Many northern Wisconsin spots, especially in north-central Wisconsin, are on the verge of peak fall color, according to local observer reports compiled as of Oct. 3 on Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report.
Observers in Hurley and Land O’ Lakes report 80% leaf color change; Minocqua reports 70%; Boulder Junction, 65%; Cable Area, Forest County, Langlade County, Phelps Area and other locations, 60%.
Other popular northern tier destinations: Eagle River, Hayward, Rhinelander Area, 50%; Green Bay, 30%; Door County, 15%.
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In the central Wisconsin tier, Manitowoc and Marshfield observers report 40%; Appleton, 35%; Oshkosh, 30%; Fond du Lac and Wausau, 25%.
In the southern band of Wisconsin, Blue Mounds reports the highest percentage of leaf color change, at 50%; Black River Falls and Milwaukee, 35%; Racine County, 30%; Fort Atkinson, Madison, Oak Creek, Prairie du Chien and Washington County, 20%; Baraboo Area and Lake Geneva, 15%; Devil’s Lake State Park, Ozaukee County and Wisconsin Dells, 10%.
The Fall Color Report is compiled from more than 100 observers and includes reports from every county in Wisconsin. As leaves turn more colorful, most observers update their reports weekly.
Taking a broad national view, ExploreFall.com’s Fall Foliage Map 2025 estimates peak color in the northern third of Wisconsin, such as Bayfield, circa Oct. 7; across the state’s central third, such as Marshfield and Wausau, around Oct. 18; and in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin by Oct. 28.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Northern Wisconsin locales are on verge of peak fall color
