Fall foliage

Fall foliage in North Dakota

Fall 2026 · updated daily

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North Dakota’s color is in its river valleys and badlands, with no broad statewide progression.

A wooden fishing platform on a river bank, framed by yellow leaves hanging over the water.
The Red River at East Grand ForksPhoto: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Red sumac and yellow goldenrod in tall prairie grass, with oaks on the hill beyond.
Fall color on the Sheyenne National GrasslandPhoto: Cory Enger, USDA Forest Service · Public domain · source

Cottonwood and ash along the Missouri, the Red River and the Sheyenne turn gold in the first half of October;

the aspen and ash of the Turtle Mountains and the Pembina Gorge in the northeast run a few days ahead.

A river bend below badland buttes, with golden cottonwoods and sagebrush under storm clouds.
The Little Missouri River in the badlandsPhoto: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A small log cabin among cottonwoods in yellow leaves, with pale badland bluffs behind.
The Maltese Cross Cabin, MedoraPhoto: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

The badlands around Medora show green ash and cottonwood against the buttes over the same period, and the prairie turns copper alongside.

The season is short.

In a typical year

Bordering states

Color: Fallcast, the same map as the app. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors, Protomaps. Place outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.