West.
- Teton Scenic Byway (ID 31, 32 and 33)
Swan Valley to Ashton, aspen on the west side of the Tetons.
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296)
Cody toward Cooke City, cottonwood in the Clarks Fork canyon and aspen on Dead Indian Hill.
- Logan Canyon (US 89)
Logan to Bear Lake, maple and aspen up the canyon.
- Beartooth Highway (US 212)
Red Lodge to Cooke City. The aspen are in Rock Creek canyon before the switchbacks; above them it is tundra.