Leaf peeping

Fall colors in Illinois

Typical peak runs Oct 22 – 31. Pick the week, then the place.

Photo: King Hollow

Fall color in Illinois typically peaks between Oct 22 and Oct 31, with the middle of the season around Oct 26. Color starts in the high country (Heather Valley around Oct 12) and finishes lower (White Pine around Oct 26). We track 529 places here: 354 hikes, 166 campgrounds, 5 summits, 3 waterfalls, and 1 scenic drive.

When to go

Week by week

How many places are in their typical peak window each week, with the top pick. Today’s week is highlighted.

  1. Sep 29 – Oct 5

    3 places
    Canyon Ridge Camping AreaTop pick · campground

  2. Oct 6 – 12

    This week

    21 places
    Heather ValleyTop pick · hike

  3. Oct 13 – 19

    275 places
    Hart CreekTop pick · hike

  4. Oct 20 – 26

    Busiest

    513 places
    King HollowTop pick · hike

  5. Oct 27 – Nov 2

    508 places
    Bald KnobTop pick · hike

  6. Nov 3 – 9

    254 places
    Red Cedar TrailTop pick · hike

  7. Nov 10 – 16

    13 places
    Bald Knob WestTop pick · hike

This week

In typical peak now in Illinois

Places whose usual window includes today.

Plan ahead

Coming up next

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Where

By park and forest

Typical timing for the public lands with the most places, and the best-known spots in each.

Hikes

Best fall hikes

Trails ranked by how much hardwood forest surrounds them and how consistent the timing is across years.

Camp

Campgrounds in the color

Wake up in it. Check availability and any seasonal closures before you go.

Views

Summits and waterfalls

Overlooks for the big picture, falls for the doubled-up reflection.

Everything

Map and full list

Every place we track in Illinois, grouped by where it is in its typical window.

  • In typical peak now (12)
  • Coming up (88)

In typical peak now

Today falls inside the usual peak window for these places.

Coming up

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Questions

Fall colors in Illinois: FAQ

When is peak fall color in Illinois?

Across the 529 places we track in Illinois, typical peak runs from Oct 22 to Oct 31, with the middle of the season around Oct 26. Where you are in the state matters: higher elevations come earlier and valleys later.

Where do leaves change first in Illinois?

Among the places we track in Illinois, Heather Valley has the earliest typical peak, around Oct 12. The latest is White Pine, around Oct 26.

What are the best fall hikes in Illinois?

Hikes with strong typical color in Illinois include King Hollow, Red Cedar Trail, White Pine, Hart Creek, and High Knob Ranch. They are ranked by how much of the surrounding forest is hardwood and how consistent the timing has been across years.

Is this a forecast?

No. These dates are typical timing: when leaves have usually reached peak in past years, from NASA satellite vegetation data from 2017 to 2024 and USGS forest cover. A warm, dry or very wet year can shift them by a week or more, so treat them as a planning window, not a prediction for this year.

Keep going

Nearby states

Typical timing from NASA MODIS vegetation data (2017–2024) and USGS NLCD 2021 forest cover. Not a forecast. Timing is typical, not a forecast. How we time it.