Here Are the Best Times and Places To View New Mexico’s Fall Foliage in 2025

After a hot summer, many of us look forward to cooler temperatures and filling our schedule with our favorite autumn activities. Pumpkin picking, apple picking, hayrides, haunted houses, corn mazes, and fall festivals are just some of the enjoyable seasonal activities we look forward to each year. One more thing we look forward to each year is viewing the gorgeous fall foliage. If you're like me, you seek out places where you can discover the most vibrant, colorful hues. However, you may be wondering, "When do leaves change color in New Mexico?"

While it is impossible to know with 100 percent accuracy when the leaves will change colors, various resources give us a pretty good idea, so you can start planning your autumn adventures.

If you're as excited as I am about seeing any color changes on the trees, you may be able to view some of the foliage from places like the Taos Junction Bridge that overlooks the Rio Grande by the end of September. As we head into October, the fall hues will only increase and intensify throughout Taos. While it's hard to be patient this time of year, it's a bit of a waiting game.

Places like Gallup, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe will also have their first peek at fall colors as we step into late September. And the areas in the remaining northwest corner of New Mexico should start to see changes in early October.

As time marches on this fall, much of the rest of the state, minus the south, will begin to see fall foliage reach its peak by the second week of October. At the end of the month, the southern part of the state should start to see its first fall colors, though it will be minimal and quite patchy.

Gallup, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe will be at peak fall foliage by mid-October, but the colors will disappear by Halloween. You should definitely plan on visiting this part of New Mexico throughout the middle of the month see the best of the fall colors.

Unfortunately, fall doesn't last forever and the leaves will eventually fall to the ground and make way for the winter season. By the first week in November, all but southern New Mexico will be past peak fall foliage. This area of the state will enter its peak colors by the middle of November.

Start making your leaf-peeping plans now so you won't miss the beautiful colors of fall in New Mexico. Timing is everything if you want to admire autumn's palette. Where do you enjoy leaf-peeping around the Land of Enchantment? Let us know by filling out this nomination form. We'd love to hear from you.

If you are like us and enjoy autumn adventures, check out some of our favorite fall activities in the Land of Enchantment. You may also want to consider one of these picture-perfect day trips in New Mexico to create the perfect fall day.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own autumn trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.