South Pass City
Historic town · Wyoming
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
Plan your visit
Color nearby peaks: October 4–October 8
Color builds from September 21 · mostly bare by October 27
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at South Pass City’s own coordinates and elevation (2383 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
South Pass City on the map
More things to do in Wyoming
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
Frequently asked
- When does South Pass City peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 4–October 8 (best estimate October 6). Color starts around September 21 and is mostly bare by October 27.
- What is South Pass City best for?
- History travelers passing through the Wind River country.
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