When do the leaves change in Wyoming?
Aspen groves turn gold beneath the jagged Tetons and along the Bighorn and Snowy Range highways, framed by early snow on the peaks. Grand Teton National Park sees peak color in late September to early October.
Peak: October 6–October 16
Color builds from September 26 · mostly bare by November 2
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures (Open-Meteo) drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model; terrain shifts timing ~1 day earlier per 300 m of elevation. Temperature alone can’t tell a maritime autumn from a continental one — two places at the same latitude and the same September can peak weeks apart, because the trees differ — so each region is also calibrated against published peak dates. Estimates, not promises: typically within a few days, occasionally a week or more out. Check locally before you travel.
Known for
Things to do in fall in Wyoming
8 iconic stops — scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Oxbow Bend
ViewpointPeak September 22
A slow bend in the Snake River mirrors Mount Moran and a wall of turning cottonwood and aspen each September, the single most photographed view in Grand Teton National Park, busiest at sunrise when the water goes glassy still.
Don’t miss: Mount Moran reflection · Prime at sunrise
Snowy Range Scenic Byway
Scenic drivePeak September 21
Wyoming Highway 130 crosses the Medicine Bow Mountains between Laramie and Saratoga, topping out above 10,000 feet at Libby Flats, where granite peaks, alpine lakes, and aspen-covered slopes make it one of the state's classic fall drives before winter closure.
Don’t miss: Libby Flats Observation Site · Tops 10,000 feet
Ellis' Harvest Home
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks October 18
A working farm two miles west of Lingle on Highway 26 that has grown its corn maze for the better part of two decades, backed by a pumpkin patch of more than fifty varieties. Kids get a hay maze, two jumping pillows, a petting zoo of pigs, goats and alpacas, and grain-cart basketball.
Don’t miss: Corn maze going on two decades · 50+ pumpkin varieties · Petting zoo and jumping pillows
SonHarvest Seasons
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks October 13
A pick-your-own farm in Riverton, in Wyoming's Wind River country, that runs raspberries through summer then turns to a fall pumpkin-and-squash patch with a corn maze and handcrafted fall art for sale. The pumpkin patch opens Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays.
Don’t miss: U-pick pumpkins and squash · Corn maze · Handcrafted fall art
Nightmare on 17th Street
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks October 15
Downtown Cheyenne's haunted house has been scaring visitors for nearly three decades, opening Friday and Saturday nights through October plus Halloween itself. It is a straightforward walk through haunt: no theme park production, just actors working a dark historic building.
Don’t miss: Nearly 30 years running · Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween night · Downtown Cheyenne location
Cheyenne Halloween Harvest Market
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks October 17
More than 200 vendors set up at the Event Center at Archer for this one day fall market, with trunk or treat stations, carnival games, and concessions spread across the grounds. Kids come in costume, and the whole thing wraps up by mid afternoon.
Don’t miss: 200+ vendor market · Trunk or treat and carnival games · One Saturday in mid October
South Pass City
Historic townColor nearby peaks October 6
A real gold rush ghost town in the Wind River foothills, with 23 original buildings, including the Carissa Saloon, still standing along its dirt main street. The townsite and trails stay open to walk through even after the staffed season winds down each fall.
Don’t miss: 23 original 1860s buildings · Carissa Saloon and old jail · Trails open dawn to dusk
Windy Creek Farm
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks October 16
A small family farm south of Cheyenne growing Wyoming pumpkins and field to table produce, with a greenhouse and a herd of miniature Hereford cattle on the side. Come fall there is a pumpkin patch to walk and a scarecrow dressing contest for the kids to enter.
Don’t miss: Family-run pumpkin patch · Scarecrow dressing contest · Miniature Hereford cattle
Guides
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Wyoming in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 6–October 16 (best estimate October 11). Color starts around September 26 and trees are mostly bare by November 2.
- How reliable is the Wyoming 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 Wyoming's autumn season?
- Wyoming colors during autumn (September–November). Aspen groves turn gold beneath the jagged Tetons and along the Bighorn and Snowy Range highways, framed by early snow on the peaks. Grand Teton National Park sees peak color in late September to early October.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Wyoming?
- The iconic stops: Oxbow Bend, Snowy Range Scenic Byway, Ellis' Harvest Home, SonHarvest Seasons, Nightmare on 17th Street, Cheyenne Halloween Harvest Market. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
- What are the best things to do in autumn in Wyoming?
- Autumn — autumn (September–November) — is peak season here. Pair the color with Oxbow Bend, Snowy Range Scenic Byway, Ellis' Harvest Home, SonHarvest Seasons, Nightmare on 17th Street; each is on the map above with the window to catch it.
Nearby & similar
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 6–October 16
September 26 → November 2