Oxbow Bend
Viewpoint · Wyoming
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
Peak: September 20–September 24
Color builds from September 7 · mostly bare by October 13
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Oxbow Bend’s own coordinates and elevation (2066 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Oxbow Bend on the map
More things to do in Wyoming
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
Frequently asked
- When does Oxbow Bend peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 20–September 24 (best estimate September 22). Color starts around September 7 and is mostly bare by October 13.
- What is Oxbow Bend best for?
- The definitive Teton fall photo.
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