Jackson Hole, Wyoming fall foliage

Jackson sits at the south end of Jackson Hole, a high valley between the Teton Range and the Gros Ventre Range, where the fall color comes from aspen on the hillsides and from cottonwood and willow along the Snake River and its creeks. Just north of town, the National Elk Refuge spreads across the valley floor. In Grand Teton National Park, Oxbow Bend has aspen and cottonwood along the Snake River with Mount Moran rising behind them, Schwabacher Landing has beaver ponds reflecting the range, and old barns stand along Mormon Row with the Tetons beyond.

US 89/191 runs north from Jackson through the open sagebrush flats of the valley toward Moose, with the whole Teton Range in view, and Teton Park Road follows the base of the mountains past Jenny Lake to Jackson Lake. To the west, Wyoming 22 climbs steeply over Teton Pass through aspen and evergreen forest toward Idaho.

Still mostly green? None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Jackson Hole 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.

Already past peak? None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Jackson Hole 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.