Yosemite Valley
National park · California
Yosemite Valley's black oaks and bigleaf maples color the meadows below El Capitan and Half Dome in late October, thinning the summer crowds without thinning the granite. Cook's Meadow and the Valley Loop Trail frame the display.
Don’t miss
Peak: September 28–October 2
Color builds from September 15 · mostly bare by October 23
Sampled at Yosemite Valley’s own coordinates and elevation (1231 m) rather than a regional average.
74 weather points cover California, and the model shifts their answer 3 days later, which is what it takes to match 3 published peak dates from monocounty.org and explorefall.com. This year's weather has the peak running 1 day later than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Yosemite Valley
Good color holds through about October 9, giving you roughly 24 days from the first turn to past peak. At 4,039 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Yosemite Valley on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of California, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Leaves & views
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Frequently asked
- When does Yosemite Valley peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 28–October 2 (best estimate September 30). Color starts around September 15 and is mostly bare by October 23.
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