Fall Color Watch 2026

Fall color can come on quickly at Hoyt Arboretum, and each year is a little different. While temperature, light, and rainfall all influence how and when leaves change, you can expect the landscape to shift into its most vibrant hues throughout October.

As you explore, don’t miss our nationally accredited Maple Collection, which puts on a particularly dazzling show each fall, mostly along Maple Trail. But, the Arboretum’s color palette goes far beyond maples—broadleaf deciduous trees from across the globe bring a rich variety of golds, crimsons, and coppers to our trails.

Starting on the fall equinox, September 22, 2026, we’ll be posting weekly updates of the best places to see fall color at Hoyt Arboretum.

Follow along as we highlight one great spot each week to enjoy autumn’s beauty.

October 19, 2026

Springtime strolls through Hoyt Arboretum’s nationally-accredited Magnolia Collection are a bit of a Portland tradition, but this part of the Arboretum is largely underrated the rest of the year. While magnolias themselves don’t offer much in the way of fall color, their large leaves are fun to pick through and explore as they scatter across the hills and trails.

A group of 4 young girls proudly hold up big pointed leaves in brown, yellow, and green. — Students from HOLLA School show off the big, tough magnolia leaves they collected from Magnolia on their October 2026 field trip to Hoyt Arboretum.

Continuing up the Magnolia Trail switchbacks toward Wildwood and Overlook Trails, the fall colors unfold in impressive displays from the sassafras and sweetgums (great band name). Take it all in from the bench at the first switchback.

The view from the Magnolia Trail switchback bench.

Sassafras, (Sassafras albidum) are in beautiful transition from green to orange to red.

side-by-side images of a sassafras tree trunk with a tree sign reading “sasafrass albidum” and the other image looking up through the canopy from below. — Make sure to look up under the canopy of sassafras!

a branch with different sassafras leaf types growing all together with 1, 2, or 3 lobes- the leaves are orange with fall color. — Sassafrass are unique for having 3 distinct leaf types with 1, 2, or 3 lobes!

Further up the switchback, the lovely pinks of sweetgums (Liquidambar styraciflua) starts to peek through, and as you reach the top of the trail at Upper Cascade Dr, a showstopper sweetgum is coming into its full red.

The sweetgum at the top of the trail from below, and above.

Star-shaped sweetgum leaves turn bright red in the fall.

Make sure to pause at the top and take in the full scenery! And if you have more walking in you, continue onto Wildwood or Overlook Trail for some more beautiful fall foliage!

October 12, 2026

Fall is taking over in the Arboretum, and however you enter the Arboretum, the colors of the season beckon and welcome. Colorful displays are not restricted to the trails, and the lot adjacent to the Visitor Center on Fairview Blvd. looks more like a paradise than a parking lot. Standouts include trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata) which fruits as the leaves color, and Vitis californica ‘Rodgers red’ (grape!).

orangey-pink lance-shaped leabes in the forground with yellowing green leaves in the background and round, small orange fruits displayed on twisty branches. — Trifoliate orange in the center bioswale of the main parking lot on Fairview Blvd.

A large grape vine planted around the main parking lot is vibrant red in the fall.

Fall colors are easy to find beyond the parking lot in any direction this week, but a little hike through the Holly Loop, onto Wildwood, across Knights Blvd, and down the stairs connecting to Maple Trail, a most fantastic display awaits.

A trail map with a path highlighted in yellow from the parking lot, up the holly loop, to wildwood, across knights blvd, and down stairs to a section of maple trail. — Path to the described sections of the Arboretum highlighted in yellow.

Going toward Wildwood to the right of the base of the stairs the walnut collection is beginning to yellow while dropping nuts. The Arboretum’s squirrels can be found working on the tough shells for long stretches without scampering off.

green leaves in frond-like lances are turning yellow above a dirt trail where a squirrel sits working on a walnut with its front feet and mouth. — Walnut trees at the intersection of Maple Trail and Wildwood, just north of the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial.

And through the yellowing walnut leaves, is a lovely fall “sit spot” near some Franklinia alatamaha.

The Franklinia sit spot on Wildwood Trail.

This species is extinct in the wild, and only grows in cultivation. Its leaves turn lovely red at the same time as big, white waxy blooms appear on the branches.

Leaves and blooms as of October 12, 2026.

Looking up through the leaves, and down toward the sign from the Franklinia “sit spot”.

Heading back towards Maple Trail, is like entering a kaleidoscope tunnel of black tupelos (Nyssa sylvatica).

Looking up through a canopy of tupelos in a gradient of fall color change along Maple Trail between Wildwood and Overlook Trail.

The tupelos are beautiful overhead and up close. The smaller trees planted in the collection have turned fall color earlier than some of the larger trees that are still in transition from green to bright red, and some of the larger trees have little round fruits forming on stalks in the foliage.

Small, colorful tree and large, transitioning tree branch with fruits.

Also of note in this section of trail is common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana).

October 5, 2026

The first weekend in October presented idyllic fall color on the south slope of the Arboretum. As you round the corner from Overlook Trail where it meets Hawthorn Trail, the view of the Maple Collection above is a breathtaking mixture of fiery color and texture with the “sentry maple” beckoning near.

A sweeping view of a textures and colorful grouping of trees from above- a mixture of dark evergreen leaves, and a variety of broadleaf trees with colors raning from yellow-green to bright red and orange. — The view of the Maple Collection from the hill where Overlook and Hawthorn Trails meet.

Further down Overlook Trail, the Ash Collection is in their full and final display of color above Kingston Dr.

A group of trees, where the one in the center is brilliant in orange-purple, while the others in the foreground are largely bare with some leaves remaining. — The Ash Collection along Overlook Trail in its final stages of fall color.

There are many species of ash (Fraxinus) in the Arboretum that change with the fall at different times. Some have already peaked and lost their leaves, while others are in their full glory, and others yet are still just yellowing. Species include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus ornus, Fraxinus latifolia, and many others including garden cultivars.

A group of trees- some with green leaves, some with yellow, some with purple, all mixed in together along a paved trail. — The various timing and coloration of fall changes in the Ash Collection at Hoyt Arboretum.

Continuing onto Maple Trail from the Overlook Trail to the east, the birch are nearing full splendor, with Betula alleghaniensis, or the yellow birch looking particularly spectacular.

Side-by-side images of yellow-orang birch leaves hanging from a low branch, and a birch trunk with peeling park and a tree sign that reads "yellow birch", and green-yellow leaves in the background. — The fall color of this birch earned it the common name of “yellow birch”.

Continuing east down Maple Trail, Acer saccharum ‘Newton Sentry’ marks the heart of the Maple Collection.

A tall, thin maple stands against a blue sky with bright orange leaves at the top and green leaves lower down. — The top of the sentry maple turns orange before the lower leaves because the leaves at the top receive more sun exposure.

An old cultivar of the sugar maple, its original discovery is from 1885 at the entrance to Newton cemetery in Massachusetts. Its upright form gives an impressive display of fall color with a gradient from green at the base to orange at the top.

Continuing along Maple Trail and around the bend connecting with Walnut Trail, there is a section of incredible, small-growing maple cultivars including several Japanese maple varieties which are just beginning to color up. This week, however, the Korean maple, Acer pseudosieboldianum subsp. takesimense, is particularly stunning in its transition from green to BRIGHT red.

an image of korean maple against a blue sky showing the color transitions of the leaves in fall. — Leaves turn red fastest where they have more sun exposure. For this tree’s location, it creates a gorgeous tie-dye effect of red, orange, and green.

close up image of korean maple leaves that are very red with some green at the tips and green venation. — The red of this Korean maple is especially attention grabbing this week!

Following Walnut Trail on the upslope and branching onto Hawthorn Trail, the American smoke tree, or Cotinus obovatus is a blazing beacon up the hill where Hawthorn meets Wildwood Trail.

A large tree with billowing branches of bright red-orange-purple leaves stand out on a hillside. — American smoke tree is Hoyt Arboretum’s curator, Martin’s favorite tree in fall color.

Divert slightly off trail and get close to observe this show-stopping tree.

Close-up detail of oval-shaped smoke tree leaves. — The oval leaves of the tree curl downwards creating a fluffy appearance from far away.

Crawl under its protective branches and look up for a stained-glass like experience of blazing color.

The view from under the American smoketree.

September 28, 2026

While fall colors continue to develop in the broadleaf collections on the south side of the Arboretum, the native trees and shrubs in understory of the Conifer Collections on the north side are quite colorful.

The view from 2 picnic tables showing tall evergreen trees in layers in the foreground and background and bright oranges and reds in the understory. — Vine maples show their brilliant colors behind Stevens Pavilion.

And with seasonal rains starting last week, there were still fall colors to be seen from under the protective cover of Stevens Pavilion.

Fall colors beginning in the planters around Stevens Pavilion.

And for the sunny days (or if you don’t mind getting a little wet!), the Geographic Collections on Bristlecone Pine Trail include many broadleaf tree species known for their fall foliage.

Starting from the Bristlecone Pine Trailhead near the Creek Trail connector off Fischer Ln, the understory is where you’ll notice your first glimpses of the fiery season from vine maples and bigleaf maples.

a trail marker post that reads"Bristlecone Pine" and vine maples in fall color in the background surrounding a dirt trail that slopes sliightly upward. — The Bristlecone Pine Trailhead off Fischer Ln near Creek Trail.

Following the dirt trail trhough switchbacks from this point, you’ll notice many leaves underfoot, including the impressive bigleaf maple leaves. Once you start spotting them on the ground, you’re likely to find their source from small copses of these native trees all along the trail.

Red boots on either side of a large maple leaf on a dirt trail, the leaf is larger than the feet. Next to an image of a small copse of bigleaf maple sprouts with leaves turning yellow. — Bigleaf maples have the largest leaf diameter of all the maples in the world.

And when you reach the Bristlecone Pine Trail Picnic area, you’re in for a special treat as the Japanese maple, Japanese beautyberry, and ginkgos are all starting to turn.

a large Japanese maple next to a picnic table is turning orange at the tops of its canopy. — The Japanese Maples at the Bristlecone Pine Trail Picnic area.

long, pointed, thin leaves turn from light green to purple/red. — Japanese beautyberry at the Bristlecone Pine Trail picnic area.

fan shaped lime green leaves show streaks of saffron yellow. — Ginkgo leaves begin to turn yellow at the Bristlecone Pine Trail picnic area.

Fall colors are just beginning in this area, but the shifting hues and mixed textures of this section of the Arboretum are undeniably beautiful. This won’t be our last fall feature for the Bristlecone Pine Trail!

The developing fall colors of the Bristlecone Pine Trail picnic area as seen from the Stone Circle.

September 22, 2026

Fall colors have been starting to show for a couple of weeks now, mostly in the native understory, with some vine maples along Bristlecone Pine Trail that began turning orange in late July.

There are hundreds of native vine maples, Acer circinatum in the understory throughout Hoyt Arboretum, and many are just beginning to show their fall color transition.

A shrubby vine maple with twisty branches and abundant leaves transitions from green to orange, yellow, and red. — This vine maple, Acer circinatum can be found on the west side of the water tank between Hawthorn and Wildwood Trails.

Continuing down Hawthorn Trail, toward Maple Trail proves that collection trees are beginning to turn as well. The sumac (Rhus) collection is especially eye catching as they transition to red.

a narrow dirt trail weaves through a grassy hillside with a variety of trees and plants in sections, some turning yellow or bright red, and tall evergreen trees in the background covered in fog on a surrounding hillside. — The sumac collection coming into view from the Hawthorn Trail.

The sumac collection contains 8 types of Rhus planted in the same copse. Get close to check them out. Clumps of different species and cultivars can be identified by tree signs on posts in the ground.

A close up of the pinnate compound leaves of Rhus glabra transitioning from bright green to bright red. The leaves have smooth edges. — Smooth sumac, Rhus glabra.

Pinnate compound leaves of Rhus typhina with pointed, finely serrated leaf edges, transitioning from green to red. — Rhus typhina ‘Lanciniata’.

Continuing down toward Maple Trail, you’ll notice this week that the Maple Collection is still mostly in its summer green. But, through the foliage, a lovely sunset orange/pink peeks through from the downy hawthorn trees just off and between Hawthorn and Walnut Trails.

a dark tree trunk with a tree sign that says downy hawthorn at the base looking up into a canopy of oval leaves with serrated edges turning from light green to pinky, yellow-orange. — Downy hawthorn, Crataegus mollis.

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