When do the leaves change in Wisconsin?
Northwoods maple and birch forests surround thousands of glacial lakes, with Door County's shoreline bluffs adding a second wave of color along Lake Michigan.
Peak: October 5–October 11
Color builds from September 29 · mostly bare by October 29
Wisconsin is sampled at 33 weather points, then moved 1 day earlier so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Wisconsin is running 6 days earlier than its own average this year. Across Wisconsin the first place to turn and the last sit about 6 days apart. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in Wisconsin
16 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Peninsula State Park
State parkPeak October 10
Door County's flagship park, established 1909, covers 3,776 acres and eight miles of Green Bay shoreline near Fish Creek and Ephraim.
Devil's Lake State Park
State parkPeak October 9
Wisconsin's most-visited state park rings a 360-acre lake with 500-foot quartzite bluffs near Baraboo, its 9,217 acres crossed by 29 miles…
Holy Hill Basilica
ViewpointPeak October 10
A minor basilica built by Discalced Carmelite friars crowns a Kettle Moraine hilltop in Hubertus, where a 178-step observation tower climbs…
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
National parkPeak October 8
Established in 1970, this Lake Superior park protects 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline near Bayfield, home to the National…
The Elegant Farmer
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 13
Founded as a dairy farm in 1946 and now run by its fourth generation in Mukwonago, this market ships close to 10,000 Apple Pies Baked in a…
The Hill Has Eyes
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks October 13
Billed as the Midwest's top outdoor haunt, this Franklin attraction south of Milwaukee sends guests through about an hour of terror across…
Apple Holler
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 15
A 78-acre family orchard between Milwaukee and Chicago with pick-your-own apples, peaches and pears, a Red Barn Restaurant serving…
AEppelTreow Winery & Distillery
Cider millColor nearby peaks October 14
A farmhouse cidery working out of a barn on Brightonwoods Orchard south of Burlington, pressing hard cider, perry and spirits from its own…
Farms & harvest
Guides
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Wisconsin in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 5–October 11 (best estimate October 8). Color starts around September 29 and trees are mostly bare by October 29.
- How reliable is the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's autumn season?
- Wisconsin is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 30 days end to end, centered on October 8, and the last 12 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Wisconsin?
- The iconic stops: Peninsula State Park, Devil's Lake State Park, Holy Hill Basilica, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, The Elegant Farmer, The Hill Has Eyes. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Cities in Wisconsin
Local peak timing and things to do in fall, computed for each city.
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 5–October 11
September 29 → October 29