Yellowstonefall foliage
No reports yet this season for Yellowstone National Park.
Next 7 days
- Frost possible · low 35°FTonight, Tuesday Night, Wednesday Night, Saturday Night, Sunday Night
National Weather Service forecast, issued Mon 10:49 AM (Eastern). Frost: a low of 36°F or less; wind: 20 mph or more; rain: 60% chance or more.
Yellowstone National Park through the year
- WildflowersApr–Jul
- Busiest monthsNowJun–Sep
- Bison rutJul–Aug
- Fall color (high country, then lower valleys)NowSep–Oct
- Most roads closed to cars, few servicesNov–Mar
Best spots around Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone Lake7,782 ft: high country, where the park lists fall color in September
- Mammoth Hot Springs6,200 ft: below the 7,000-ft line, where color comes in October; elk rut here too
- Yellowstone, Madison and Snake river drainagesSmall aspen groves where the sagebrush meets the forest
How we know
National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28) · National Park Service, Yellowstone Seasons (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Yellowstone Weather (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Yellowstone Plants (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Yellowstone Operating Dates (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)
Questions people ask
When is peak fall foliage in Yellowstone National Park in 2026?
The National Park Service's month-by-month guide lists fall color above 7,000 feet in September and below 7,000 feet in October: Sep 1–Oct 31. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
How is the fall color in Yellowstone National Park right now?
There's no official report yet this season.
When is fall color in Yellowstone?
It follows elevation. The Park Service's month-by-month guide lists fall color above 7,000 feet in September and below 7,000 feet in October.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone Seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Which roads close in October?
Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway outside the northeast entrance close in mid-October. Most other roads are typically open in October, weather depending.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone Seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What else is there to see in fall?
The elk rut at Mammoth Hot Springs and Grant Village, raptors migrating over Hayden Valley, and in October bears coming down to lower ground, where they're easier to see along the roads.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone Seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What's the weather like in fall?
Days run from the 30s to the 60s °F, nights drop to the teens or single digits, and snow is common: a foot in 24 hours happens regularly.Source: National Park Service, Yellowstone Weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone Lake: 7,782 ft: high country, where the park lists fall color in September; Mammoth Hot Springs: 6,200 ft: below the 7,000-ft line, where color comes in October; elk rut here too; Yellowstone, Madison and Snake river drainages: small aspen groves where the sagebrush meets the forest.
Are there closures or permits to know about in Yellowstone National Park?
Most roads closed to cars, few services (Nov–Mar).
What is Yellowstone National Park like through the year?
Wildflowers (Apr–Jul), Busiest months (Jun–Sep), Bison rut (Jul–Aug), Fall color (high country, then lower valleys) (Sep–Oct) and Most roads closed to cars, few services (Nov–Mar).