Fall Color

Posted 10-30-25

As we expected, with the arrival of cooler temperatures, we have started to see a few more trees chaining color, overall. The oaks still haven’t really start to change yet, though some individuals in the middle and understory are showing color. Maples, sassafras, sumacs, some hickories, and sycamore are pretty much at their peak. Here’s a rundown on which species are showing color right now:

—Persimmon is yellowing

—Smooth and winged sumac are turning red

—Sassafras is orange

—Dogwoods are turning red and orange

—Hickories are yellow, though most are brown already

—Sycamore is yellowing

—Mulberry and basswood are yellow

—Silver maple is turning yellow

—Sugar maple is turning orange

—Red maple is turning red

—Goldenrods are in bloom

Compared to fall color two years ago, oaks are behind. This week in 2023, the oaks were all in full color, which is certainly not the case this year. We fear that this year, the oaks could go from green, to having some color, to brown, all in less than a week’s time. It all depends on the weather; so far, we’ve been lacking nighttime temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s. When that happens, the oaks will start to turn color.

Fall Color Hot Spots

The best bet to see fall color in the landscape remains the south- and west-facing bluffs where Highways 63, 54, and 94 come together, north of Jefferson City. The maples on those bluffs are reliable for fall color, and they are lit up like a Christmas tree right now. You can also visit the section of Mark Twain National Forest east of Columbia and Ashland, or, on the west side of US 63, hike at Three Creeks Conservation Area. In the coming weeks, as the band of fall color band continues to move south, we will see more color around the Lake of the Ozarks.

Posted 10-30-25

Colors are starting to come to life in the Kansas City Region. Conditions are right for trees to produce their red and orange pigments, having had plenty of bright, sunny days and cool nights. Keep an eye out for vibrant reds, purples, and oranges in red and sugar maples and in white ash. Meanwhile, yellows are coming out in honey locust, green ash, and hackberry due to the shorter days. Colors are still spotty in the region at this point. Unfortunately, we are also seeing patches of gray where there used to be vibrant reds and yellows because many of our ash trees have died due to the emerald ash borer. Other trees have also been stressed by lack of water or by insect and disease problems and have changed color prematurely, often with muted colors. But expect colors to progress quickly in the next week; hopefully, we will have a vibrant fall color display.

Fall Color Hot Spots

For scenic fall color drives in our region, try MO 45 and 224 along the Missouri River, and Blue River Road from Swope Park to Mission Lake. For fall color hiking, try Hidden Valley Park, Rocky Point Glades, Maple Woods Natural Area, and White Alloe Creek Conservation Area. VisitKC has a guide for more places to view fall color in the city.

Posted 10-30-25

We’re finally starting to see a pattern of cooler weather that is bringing out good fall color, along with much-needed rain. The river hills are looking more colorful, where scattered sugar maple, black cherry, and some oaks are starting to turn red, orange, and brown. On roadsides, and mixed in along wooded edges, there are pockets of bright orange sassafras. Look for rusty yellows and browns in cottonwoods and sycamores along creeks and bottoms; the silver maples in those areas have not started turning yellow. Urban areas are showing the most color right now as the red maples are flaming with reds, yellows, and orange, and sweet gums and gingkoes are beginning their displays of yellow. Redbuds and some dogwoods are also turning red and purple. Fall color is late again this year, but it is finally beginning to peak.

Fall Color Hot Spots

For scenic fall color drives in our region, consider taking a drive on MO 79. Also, US 61 north of Canton shows good color along the river hills; pull into the scenic view areas and enjoy the yellows and reds in the river hills. Anywhere around Mark Twain Lake is beautiful. Consider taking MO Route A from New London to Mark Twain Lake. For hiking, horseback riding, and photography, we recommend DuPont Reservation, Ranacker, Rebel’s Cove, and Indian Hills conservation areas.

Posted 10-30-25

What a change in temperature this past week! It has clearly influenced the progression of fall color. We have sugar and red maples glistening with oranges and reds. Even the nonnative Norway maples are showing a fall color transition. Although most of the walnuts have shed their leaves, the few that are left are bustling with bright yellow. Some of the bur oaks and red oaks are now showing their golden yellows. The deep purples of rough-leaved dogwood are something to see along the prairies and edges of fields. The sumacs have now peaked and are on their way out, but the ones that still have their leaves are glowing with rich burgundy. Cottonwoods and sycamores are pretty much done, but the hillsides are turning into a spectrum of colors. Make no mistake: now is the time to be experiencing the loess hills areas.

Fall Color Hot Spots

With the winds and dropping temperatures, and the potential for frost, peak colors will soon arrive. So catch a trail, or watch a sunset or sunrise; enjoy the sight, sounds, and smells of fall. If you are looking for a place to hike, try a trail at Bluffwoods Conservation Area. For a scenic drive, head over to Poosey Conservation Area. Wyeth Hill in St. Joseph has a spectacular view of the bluffs and the Missouri River.

Posted 10-30-25

This is the time of year that epitomizes what fall feels like: cool temperatures, Halloween week, and peak fall color. In the Ozarks, peak color has two phases. We’ve started the first, where almost all of the tree species have changed or are changing; the second phase occurs when the few remaining species (usually oaks) peak. Within any particular species, there are differences based largely on topographic position, slope direction, and sunlight exposure.

Our Ozark red color species include red maple, sassafras, black gum, dogwoods, sumacs, northern red oak, black oak, and scarlet oak. Our yellow and orange trees include sycamore, sugar maple, the various hickory species, white oak, post oak, chinquapin oak, and bur oak. Of these, the oak species are mostly lagging, as usual, but soon they will be in full color. If you hit the right hillside, you’ll see a wonderful array of autumn hues.

Fall Color Hot Spots

With color beginning to peak, now is a great time to get out and enjoy some of our region’s public lands. Remember to stay aware of hunting seasons; rifle season will start on November 15, so be sure to wear bright orange for safety. The largest tracts of public lands in our region include Angeline, Rocky Creek, Sunklands, and Peck Ranch conservation areas. Smaller tracts can be found all over the Ozarks; look for signs, or search for places on MDC’s site. Look for animals as well as fall color. Even just the drive to these areas is a peaceful and pleasant experience.

Posted 10-30-25

Finally, the region received a ground-soaking rain, bringing relief to plants that have needed a refreshing drink for weeks. Despite the gloomy skies, fall colors are finally hitting their peak. There are purples, reds, oranges, and yellows visible from every angle in the landscape.

We’ve been talking about them for weeks, now, but this week the sumacs are one of the major highlights. Their fiery reds are truly glowing; look for them in great clusters along roadsides and field edges. Hickories are decorating the tops of the canopy with yellows, while sunny pawpaw trees adorn the understory. Sweet gum is another fall color marvel, creating a warm color mosaic with its star-shaped leaves. Sassafras, black gum, and flowering dogwood are still holding strong with their scarlet hues. Sugar maples are brilliantly beautiful, turning heads everywhere. There are several other trees, shrubs, and even remnant wildflowers showing fall color, so walk outside and enjoy a stroll, take a drive, or look out the window, and you’ll see colors everywhere!

Fall Color Hot Spots

Any highway along a forested landscape will afford dazzling views. This week, we’re suggesting these destinations for appreciating the current stage of fall color:

Posted 10-30-25

The cooler period has triggered many trees to start their fall change. While the color is still variable, we are seeing reds and oranges on maples (mostly in towns) and black gum. Hickories, elms, sycamores, and black walnuts are showing yellows. Oaks are still predominately green, except for those that browned due to drought. The oaks are usually the last big component in the landscape to turn, and when they do, it is usually considered the peak of fall color.

Fall Color Hot Spots

To see the most reds and oranges at this point, look in towns. Rural roads and conservation areas provide the best vista views. While you can, go out and enjoy the cool weather, the color change, and the falling leaves, but also be considerate of those hunting as they enjoy the fall as well.

Posted 10-30-25

Peak color has begun! Chilly weather has finally come to our region, and the foliage is turning quickly. The next week or two will likely provide peak color before the leaves brown or fall — and the woods are already looking increasingly bare. If this cool weather continues, and we get some more sunshine, we could get a brief but lovely burst of color.

At this point, the early changers, like sassafras, honey locust, and tulip poplar, have mostly dropped their leaves, and the most abundant woody plants are beginning to take the stage. While the oaks are still largely green, the hickories, American linden, and some black walnuts are revealing oranges and yellows. Black tupelo and red maple are still bright red. Mature ashes in our region have mostly been killed by the emerald ash borer, but young white ash seedlings in the woodland understory are showing reds and purples, alongside the gold of spicebush and the deep red of flowering dogwood. The flame colors of our woodlands are the brilliant oranges and yellows of sugar maples: individuals stand out beautifully, but sugar maples often grow in stands, or colonies, which are breathtaking this time of year.

You might notice that some plants are a bit confused by our weather this year — we’ve seen blooming redbuds, Missouri primrose, and magnolias alongside flowering dogwoods with breaking leaf buds. You might see other out-of-sync bloomers producing flowers now, too.

This is the time of year to identify bush honeysuckle, which remains bright green while native trees and shrubs change color and drop their leaves. These big patches of green shrubs show the true extent bush honeysuckle’s villainy. If you have invasive bush honeysuckle on your property, this is a perfect time of year to fight it!

Fall Color Hot Spots

Fall color is nearly everywhere right now, and we suggest getting out to enjoy it while you can. Fall color comes and goes sooner in rural areas, away from dense urban areas, so if you’ve missed seeing a favorite fall color species in the country, try tracking it down in the city.

Hiking areas with wide vistas include Castlewood State Park, Weldon Spring Conservation Area, and Bluff View Park.

Great places a bit further afield include Cuivre River State Park (see it before it closes the evening of Oct. 31 for a nearly weeklong managed deer hunt), Huzzah Conservation Area, and Washington State Park.

Rockwoods Reservation has a sugar bush (a stand of sugar maples that is tapped for syrup), so pay a visit to see that colorful forest now, then go back this winter for the maple sugaring events.

The diversity of species at Tower Grove Park and Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum is hard to beat, and Kennedy Forest in Forest Park provides a bit of autumnal seclusion in the city.

If a hike isn’t for you, try a scenic drive on Missouri routes 94, 79, 100, or 21.