Memorial Parkway·Wyoming·23,622 acres
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
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 John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway around Sep 30, and the four days to aim for are Sep 29 to Oct 2.
The parkway runs from about 6,794 to 8,423 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 12 days: the high stands around Sep 21, the low ground around Sep 30. That's 6 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the parkway | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Nearly peak | 7,000 to 7,500 ft, 7,500 to 8,000 ft, 8,000 to 8,500 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Peak color | 6,500 to 7,000 ft |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Just past peak |
- 8,000–8,500 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 216%
- 7,500–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2520%
- 7,000–7,500 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2740%
- 6,500–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 3029%
Height off 3DEP inside the parkway’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the parkway stands in it.
That’s 6 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
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.
Tuesday, September 29 to Wednesday, September 30
You’ll find it just past peak up high, peak color lower down.
Up at 7,500 feet the stands peak around Sep 25; down at 7,000 feet they hold on until about Sep 30. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 7,500–8,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 25
- 7,000–7,500 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 27
- 6,500–7,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 30
- Where to drive
- Teton Park Road, about 23 miles · Teton Scenic Byway (ID 31, 32 and 33), about 33 miles · Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296), about 78 miles
- What turns
- narrowleaf cottonwood, quaking aspen, willow, water birch, thinleaf alder
What turns, and when
- narrowleaf cottonwood30%
- quaking aspen23%
- willow20%
- water birch10%
- thinleaf alder5%
- Rocky Mountain maple4%
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 John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway
- When is peak fall foliage at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway?
Our forecast puts peak color at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway around Sep 30, and the four days to aim for are Sep 29 to Oct 2.
- Where is the best fall color at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway right now?
On Nov 10 the parkway is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,500 to 7,000 feet, around Sep 30.
- How long does peak last at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway?
About four days at the top, Sep 29 to Oct 2, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the parkway's elevations the color moves over about 12 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 16 days.
- Is John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Sep 30, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway?
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
Yellowstone and National Elk Refuge are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Sep 27 best Sep 26 to 29
- Peak Oct 4 best Oct 3 to 6
- Peak Sep 26 best Sep 25 to 28
- Peak Sep 28 best Sep 27 to 30
Fall color roads near John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the parkway, 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.
- Beartooth Highway (US 212)
Red Lodge to Cooke City. The aspen are in Rock Creek canyon before the switchbacks; above them it is tundra.