National Forest·Wyoming·2,439,182 acres
Shoshone National Forest
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 Wind to 40 mph Tuesday. Color may come down before it turns.
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 Shoshone National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Shoshone National Forest around Sep 26, and the four days to aim for are Sep 25 to 28.
The forest runs from about 5,318 to 11,151 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 37 days: the high stands around Sep 4, the low ground around Oct 11. That's 6 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17 to Aug 23 | Still green | |
| Aug 24 to Aug 30 | Still green | |
| Aug 31 to Sep 6 | Starting to turn | 10,000 to 12,000 ft |
| Sep 7 to Sep 13 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 14 to Sep 20 | Nearly peak | 8,000 to 10,000 ft |
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Peak color | 6,000 to 8,000 ft |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Peak color | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Just past peak | 4,000 to 6,000 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Fading | |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Leaves down |
- 10,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 423%
- 8,000–10,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 1642%
- 6,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 2727%
- 4,000–6,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 119%
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 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.
Friday, September 25 to Saturday, September 26
You’ll find it leaves down up high, starting to turn lower down.
Up at 10,000 feet the stands peak around Sep 4; down at 6,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 11. Pick your elevation for the day you come.
- 10,000–12,000 ftLeaves downpeak Sep 4
- 8,000–10,000 ftJust past peakpeak Sep 16
- 6,000–8,000 ftPeak colorpeak Sep 27
- 4,000–6,000 ftStarting to turnpeak Oct 11
- Where to drive
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296), about 52 miles · Teton Park Road, about 62 miles · Beartooth Highway (US 212), about 66 miles
- What turns
- quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, willow, water birch, thinleaf alder
What turns, and when
- quaking aspen49%
- narrowleaf cottonwood19%
- willow13%
- water birch6%
- thinleaf alder6%
- serviceberry2%
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 Shoshone National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Shoshone National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Shoshone National Forest around Sep 26, and the four days to aim for are Sep 25 to 28.
- Where is the best fall color at Shoshone National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 4,000 to 6,000 feet, around Oct 11.
- How long does peak last at Shoshone National Forest?
About four days at the top, Sep 25 to 28, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 37 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 41 days.
- Is Shoshone National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Sep 26, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Shoshone 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
North Absaroka Wilderness and Grand Teton and Gros Ventre Wilderness and Yellowstone are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Sep 30 best Sep 29 to Oct 2
- Peak Oct 2 best Oct 1 to 4
Fall color roads near Shoshone National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296)
Cody toward Cooke City, cottonwood in the Clarks Fork canyon and aspen on Dead Indian Hill.
- 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.
- Beartooth Highway (US 212)
Red Lodge to Cooke City. The aspen are in Rock Creek canyon before the switchbacks; above them it is tundra.
- Teton Scenic Byway (ID 31, 32 and 33)
Swan Valley to Ashton, aspen on the west side of the Tetons.
- Bighorn Scenic Byway (US 14)
Shell Canyon to Dayton, aspen in the canyon and around Burgess Junction.