Oxbow Bend

Viewpoint · Wyoming

Oxbow Bend in Wyoming
Photo: GrandTetonNPS / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

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.

Best for: the definitive Teton fall photo

Don’t miss

  • Mount Moran reflection
  • Prime at sunrise
2026 Forecast

Peak: September 21–September 25

Color builds from September 9 · mostly bare by October 14

Color starts: September 9Peak: September 23Bare: October 14AugustDecember

Sampled at Oxbow Bend’s own coordinates and elevation (2066 m) rather than a regional average.

45 weather points cover Wyoming, and the model shifts their answer 2 days later, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from csfs.colostate.edu and smokymountains.com. Wyoming is running 1 day later than its own average this year. How the forecast works

When to go to Oxbow Bend

The color window runs about 23 days, holding until around October 2. It sits at 6,778 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.

Oxbow Bend on the map

Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Wyoming, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.

More things to do in Wyoming

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Frequently asked

When does Oxbow Bend peak in 2026?
Peak color is predicted for September 21–September 25 (best estimate September 23). Color starts around September 9 and is mostly bare by October 14.

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