Amana Colonies
Historic town · Iowa
Seven historic villages founded by a 19th-century German communal society sit close together in east-central Iowa, their brick and stone buildings now home to woodworking shops, wineries, and family-style restaurants. Fall is a good season to walk between villages before the weather turns.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Color nearby peaks: October 19–October 23
Color builds from October 6 · mostly bare by November 11
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Amana Colonies’s own coordinates and elevation (226 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Amana Colonies on the map
More things to do in Iowa
Maquoketa Caves State Park
State parkPeak October 20
Thirteen caves, more than any other Iowa state park, riddle the wooded, limestone-bluffed ravines here, first protected by a local women's club starting in 1921 and dedicated a state park in 1933. Roughly 370 acres of hardwood forest color up around the cave trails each October.
Don’t miss: 13 caves, most of any Iowa state park · limestone bluffs and ravines · hardwood forest trails
Center Grove Orchard
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 21
The Black family has grown apples on this Cambridge farm since 1986 and opened it to the public in 1994; today it holds 6,000 trees across 31 varieties on 18-plus acres. Fall brings U-pick apples, a corn maze, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch just off I-35 outside Des Moines.
Don’t miss: 6,000 apple trees, 31 varieties · corn maze and pumpkin patch · public since 1994
Howell's Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks October 22
A greenhouse and pumpkin patch about 25 minutes south of Des Moines, where a paid 'Fall Fun' admission covers a wagon ride to the patch, a corn maze and a Kiddie Korral play area with a giant slide, pedal tractors and a corn box. The site is still showing last year's September-6 opening, so 2026 dates aren't set.
Don’t miss: Wagon ride, corn maze and Kiddie Korral · Just south of Des Moines · Pick-your-own pumpkins
Wilson's Orchard & Farm
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 21
Established in 1980 just north of Iowa City, this pick-your-own orchard and farm is open to visitors February through December and turns its own apples into cider at an on-site ciderhouse and bakery. Autumn is the peak, with pick-your-own apples, a farm market and apple-cider treats.
Don’t miss: Pick-your-own apples since 1980 · On-site ciderhouse and bakery · Open February through December
Frequently asked
- When does Amana Colonies peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 19–October 23 (best estimate October 21). Color starts around October 6 and is mostly bare by November 11.
- What is Amana Colonies best for?
- A slow-paced historic day trip in eastern Iowa.
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