Foliage map › Destinations › New Mexico › Taos
Taos, New Mexico fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Taos area peaks around October 7, with the best viewing from roughly October 6 to October 14.
- Typical peak
- October 7
- Best viewing
- Oct 6 – Oct 14
- Color starts
- Around Sep 25
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 20
- Elevation
- 6,970 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 7. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated 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 Taos on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Taos
Taos sits on a high plateau at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where aspen turn gold on the slopes and cottonwoods turn along the rivers. West of town, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge spans a deep, narrow gorge. To the north, the road to Taos Ski Valley climbs Hondo Canyon through aspen toward Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.
Scenic drive
The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway loops about 84 miles around Wheeler Peak, through Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire, with aspen on the mountainsides. To the south, the High Road to Taos winds through the mountain villages toward Santa Fe.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Look for higher ground
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Taos typically peaks much earlier. Look for higher ground nearby: in this part of the country, color tends to arrive about 3 to 4 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Taos typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 3 to 4 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
Nearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Taos?
In a typical year, fall color in the Taos area peaks around October 7, with the best viewing from roughly October 6 to October 14. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Taos?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around September 25, and most leaves are down by about October 20.
What trees color up around Taos?
The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, and gambel 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.