When do the leaves change in New Mexico?
Aspen gold blankets the Sangre de Cristo range along the Enchanted Circle near Taos and the Santa Fe Ski Basin, while Rio Grande cottonwoods turn later, lighting up the Bosque into late October and November.
Peak: October 15–October 27
Color builds from October 9 · mostly bare by November 14
New Mexico is sampled at 51 weather points, then moved 5 days earlier so the model agrees with 2 published peak dates from krqe.com. New Mexico is running 3 days earlier than its own average this year. Across New Mexico the first place to turn and the last sit about 12 days apart. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in New Mexico
11 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Aspen Vista Trail
TrailPeak October 7
A wide, gently graded old logging road climbs six miles above Santa Fe through what may be the largest aspen grove in New Mexico, gaining…
Sandia Crest
ViewpointPeak October 12
A scenic byway switchbacks to Albuquerque's 10,678-foot skyline ridge, where aspen groves color the upper slopes and the summit deck looks…
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks October 18
Hundreds of hot-air balloons fill the sky over Balloon Fiesta Park each early October in the world's largest ballooning event, with mass…
McCall's Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks October 16
In its 29th season on the Estancia Valley plains east of Albuquerque, McCall's runs a daytime pumpkin patch with hay rides, a corn maze and…
La Union Maze
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks November 9
A 13-acre maze cut to a new design every year in the Mesilla Valley farm country south of Las Cruces, ringed by a wagon-ride pumpkin patch…
ABQ Tours Ghost Walk
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks October 19
ABQ Tours has led ghost walks through Old Town Albuquerque since 2001.
Hatch Chile Festival
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks November 3
Every Labor Day weekend, the small farming town of Hatch fills with the smell of roasting green chile for its Chile Festival, September 5…
Madrid
Historic townColor nearby peaks October 16
Madrid stretches along a half-mile of the Turquoise Trail highway, its old miners' cabins turned into galleries and shops after the coal…
Farms & harvest
Towns & rides
Guides
Understand the season in New Mexico
Short explainers on why and when the color arrives here.
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in New Mexico in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 15–October 27 (best estimate October 21). Color starts around October 9 and trees are mostly bare by November 14.
- How reliable is the New Mexico forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out. Mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is New Mexico's autumn season?
- New Mexico is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 36 days end to end, centered on October 21, and the last 15 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in New Mexico?
- The iconic stops: Aspen Vista Trail, Sandia Crest, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, McCall's Pumpkin Patch, La Union Maze, ABQ Tours Ghost Walk. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Cities in New Mexico
Local peak timing and things to do in fall, computed for each city.
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 15–October 27
October 9 → November 14