Here Are The Best Times And Places To View New Mexico's Fall Foliage In 2023
By Melissa Mahoney|Published September 04, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
After a hot summer, many of us look forward to cooler temperatures as well as all the other awesome things that come with fall. Pumpkin picking, apple picking, hayrides, haunted houses, corn mazes, and fall festivals are just some of the enjoyable autumnal activities we look forward to each year. One more thing we look forward to each year is viewing colorful fall foliage. If you’re like me, you seek out places where you can discover the most vibrant, colorful hues. However, you may be wondering, “When do leaves change color in New Mexico?” Well, we and our friends at Smoky Mountains, experts at predicting when fall foliage will occur around the country, are here to help. Use the following predictive and interactive New Mexico fall foliage map 2023 to see where and when you can expect the leaves to change color this fall:
So, when do leaves change in New Mexico? Starting around September 11, 2023, you'll get your first glimpses of fall color in the areas around Taos.
It will be minimal at this point, but if you're as excited as I am about seeing any color changes on the trees, you may be able to view some of the foliage from places like the Taos Junction Bridge that overlooks the Rio Grande. As the month goes on, the fall hues will only increase and intensify throughout Taos. While it's hard to be patient this time of year, it's a bit of a waiting game.
Places like Gallup, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe will have their first peek at fall colors starting around September 25. And the areas in the remaining northwest corner of New Mexico should start to see changes by the beginning of October.
In mid-October, Gallup, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe will be at peak fall foliage, then past peak around the third week of October. You should definitely plan on visiting this part of New Mexico by mid-October to see the best of the fall colors.
Unfortunately, fall doesn't last forever and the leaves will eventually fall to the ground and make way for the winter season. By mid-November, all but the southwest corner of New Mexico will be past peak fall foliage. And, by November 20th, the entire state will be done with fall colors. So, start making your leaf-peeping plans now so you won't miss the beautiful colors of fall in New Mexico.
So, we hope this helps to answer your question, “When do leaves change in New Mexico?” Where do you enjoy leaf-peeping around the Land of Enchantment? Let us know!
Hitting the road on a fall trip this year? Check out our road trip essentials list for all your road-tripping needs!
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