Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In Wyoming

No matter what your favorite season of the year is, you have to admit that summer changing to autumn is a beautiful time. Some areas of the country are especially stunning in the fall and - lucky us - Wyoming happens to be one of those places. For those who want to make sure to catch the breathtaking show nature puts on in the fall, the Smoky Mountains website has a handy fall foliage map for Wyoming that lets you see when and where the colors will start changing, and how the whole production will progress. It's an awesome little tool to have at your disposal if you're planning a fall foliage road trip in Wyoming.

Toward the end of August, the leaves start changing color in the northwest part of Wyoming. By the first week in September, you'll see patchy and partial autumn colors in all but the northeastern part of the state.

As September progresses, the colors of fall sweep across Wyoming in a wave from west to east. There is no one time when you can see the entire state swathed in yellows, reds, and oranges, but the closest it gets should be the week between September 17 and 24.

No tool is completely perfect but mid to late September is typically a great time for taking in the fall foliage in Wyoming.

By October first, all but the northeastern corner of the state has peaked and, by mid-October, the show is over in Wyoming.

It's not just the cooler temperatures in fall that affect the color of the leaves. It's the length of the days, too. The change is gradual, starting out with a fading of green leaves to yellow as the chlorophyll dissipates from them.

Then, with just the right conditions, more orange and red colors appear.

When summer slips gently into fall in Wyoming, with plenty of sunshine during the day and cool temperatures at night, that's when the foliage displays vibrant red and purple colors.

It's not just trees that turn with the changing of the seasons. As you drive or hike through Wyoming during the fall, you'll see color in surprising places, even on the high plains...

...or the forest floor.

With the fall foliage prediction running late August through mid-October, that's a pretty big window to catch Wyoming ablaze with spectacular fall color.

What are your favorite places in Wyoming for enjoying autumn's beauty? Was the fall foliage map for Wyoming helpful? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below -- we'd love to hear from you! For related content, check out this road trip we put together so that you can enjoy the most beautiful fall destinations in Wyoming. Just don't forget to bring your camera with you -- there is so much beauty to capture!