National Recreation Area·Utah, Wyoming·201,210 acres
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
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.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area around Oct 11, and the four days to aim for are Oct 10 to 13.
The recreation area runs from about 6,033 to 9,652 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 21 days: the high stands around Sep 19, the low ground around Oct 10. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the recreation area | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Still green | |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Still green | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Starting to turn | 9,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Starting to turn | 8,000 to 9,000 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Nearly peak | 7,000 to 8,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | 6,000 to 7,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1916%
- 8,000–9,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2613%
- 7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 214%
- 6,000–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1057%
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 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.
Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, October 11
You’ll find it leaves down up high, peak color lower down.
Up at 9,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 19; down at 7,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 10. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 9,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 19
- 8,000–9,000 ftFadingpeak Sep 26
- 7,000–8,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 2
- 6,000–7,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 10
- Where to drive
- Mirror Lake Highway (UT 150), about 83 miles · Guardsman Pass, about 110 miles · Logan Canyon (US 89), about 117 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, Gambel oak, narrowleaf cottonwood, serviceberry, bigtooth maple
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen74%
- Gambel oak9%
- narrowleaf cottonwood5%
- serviceberry5%
- bigtooth maple4%
- willow3%
Also named across Wyoming, outside what the canopy read measures here: Rocky Mountain Maple, Water Birch.
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 Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
- When is peak fall foliage at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area?
Our forecast puts peak color at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area around Oct 11, and the four days to aim for are Oct 10 to 13.
- Where is the best fall color at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area right now?
On Nov 10 the recreation area is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 7,000 feet, around Oct 10.
- How long does peak last at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area?
About four days at the top, Oct 10 to 13, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the recreation area's elevations the color moves over about 21 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 25 days.
- Is Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 11, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area?
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
Ashley Karst National Recreation and Geologic Area and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Sep 30 best Sep 29 to Oct 2
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
- Peak Oct 9 best Oct 8 to 11
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
Fall color roads near Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the recreation area, so allow more by road.
- Mirror Lake Highway (UT 150)
Kamas to the Uinta lakes, aspen in the lower canyon.
- Guardsman Pass
Park City to Big Cottonwood Canyon, aspen and maple above Brighton.
- Logan Canyon (US 89)
Logan to Bear Lake, maple and aspen up the canyon.
- Alpine Scenic Loop (Routes 92 and 189)
Mount Timpanogos draped in bigtooth maple scarlet and aspen gold. The most colorful fall drive in Utah.
- Nebo Loop
Payson to Nephi around Mount Nebo, maple scarlet first and then aspen gold.