McKittrick Canyon
National park · Texas
Bigtooth maples and velvet ash light up a spring-fed desert canyon inside Guadalupe Mountains National Park, usually peaking in late October or November, a 4.8-mile round trip past the stone Pratt Cabin to the canyon's famous grotto.
Don’t miss
Peak: November 7–November 11
Color builds from October 27 · mostly bare by December 3
Sampled at McKittrick Canyon’s own coordinates and elevation (2318 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 115 weather points across Texas, nudged 1 day earlier to match 2 published peak dates from tpwd.texas.gov and explorefall.com. This year's weather has the peak running 3 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to McKittrick Canyon
Good color holds through about November 18, giving you roughly 22 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 8 days earlier than Texas as a whole. The 7,605 ft elevation accounts for most of the difference.
McKittrick Canyon on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Texas, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Texas
Leaves & views
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Frequently asked
- When does McKittrick Canyon peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 7–November 11 (best estimate November 9). Color starts around October 27 and is mostly bare by December 3.
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