Foliage map › Destinations › Iowa › Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color around Des Moines peaks about October 19, with the best viewing from roughly October 18 to October 26.
- Typical peak
- October 19
- Best viewing
- Oct 18 – Oct 26
- Color starts
- Around Oct 7
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 1
- Elevation
- 850 ft
- Color potential
- Moderate
Updated
Typical season
Peak around October 19. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Des Moines on the live mapNearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Des Moines?
In a typical year, fall color around Des Moines peaks about October 19, with the best viewing from roughly October 18 to October 26. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Des Moines?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 7, and most leaves are down by about November 1.
What trees color up around Des Moines?
The main fall color in this area comes from sugar maple, red maple, shagbark hickory, white oak. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.