Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Wisconsin's Fall Foliage In 2023
By Ben Jones|Published September 08, 2023
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Every year Wisconsin transforms into a breathtaking tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows during the fall season. Locals and tourists eagerly anticipate the arrival of autumn foliage, making it the perfect time for outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and leaf-peepers to explore the state. Predicting when fall colors will arrive in Wisconsin is an art and science that relies on a combination of factors. So, when do leaves change color in Wisconsin? SmokyMountains.com offers a Foliage Prediction Map using county level data to estimate when colors will peak in the Badger State and elsewhere in the United States.
Wisconsin’s size, diverse geography, and climate contribute to variations in the timing of fall foliage. If you’ve spent any time here you know: Northern regions always experience peak colors earlier than southern areas.
The health of the trees and the soil in which they grow can influence the intensity of fall colors. Low summer moisture can impact fall colors, and that may be a factor this year.
In any year, fall in Wisconsin is beautiful. Places like the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest are likely to offer some of the earliest glimpses of autumn's magic with great colors in early October.
Next up will be prime time for central regions, including the picturesque Door County. Here, you can witness a symphony of reds, oranges, and yellows against the backdrop of Lake Michigan.
Southern regions, including the Kettle Moraine State Forest, are anticipated to reach their peak later in October. Be prepared for a vibrant display that will delight leaf-peepers.
I’ll be all over Wisconsin this fall, and I plan to enjoy every bit of this year’s fall colors. Interested in some fall fun up in Wisconsin? If you’re interested in learning more about the trees of Wisconsin, several guidebooks are available at Bookshop.org. Here’s what to see and do in Wisconsin.
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