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During September, I’ll work on two pages simultaneously. This September Foliage 2019 post will contain more specific information about the ever changing foliage status in the area. The September 2019 Daily Journal for JH and GTNP page will contain some foliage information, but will focus more on wildlife and landscapes. You’ll want to go to both regularly.
September 2019 | September 2018 | September 2017 | September 2016 | September 2015 | September 2014: | September 2013:
Click this link to find a variety of Feature Post from earlier years!
Note: Peak Fall foliage is not a one day event! It evolves over several weeks. Some areas go first, then lose leaves while others are just beginning. You should be able to find colorful foliage anytime from around the 10th of September to the first week in October.
Click the link above to view an informative page written by the US Forest Service
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this fall. MJ
Aspens: This will be the last day I enter new updates on this page for 2020. If you are in GTNP, look for colorful aspens along the Moose-Wilson Road, but almost every other zone is done. The photo above was taken just south of town. Colors are still good there, but are starting to thin.
For all practical purposes, most of the foliage is over inside GTNP EXCEPT for the aspens along the Moose-Wilson Road! You can still find a LOT of color in and around the Town of Jackson and south of town.
This is one of the Aspen stands along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Death Canyon can be seen in the distance, with a nice grouping of Aspens in front.
Mountain Ash trees are quite colorful in town.
The birds will eat the colorful berries on the Mountain Ash trees throughout the winter months.
Death Canyon: Taken along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Little House in Gold: Taken a few miles south Jackson.
Meadow Ranch Barn: Also taken south of Jackson.
Across the board, most zones of Aspens, Cottonwoods, and Willows in GTNP have stripped leaves. There are remnants in some areas, as seen in this photo.
If you are looking for “color” in GTNP try the Moose-Wilson Road.
There is a lot of color in and around the Town of Jackson.
I took this photo from the road near Uhl Hill, located east of Elk Ranch Flats. I liked the single cottonwood with leaves highlighted by a band of light. Watch of chances to capture the changing seasons!
It was WINDY yesterday, blowing off a LOT of leaves! By now, I would expect the leaves at and around Oxbow Bend to be on the ground. There is still color in the Aspens around the Peach House at Mormon Row and along the Moose-Wilson Road. There’s a lot of bright color south of the Town of Jackson.
I posted this photo on the October Daily Journal for GTNP and the JH Area. I’ll post it here to show the color of the Black Hawthorn berries along the Moose-Wilson Road. Also, with some of the leaves missing on the trees and bushes, it it becoming easier to spot bears and owls. Similarly, the willows along the river bottoms are thinning and forcing the Moose to begin feeding more regularly on Bitter Brush, mixed in with the Sagebrush.
Overnight Snow covered much of the valley floor early today, but much of it melted quickly. The mountains should hold some of it for a few days.
Leaves in Motion: I spent some time along the Moose-Wilson experimenting with long exposures and both vertical and horizontal motion.
Leaves in Motion:
Leaves in Motion:
Mountain Ash:
Idaho Color: I drove over the Pass after lunch to capture some of the Idaho color in the Victor area.
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Aspens:
Idaho Aspens:
Victor Barns:
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this fall. MJ
Fall Moose: Many cottonwoods have lost their leaves along the Snake River, but not all of them!
Colorful leaves are hanging onto many of the Black Hawthorn trees and bushes.
Colors along the Moose-Wilson Road. The Black Hawthorn trees are turning orange and red to compliment the bright yellow aspens.
Colorful Leaves: Taken along Cottonwood Creek.
Bar-B-C Ranch Ridgeline: Clouds began rolling in after lunch…a great sight after many days of cloudless skies.
Berries Bushes in Transition along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Leaves in Motion:
Leaves in Motion: This kind of photo requires a lens that can spin in the collar.
Leaves in Motion:
Alpenglow Pano at Oxbow Bend: Click this image to see it much larger. Oxbow is still looking good. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Tripod.
Oxbow Bend Pano: The upper lot has some beautiful aspens right now. Click to see this pano larger. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Aspens and Grand: Skies were still clear today, but the Tetons were much more visible. The weather report calls for one more day of clear skies before we get a few clouds. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Aspen Stands and Grand: Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
TA Moulton Barn: The Aspens and Cottonwoods along Mormon still need a few days. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Cottonwood Creek at Jenny Lake. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
This foliage page is only one of my pages for October. Click the link above to see a LOT more, including wildlife and other subjects!
Ditch Creek Fall Colors:
Berries in Red: Lots of color in Jackson Hole now.
Upper Lot at Oxbow Bend: The aspens are turning even more gold!
Oxbow Color:
Oxbow Bend:
Aspens:
Peach House: Aspens are changing at Mormon Row, but still a few days from prime.
Wet Leaves: Leaves in Ditch Creek.
Oxbow Bend: Taken in the afternoon…showing the color at the “bend” and the haze in the sky.
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot: This stand of aspens is turning even more gold and orange. Looks GREAT!
Trumpeter Swan in Gold: Taken at the Boyle’s Hill Swan Pond.
Pilgrim Creek Fire: This photo shows the Jackson Lake Lodge with the distant fire and smoke, taken from the road to the Jackson Lake Dam.
Pilgrim Creek Road: Closed during the fire.
The Grand and Fall Cabin: Taken on the Inner Park Loop Road. Aspens are still looking good there.
Bull Moose in Gold: I’ve been spending most of my time in the southern portion of the park lately. Some of the river bottoms are still bright, while others are past prime. The choke cherry bushes are red now.
Many of the hillsides are screaming yellow.
The Mormon Row barns and homestead’s cottonwoods and aspens are beginning to change. There are lots of zones with green trees.
Expect “some” haze. The wind can either bring in new smoke or temporarily whisk it away.
Aspen Hillside: One of the many hillsides lit up with bright aspens!
Aspen Stand: This is the stand of aspens behind the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
Reflections:
Black Hawthorn Berries and Colorful Leaves:
Oxbow Bend Reflections: Lacking clouds, I opted to look for “tight” shots in the Oxbow area.
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
Oxbow Bend Pano Reflections:
Colors at the Oxbow Turnout:
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
Oxbow Aspen Stand: This is the aspen stand in the “upper lot” at Oxbow Bend. It changed considerably in one day!
Chapel of the Transfiguration: Check out the yellow leaves.
Teton Smoke: We’ve bad essentially clear skies for a few days, but it appears there is a fire on the West side of the Tetons. Smoke was flowing in on both sides.
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this fall. MJ
Alpenglow and Oxbow Bend:
Oxbow Bend: The Aspens at the corner of “the Bend” are turning. Peak? Some are peak now, some are half way.
Upper Parking Lot: This zone is nearing peak.
Arizona Meadows: This golden field is located near Arizona Creek in the northern portion of the park. It has a lot of nice orange Aspens.
Aspens: This was taken near Spread Creek. Some of them will turn even more orange.
Other Notes: The cottonwoods in the Snake River north of Snake River Overlook are essentially done. South of there, the cottonwoods still have leaves but are not as vivid this year as in some other years.
Teton Sunset: Fresh snow on the peaks should make foliage season extra special this year. I hear Oxbow looked great today.
Colorful Aspens: Taken near the Visitor’s Center at Moose. That area is generally bright now. Some of the Black Hawthorn bushes are turning orange and red, too.
Leaf and Drops: I think this one could have been a little sharper if I had set up the tripod. At 1/100th second, the light wind probably rocked it a bit Even so, the colors are so beautiful!
Leaf Detail:
We had rain overnight along with plenty of wind. The clouds were covering the Teton Range, so I didn’t concentrate on the vista views so popular this time of the year.
Aspen Hillside: This hill is always an early indicator of the fall foliage changes. It’s on the north edge of town across from the Teton National Park sign.
The wind is blowing today and there is some haze. The weather forecast suggests we might have some rain tomorrow.
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot: Not prime yet, but the leaves are changing now.
Oxbow Bend Pano: Hopefully, today’s brisk winds didn’t strip the early leaves at the bend.
Teton Range Pano:
The Grand and Aspen Stand:
Aspens: Aspens are nearing peak in some areas. Cottonwoods south of Schwabacher look dull at the moment, but are brighter in the Triangle X Ranch and Moran Junction area.
Haze? The haze from the California fires was back this afternoon. It is usually more clear in the mornings. I tried adding a circular Polarizing filter today, but it didn’t affect the distant smoke. It might be time to have it ready, however! Check out this post:
Leaves: This was taken along the Gros Ventre Road while waiting for a bull Moose to wake up and get active again.
Bull Moose in Gros Ventre Channel: Other zones of the Gros Ventre River are actually quite yellow, but this section is just turning. …Oh yes. The Moose finally got up!
Aspens: This pretty stand of aspens was taken just East of Moran Junction. Lots of color there.
Oxbow Bend: This “record shot” shows the status of the stand of trees at the corner of Oxbow Bend. I’d say it still has a week to go. Aspens on the upper hillside are turning now.
Spring Gulch Aspens: A lot of zones are starting to “turn on” now. There are similar stands on Snow King Mountain.
Black Bear and Black Hawthorn Bushes: The Hawthorns and Choke Cherry trees are turning along the Moose-Wilson Road. There’s a bumper crop of berries this year.
Moose Cow and Calf in the Gros Ventre: Actually, I took this photo yesterday, but had so many Mountain Maple photos, it got lost in the shuffle. You can see how the trees are changing along the river bottoms. The Snake his similar. There are many cottonwoods with yellow and green in the same tree. They need another three or four days.
Oxbow Bend: I haven’t been there in a few days, but the lower section of aspen at the “bend” was still very green. History “suggests” October 1st is a good bet, but Oxbow could turn prime before then. The hillsides above Oxbow Bend were definitely changing.
Mountain Maples: I drove down the Snake River Canyon and to the Palisades Reservoir Dam this morning. The mountains are “on fire” in many areas. Mountain Maples are ablaze!
Mountain Maples: For now, I’ll just add the photos and will try to add comments later. It’s ON…get there if you can!
I took all of these Mountain Maple photos with my Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens…all handheld.
Some Aspens are turning, but as you can see, many of them are behind the Mountain Maples.
Yes…the skies are hazy, but as you can see in the previous photos, you can still work with the closer trees.
Buffalo Fork River: There is a lot of color around Moran Junction.
Moran Junction: Things are changing from green to yellow, but not prime there.
Oxbow Bend: The lower portions of Oxbow are still green, but the upper hillsides are beginning to change.
Haze is still with us. Right now, don’t expect the big, clear vista views and wide panoramic shots. As you can see in the recent photos, relatively close shots are not greatly affected by the smoke and haze.
Jackson Lake Junction Color: These aspens always turn gold and orange early. Very pretty!
Aspens: This stand of aspens is located next to the Christian Creek bridge near the Jackson Lake Lodge.
Grizzlies: Notice the colors behind the photographers along the Buffalo Fork River.
Except for the random patches of color, much of the Oxbow Bend and Willow Flats is still a “3” or maybe “4” on the scale.
Haze: Smoke re=entered the valley today. If you shoot long distances, expect layers of haze. If you can shoot tight, similar to today’s colorful photos above, the haze shouldn’t be as much of an issue.
Aspens near Moran Junction. The willows along the Buffalo Fork River at the Moose Junction are also turning.
As in every year, I get emails asking me when I think “prime” will be this year. To be honest, I can never really predict it! As of September 10, I can find some bright yellow trees, but they are scattered all over the place.
Rolling Color: It helps to understand that Prime Foliage “Day” is really not a day, but more of slice of several days. The primary yellow color is supplied by cottonwoods, willows, and aspens. They do not all change at the same time, and they change at different times based on elevation.
Oxbow Bend often hits prime “sometime” between September 25 and October 4th. We’ve had several very cold mornings lately, so that might jump start the season. It was 24ºF yesterday along the Gros Ventre, and it is usually a bit colder farther north.
The willows and cottonwoods along the Gros Ventre are definitely shifting. I saw some similar colors in the river bottom of the Snake River Canyon today.
Watch for early cottonwood colors at the Highway 26/390 junction near Wilson.
Some Aspens are already bright around Triangle X Ranch. Large stands of Aspens are changing along the East Boundary Road.
As the month begins, the sky is mostly clear of smoke, but California Fires can change that at any time. Click the link below for ideas if the smoke returns.
The brightest colors are currently in the Snake River Canyon and along the Palisades Reservoir, but I’d suggest the best is yet to come. Aspens are behind most of the Mountain Maples.
As you can see in this shot, there are ranges of yellow, orange, and red leaves on the Mountain Maples. Mountain Maple leaves seem to stay on the branches longer than the Aspens.
You can find berries and changing leaves on the berry bushes all around the valley.
Spring Gulch Road typically has a few early yellow aspens. I took this shot a few days ago, so I suspect there are more now.
Colorful Choke Cherry Leaves: The Black Hawthorn bushes and the Choke Cherry bushes along the Moose-Wilson Road are changing. A few Black Bears have been seen there, along with a Grizzly. When a Grizzly is sighted along the road, the Park Service closes the road for several days.
Variegated Leaves: Watch for the color! The ground cover is brightly colored in many areas already.
Choke Cherry Leaves: For now, look for color where you can find it. The big stands of colorful Aspens should turn relatively soon!
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
The post Foliage Reports: September/October 2020 first appeared on Best of the Tetons, Area Info & Photography.Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole
During September, I’ll work on two pages simultaneously. This September Foliage 2019 post will contain more specific information about the ever changing foliage status in the area. The September 2019 Daily Journal for JH and GTNP page will contain some foliage information, but will focus more on wildlife and landscapes. You’ll want to go to both regularly.
September 2018 | September 2017 | September 2016 | September 2015 | September 2014: | September 2013:
Click this link to find a variety of Feature Post from earlier years!
Note: Peak Fall foliage is not a one day event! It evolves over several weeks. Some areas go first, then lose leaves while others are just beginning. You should be able to find colorful foliage anytime from around the 10th of September to the first week in October.
Click the link above to view an informative page written by the US Forest Service
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this fall. MJ
Still color in some of the willows!
Interestingly, many of the aspen leaves and cottonwood leaves along Mormon Row are hanging onto the branches. They are burnt orange and didn’t turn bright yellow this year.
Aspens: For most of Grand Teton National Park, I’d say the foliage season is over. For town, there are quite a few aspens worth attention.
I am not sure about the scientific botany, but many of the aspens and cottonwoods turned either rusty brown or dark brown this year instead of vivid yellow. I may still add a few more photos on this page, but most of my dedication to this page is over for the year. Hope it helped some of the readers! MJ
Clark’s Nutcracker: While “green” is not the dominant color now, there are still green and pea green trees around town.
Young Magpie: Some of the remaining leaves are still colorful enough for a nice background.
TA Moulton Barn Pano: In some years, the cottonwoods behind the TA Moulton barn turn bright yellow. This year, they are more rusty orange. This is typical in many areas of the valley now. There are still some green aspens along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Oxbow Bend: Not much left at Oxbow now. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Oxbow Bend: The upper lot still look “okay” but the leaves are now burnt orange and not as vivid. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Country Road: Look around and you can still find pre-peak and peak colors. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Munger Mountain Aspens: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Upper Gros Ventre: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Peach House on Mormon Row: I included this photo today to show the aspens along Mormon. Row. It will be a few days to prime there. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Munger Mountain: Nice stands of aspens south of Jackson. Taken with a Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens. Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Munger Mountain: Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600 Lens, Handheld.
Melody Ranch Barns: Taken with a Nikon D5 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens.
Ditch Creek: Even though SOME of the early foliage opportunities are behind us, there are still lots of them available to us.
Country Road: Taken near the old Teton Science School.
Aspens: The valley is in a state of transition. I like all of the variety!
Fiery Red Leaves: There are many additional foliage opportunities “in town”. I shot this one next to Kmart!
Click the link above to see how I shot the blurred image above and below! Be sure to follow me on Instagram while you are there.
Notes: The “Classic” shot at Oxbow Bend is mostly past prime. The Upper Parking Area is Prime. There is PLENTY of yellow all around the valley. The cottonwoods and aspens around Mormon Row is still beginning to change. Aspens in and around Jackson are prime or near prime.
Buffalo Valley Barn: Most of the Buffalo Valley is outside of Grand Teton National, on your way over Pass towards Dubois.
Buffalo Valley Aspens: Color is pretty good there! Some are still on the greenish side.
Buffalo Valley Aspens:
Hillside Gold: The aspens in some areas are partially prime, and partially pre-prime.
Oxbow Bend: Generally speaking, it looks like the west end of Oxbow is now past prime.
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot: Prime!
Shane Cabin: It snowed some overnight, frosting the valley. I looked for Moose early, the switched hats to my “landscape hat” and headed up the Gros Ventre. The Shane Cabins were along the route.
Gros Ventre River Ranch Cabin:
Slide Lake Pano: When the Tetons are covered with snow, I usually look for something else. Right now, the cottonwoods, willows and aspens in the Slide Lake area are prime or near prime. More than likely, the aspens on the west end of Oxbow Bend will be well past prime, or even blown off by the time we see Mt. Moran again. That’s possibly the bad news, but the good news is there are plenty of other good areas with great color!
Slide Lake:
Slide Lake:
Snow King Aspens: The hillsides closer to town are just now firing up, as seen in this photo on Snow King.
Snow King Aspens:
Oxbow Bend Shoreline: Finally…Some nice morning clouds!
Oxbow Bend Shoreline Pano: Some of the leaves in the middle section of this band of Aspens are missing now. There was a lot of wind later in the day, so I suspect many more leaves will have fallen by Saturday morning.
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot Pano: Prime.
Floating Leaves: Don’t forget the small shots!
Oxbow Bend: Good color!
Oxbow Bend: The upper lot is almost peak.
Snowy Aspens: Fresh show this morning! Aspens are looking great now.
Two Ocean Lake Aspens:
Two Ocean Lake Aspens:
Arizona Meadows: These aren’t quite prime, but getting there! This meadow is near Arizona Creek (the bridge is under construction).
Mt. Liedy: Taken near Elk Ranch Flats.
The lower part of Oxbow Bend is still okay. Hurry! The upper parking lot’s aspens are prime. Hopefully, people will see mountains tomorrow.
Oxbow Bend: I’d say it is a prime as it will get before the left side leaves blow off!
Oxbow Bend Upper Parking Area: Prime enough!
Shoshone: This one show a few of the aspens at the south end of Blacktail Butte.
The wind has been blowing a lot of the willow and cottonwood leaves off.
Peak Aspens: Lots of color right now, especially the Aspens! Some of the Willows and Cottonwoods are losing leaves.
Aspens at Oxbow Bend: These are Aspens visible from the “upper parking lot”.
Two Ocean Lake:
Two Ocean Lake Road:
Cottonwood Creek: This is the small stream coming out of Jenny Lake.
Two Ocean Lake Road:
Yellowing Hillside: Just a quick shot of a hillside north of town. It’s “game on” in most of the valley.
Sleeping Indian and Cottonwoods: This was taken along the Highway across the Gros Ventre River.
Cottonwoods, Willows, and Aspens: I took this one along the Gros Ventre river bottom.
Lip Curl: I stayed south today, but have a feeling Oxbow is looking great now.
Red Leaves of Fall: Depending on where you were in the valley this morning, you would find either rain or snow. I took this photo along the Moose-Wilson Road.
John Moulton Homestead: Most of the valley floor was wet, but snow covered hillsides and mountainsides around it.
Snow on Shadow Mountain:
Shadow Mountain: Aspens on Shadow Mountain are close to peak.
Cottonwoods and Aspens: Taken along Antelope Flats Road.
Aspens: Better wear shades! The valley is turning yellow! This was taken near Snake River Overlook.
Bison in Gold: Captured along Elk Ranch Flats.
Upper Lot at Oxbow Bend: These trees have changed a lot in just a couple of days. They are not prime yet, but getting there.
The Weather: Some news and weather reports suggested we would get a big early season snow storm. As of tonight, it looks like they have pulled back some from those predictions. We should have rain most of Saturday, and likely snow in the high country, though we will not see it until after the storm passed.
Great Gray Owl: No matter where you look, you can still find some green leaves.
Great Gray Owl:
Moron Row: A few of the cottonwoods are beginning to turn along Mormon Row, but most trees are still essentially green. They are usually not prime until the first week or so in October.
Mt. Moran Reflections:
Oxbow Bend:
Riverside at Oxbow Bend:
Wind, rain and even snow are in the forecast for the next few days. The wind is the WORST! Keep your fingers crossed!
Oxbow Bend: Getting close!
Buck Mountain: Taken from Pacific Creek Road.
Colorful Hillside: Taken near Elk Ranch Flats. You can find bright colors in many areas now. You can also find stands of green aspens.
Colorful Hillside:
Polarizer in Use: This is about the only time of the year I use a circular polarizer. It darkens the sky, brightens the white clouds, and brightens yellows. Nikon D850 and Nikon 70-200 Lens, Handheld…with polarizing filter
No Polarizer: Nikon D850 and Nikon 70-200 Lens, Handheld.
Oxbow Bend: Still a few more days.
Aspens Pano captured near Moran Junction. These are prime!
Aspen Stand Pano captured near Spread Creek.
Gold Cottonwoods near Elk Ranch Flats.
Gold Cottonwoods at Spread Creek.
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Tuesday September 24
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Tuesday October 1
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Monday October 7
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Tuesday October 8
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Tuesday October 15
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Wednesday October 16
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11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Schwabacher Landing: Not prime…but changing. There are lots of aspen stands nearing prime in various parts of the park now.
Please take a minute and register to sign up to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this fall. MJ
Moose at Schwabachers: A quick shot to show the colors at Schwabacher Landing.
Oxbow Aspens:… Probably the update shot people are wanting to see! Some of the aspens are starting to change.
Oxbow Aspens:
Red and Orange Aspens at Willow Flats
Gros Ventre River: Willows and Cottonwoods along the Gros Ventre River.
Schwabacher Landing: Willows, aspens and cottonwoods.
Snake River: This was shot through the haze, but you can get an idea of the color along the Snake near Triangle X Ranch.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole
Aspen Stand: Each day there is more color and in more areas. This was taken along Elk Ranch Flats.
Aspen Stand: This group was taken at the Moran Junction area. They aren’t quite prime, but getting there fast.
North End of Elk Ranch Flats: Just a status photo.
Oxbow Bend Approach: The aspen stands at the West end of Oxbow Bend and at the Upper Parking lot are still mostly green, but there has been a considerable amount of changes above that area.
Oxbow Bend Hillside: This photo was taken from the Cattleman’s Bridge Road, pointing back to the Oxbow Bend Parking Area.
Cottonwood Creek: Taken below the Jenny Lake tail out. This should be fairly bright in a few more days.
Red Leaves: Some of the bright colors in the ground cover.
I didn’t take photos of the foliage today since things are essentially the same as yesterday. With that said, I can see a change over every couple of days. Much of the valley is still in the 1, 2, 3 or even 4 stage of my color chart, but there are patches of color. Check out the areas near Triangle X Ranch, Cunningham Cabin, and Moosehead Ranch. Foliage always looks brighter if you can catch it backlit. The Moose-Wilson Road remains closed. You can still access the LSR Preserve from the south entrance at Teton Village. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow and part of Saturday.
If you are “needing” aspen color, consider a drive to Green River Lakes. The altitude is higher there. Aspens usually start turning right after Labor Day. The area is roughly 100 miles from Jackson. The last part of it is over rough roads, but it is definitely photogenic and worth the trip! Of course, I love the Tetons, but this area probably comes in a close second. Head south towards Pinedale, then look for the road going north through Cora. Follow it all the way to the end. There are no services. Stock up on food, snacks, and gas before heading into the region. The area has good fishing along the Green River, Dollar Lake, and in the lakes. Watch for grizzly bears, moose, wolves, deer, and elk. This is a popular access point for back country hikers and hunters.
A few friends that drive the Snake River Canyon have been telling me the Mountain Maple are finally starting this year near Alpine Junction. They typically fire up before our aspens, cottonwoods, and willows.
This is the same stand of aspens I photographed on September 12th (at Willow Flats).
Foggy Snake River: You can see how some of the cottonwoods are beginning to turn near Triangle X Ranch, north of Snake River Overlook.
Numerous aspens are turning yellow at the Jackson Lake Lodge.
Snake River Willows and Cottonwoods: This is a good example of current foliage. You can find good color in patches, with green all around. Notice the willows at the bottom and cottonwoods behind them. There seems to be more “color” south of the Snake River bridge at Moose than north of there. Color is better near the Snake River bridge in Wilson.
Gros Ventre Willows and Cottonwoods: Similarly, the Gros Ventre River drainage is making a major shift. These are some of the brighter ones I saw when driving home.
Variegated Colors: I always like to find examples of the wide range of colors like this leaf along the Moose-Wilson Road.
The Black Hawthorn leaves along the Moose-Wilson Road are still green. They often become colorful as the season advances. As of today, the northern portion of the Moose-Wilson Road is closed due to bear activity.
Fall Fishermen: Bundled for the much cooler weather we had today. They were headed towards the Snake River at the Wilson Bridge.
Wilson Bridge: This is the bridge over the Snake River near Wilson, WY. Foliage in this area is ahead of the river bottom north of the Snake River bridge at Moose.
East Bank of the Snake River near Wilson.
West Bank of the Snake River near Wilson
Spring Gulch Aspens: Aspens are much farther behind in almost all areas. I took this photo from Spring Gulch Road. I’d call them the exception to the rule so far.
It was a little hazy when I took this photo this morning, but you can get an idea of some of the color. Across the board, it looks like the foliage season is very late this year!
This essentially the same shot on September 16 of last year.
I drove by the Gros Ventre this afternoon. Yes…there is a bit more of a shift in color there! Far from peak, but more 4.5,6 on my scale than only a few days ago.
I took this photo Thursday afternoon along the Gros Ventre River. As you can see, there is a variety of color stages, but not many leaves are really bright yellow. As I keep saying, most of the valley is “shifting” colors.
Changing Aspens: Taken from one of the Willow Flats turnouts.
Mountain Ash Berries: Photographed at the Jenny Lake Overlook drive.
Moose Cow and Calf on the Gros Ventre: I posted this photo on the September 2019 Daily Journal for GTNP and JH, but thought it might fit here, too. It shows the shift in color for the grasses and some of the willows.
Choke Cherries: Berries are ripening around the valley. I get report suggesting the Black Hawthorn berries along the Moose-Wilson Road are less this year than some other years. There have been bear sightings along the narrow road, but rangers and wildlife brigade volunteers are keeping people away from them. I also hear reports of people seeing black bears along the trails farther up the mountain trails.
Yellow Leaves: I took this photo of some leaves along the Gros Ventre yesterday.
Gros Ventre Willows & Cottonwoods: There is a noticeable shift in the color of trees around the valley, but it is far from prime.
Gros Ventre Cottonwoods: I took these to backlit shots along the Gros Ventre this morning. They always look a little brighter with light on them! There was a fair amount of haze in the air this morning…but I don’t believe it was smoke from any area fires.
Ferns: Nice color after a light rain at String Lake. Some of the underbrush is very vivid.
Oxbow Bend: The stand of aspens at Oxbow Bend are still green but a lot of the surrounding low willows are turning. There are a few aspens in the area beginning to change.
Arizona Meadows: Similarly, the grasses at Arizona Meadows (Kamas Meadows) are nice and golden in color. Aspens are barely shifting color.
I snapped this photo yesterday of a grove of aspens— not far from Snake River Overlook. Most of the valley is still in Level 1 or 2, but you can find smatterings of 6 and 7. The low willows in some areas are shifting in color.
If you want to find “color”, it’s out there! Don’t get too excited, however, as the bulk of the valley is still green. The leaves above are part of the ground cover along the Gros Ventre, taken today.
These aspens were seen near Jackson Lake Lodge yesterday.
Berries are ripening and turning deeper in color. Black Hawthorn leaves along the Moose-Wilson Road are beginning to change. This photo was taken in late August.
If you are in town right now and want to find larger groves of aspens, consider a drive down to Pinedale. That area is roughly 1000 feet higher in elevation than Jackson. Green River Lakes is close to 2000 feet higher than Jackson and can be beautiful. When our kids were young, we camped there. I remember noticing the big changes in the aspens over just the four days of the Labor Day weekend.
Reports indicate the Mountain Maple trees in the Snake River Canyon and along Palisades Reservoir are not colorful yet, but that should happen soon.
Several people tell me about the beautiful color in the meadows on Togwotee Pass right now. The willows at Willow Flats have shifted to burnt yellow in the past week or so.
As the month begins, the sky is clear of smoke. I read a recent article that talked about controlled burns south of town. This could pump smoke into the valley at times this year. This smoky photo was taken on September 29th last year.
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