Where is the best fall color at National Elk Refuge right now?

On Nov 10 the refuge is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 6,500 feet, around Oct 2.

How long does peak last at National Elk Refuge?

About four days at the top, Oct 1 to 4, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the refuge's elevations the color moves over about 10 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 14 days.

Is National Elk Refuge past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Oct 2, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.

Back to the map

National Wildlife Refuge·Wyoming·24,854 acres

National Elk Refuge

Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET

Peak colorOct 2Aim for Oct 1 to 4

In the refuge today, Nov 10Leaves down

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.

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

Around National Elk Refuge Nearly all of the refuge is in Teton County, which is leaves down today.

When is peak fall foliage at National Elk Refuge in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at National Elk Refuge around Oct 2, and the four days to aim for are Oct 1 to 4.

The refuge runs from about 6,252 to 7,486 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 10 days: the high stands around Sep 22, the low ground around Oct 2. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.

National Elk Refuge, fall color week by week, 2026
Week	In the refuge	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
Sep 28 to Oct 4	Peak color	6,000 to 6,500 ft, 6,500 to 7,000 ft
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Just past peak
Oct 12 to Oct 18	Just past peak

By elevation The refuge runs from about 6,252 to 7,486 feet. That’s 10 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Sep 22, the low ground holds until about Oct 2, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 6,000 to 6,500 foot band.

7,500–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 225%
7,000–7,500 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 278%
6,500–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 3051%
6,000–6,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 236%

Height off 3DEP inside the refuge’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the refuge stands in it.

That’s 3 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

Thursday, October 1 to Friday, October 2

You’ll find it peak color.

That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.

6,500–7,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 30
6,000–6,500 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 2

Where to drive: Teton Park Road, about 13 miles · Teton Scenic Byway (ID 31, 32 and 33), about 29 miles · Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296), about 104 miles
What turns: quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, willow, water birch, thinleaf alder

What turns, and when

quaking aspen44%
narrowleaf cottonwood25%
willow17%
water birch8%
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 National Elk Refuge

When is peak fall foliage at National Elk Refuge?: Our forecast puts peak color at National Elk Refuge around Oct 2, and the four days to aim for are Oct 1 to 4.
Where is the best fall color at National Elk Refuge right now?: On Nov 10 the refuge is leaves down. The last band to peak was 6,000 to 6,500 feet, around Oct 2.
How long does peak last at National Elk Refuge?: About four days at the top, Oct 1 to 4, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the refuge's elevations the color moves over about 10 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 14 days.
Is National Elk Refuge past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Oct 2, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
What trees turn color at National Elk Refuge?: 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

All of Wyoming

Nearby, and when they turn

Bridger-Teton is on the map above, with its own date.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial ParkwayWY · about 37 miles
Peak Sep 30 best Sep 29 to Oct 2
Winegar Hole WildernessWY · about 41 miles
Peak Oct 2 best Oct 1 to 4
Caribou-Targhee National ForestID, MT, UT, WY · about 44 miles
Peak Oct 4 best Oct 3 to 6
Shoshone National ForestWY · about 66 miles
Peak Sep 26 best Sep 25 to 28
Yellowstone National ParkID, MT, WY · about 72 miles
Peak Sep 28 best Sep 27 to 30

Fall color roads near National Elk Refuge

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

Teton Park Road · about 13 miles, WY · 20 miles of 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) · about 29 miles, ID · 69 miles of road
Swan Valley to Ashton, aspen on the west side of the Tetons.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296) · about 104 miles, WY · 47 miles of road
Cody toward Cooke City, cottonwood in the Clarks Fork canyon and aspen on Dead Indian Hill.
Beartooth Highway (US 212) · about 118 miles, MT · 68 miles of road
Red Lodge to Cooke City. The aspen are in Rock Creek canyon before the switchbacks; above them it is tundra.
Logan Canyon (US 89) · about 126 miles, UT · 40 miles of road
Logan to Bear Lake, maple and aspen up the canyon.