Wisconsinfall foliage
No reports yet this season.
When is peak fall foliage in Wisconsin?
No official source we can use gives Wisconsin a peak date, so we go by volunteer observers: across the state, fall color is usually well under way by early October (USA National Phenology Network, typical falls). Each place below shows its own latest status and the week ahead.
Checked Sep 27. Source: USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This week in Wisconsin · Updated Sep 28
We haven't logged an official report for Wisconsin yet this fall; the first places here usually turn around Oct 5. The forecast looks best on today, Thu–Sun, and no frost in sight: the coldest night is 36°F at Chequamegon-Nicolet. In the Upper Midwest's volunteer tree counts for Sep 15–21, river birch is ahead of a typical year; American elm is behind.
When each place peaks, and the week ahead
Best days to go: Today, Thu–Sun
No strong wind in the forecast. No frost yet: the coldest night is 36°F at Chequamegon-Nicolet.
- Apostle IslandsStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 8Todaydry and calmTuedry and calmWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Chequamegon-NicoletStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 8Todaydry and calmTuerain likelyWedrain likelyThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- LakewoodStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 8Todaydry and calmTuerain likelyWedrain likelyThurain likelyFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Saint Croix RiverwayStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 8Todaydry and calmTuerain likelyWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
All the numbers
| Place | Usual peak | This week | Rain likely | Coldest night | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apostle Islands | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 8 | No report | — | 43°F | 654 ft |
| Chequamegon-Nicolet | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 8 | No report | Tue, Wed | 36°F | 1,693 ft |
| Lakewood | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 8 | No report | Tue, Wed, Thu | 38°F | 1,337 ft |
| Saint Croix Riverway | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 8 | No report | Tue | 42°F | 778 ft |
Solid bars: each place's usual window from its official sources; dashed: a regional or statewide timing, not the place's own. Stages from the latest official report. Weather: National Weather Service forecast for each place, issued Sep 28. A best day is dry and calm at most of these places.
Upper Midwest, site by site
Color moving across the Upper Midwest
55 volunteer sites this week (seen in at least 2 of the falls 2020–2025)
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Brown, leaves down
Typical year, not a prediction. Each dot is a real USA-NPN volunteer site: the middle stage its trees had that week across the falls 2020–2025. Green: under 5% of leaves colored · yellow 5–24% · orange 25–49% · red half or more · brown: leaves mostly down. Sites within a few hundred yards of each other (a research forest, a park) share one dot, with their number on it. Data: USA National Phenology Network (CC BY 4.0).
Upper Midwest, Sep 15–21
Swamp white oak
0% this week (26 observations) · typical 2%
4% this week (24 observations) · typical 2%
American elm
4% this week (23 observations) · typical 15%
5% this week (22 observations) · typical 0%
River birch is ahead of a typical year; American elm is behind. Only species with at least 15 observations that week; the line marks the typical share for the same week (2020–2025). Updated Sep 27. Data: USA-NPN. Which trees turn when in the Upper Midwest →
Planning a Wisconsin fall foliage trip
In the north woods, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has old stands of yellow birch, sugar maple, basswood and hemlock around Lost Lake, west of Florence; Kentuck Lake's campground east of Eagle River stays open until November 30. Near Lakewood, a fall color driving tour runs along Ada Lake Road to Diamond Roof Road, and the 100-foot steel fire tower north of Mountain, built in 1935, is open to climb from May 1 to November 1.
Cathedral Pines, at the north end of Lakewood, is a 40-acre grove of white pine, hemlock and red pine; in September and October its herons leave for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. On Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands need a boat, but from Meyers Beach the Lakeshore Trail runs 6 miles along red sandstone cliffs.
On the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, seven trails along the St. Croix and Namekagon are open year-round, but the first snow can come as early as October, so check the week ahead before a late trip.
Sources (9)
- US Forest Service, Lost Lake Recreation Area ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Kentuck Lake Recreation Area ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Ada Lake Recreation Area ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Mountain Fire Lookout Tower ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Cathedral Pines ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Apostle Islands things to do ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Apostle Islands hiking ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway hiking ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway FAQ ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Official reports
- Sep 27Park ServiceRivers open year-round; visitor center seasons in St. Croix Falls and TregoSource (opens National Park Service, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway hours and seasons in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceSeven riverside trails, open year-roundSource (opens National Park Service, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway hiking in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceFirst snow as early as OctoberSource (opens National Park Service, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway FAQ in a new tab)
Show all 9
- Sep 26Park ServiceIt takes a boat to visit the islandsSource (opens National Park Service, Apostle Islands things to do in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park Service2.5 miles on the Lakeshore Trail to see the sea caves from aboveSource (opens National Park Service, Meyers Beach in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceLakeshore Trail from Meyers Beach, 6 miles along red sandstone cliffsSource (opens National Park Service, Apostle Islands hiking in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceMain season June–AugustSource (opens National Park Service, Plan your visit (Apostle Islands) in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceLittle Sand Bay Visitor Center exhibits June to SeptemberSource (opens National Park Service, Apostle Islands brochure in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceBlueberries ripe late July and early AugustSource (opens National Park Service, Apostle Islands FAQ in a new tab)
Questions people ask
Where can I see fall foliage in Wisconsin?
We track 4 places: Apostle Islands, Chequamegon-Nicolet, Lakewood and Saint Croix Riverway.
Why does color come earlier in some places?
Higher ground turns first. In the Great Smoky Mountains, color can start as early as mid-September at the highest elevations, develops above 4,000 feet from early to mid-October, and reaches the lower and middle slopes between mid-October and early November.Source: National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains fall color ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How do you track fall foliage?
Each place moves through 6 stages: Still green, First color, Moderate, High color, Peak and Past peak. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.