Wisconsin fall colors peaking up north, but could be delayed elsewhere

On your mental map of Wisconsin, draw a diagonal from the southwestern corner of the state through Green Bay. Much of the state north and west of that line is nearing, at or even beyond peak fall color. Many locations south and east of that line are still a week or more away from their best leaf colors of 2025.

Those conclusions can be drawn from looking at Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report on Oct. 17. It is compiled from more than 100 observers and includes reports from every county in Wisconsin.

Of course, specific local conditions vary on either side of that imaginary line.

Unusually warm and dry weather from late September into early October may be delaying peak fall color in some places, and could also result in a shorter, less vibrant season, said Adam Schneider, assistant professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, in a recent blog post.

However, onset of cooler temperatures and rain could still enhance fall color, Schneider pointed out. A cool, rainy spell in October 2024 turned an unpromising season then into “a great display,” Schneider wrote.

Sunny, warm days, cool nights, and consistent rainfall make for the best fall color displays, Schneider wrote. But dry spells and heat waves can have a negative impact, he pointed out.

Looking at the Fall Color Report, these locations in the northern Wisconsin tier report peak color as of Oct. 17: Ashland, Boulder Junction, Cable Area, Hayward, Manitowish Waters, Minocqua and Tomahawk. Hurley is at 95%, Door County and Eagle River at 90%.

The Green Bay observer reports 60% color change.

In the central Wisconsin tier, Clark County and Wausau report 90% color; Manitowoc and Wisconsin Rapids Area, 75%; Marshfield and Stevens Point Area, 55%; Appleton and Oshkosh, 50%; Fond du Lac, 40%.

Across the southern third of the state, Black River Falls reports 90%; Richland County, 85%; Devil’s Lake State Park and Fort Atkinson, 60%; Wisconsin Dells, 55%.

In southeastern Wisconsin, Oak Creek and Ozaukee County report 45%; Lake Geneva, Madison and Milwaukee, 40%.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin fall colors peaking up north, but could be delayed elsewhere

Reporting by Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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