Fall Colors at Hoyt Arboretum
Fall color at Hoyt Arboretum usually starts in October and is at its best in November, according to Hoyt Arboretum Friends. The place to go is the ¾-mile Maple Trail on the south side, lined with more than 90 kinds of maples. Each year differs with temperature, light and rain, so check the Friends' weekly Fall Color Watch before you go.
Fall Color at a Glance
When to Go
- October: color begins. Hoyt Arboretum Friends says the landscape shifts into its most vivid shades through October in a typical year, and color can come on quickly.
- November: the maples are usually at their most impressive.
- Every year is different. Temperature, light and rainfall all change the timing. The Friends publish a weekly Fall Color Watch from early autumn with tips on where the best color is.
Where to See It
The Maple Trail
More than 90 maple species, subspecies and cultivars grow along the ¾-mile Maple Trail on the south side of the arboretum. It is the heart of the arboretum's nationally accredited maple collection. See the tree collection.
The East Side
Most broadleaf trees, the ones that change color, are planted east of SW Fairview Blvd, and the west side is mostly conifers. Hoyt Arboretum Friends' Fall Color Watch also points to color on the west side, such as vine maples and ginkgos along the Bristlecone Pine Trail (closed from October 27, 2026).
The Best Fall Loop
Hoyt Arboretum Friends' 2-hour loop, 1.25 miles marked with circles on the map, follows the Overlook, Wildwood, Hawthorn, Maple, Wildwood and Holly trails through the southeast quarter. It mixes broadleaf trees, conifers and open meadows. See hiking and suggested loops.
Getting There in Fall
- Free shuttle: in October 2026 Explore Washington Park ran the free shuttle until 6 p.m. so visitors could see fall color without driving. Its normal October to March hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Parking is $2.52 an hour from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; see parking.
Good For
- Photographers who want dozens of kinds of maples in one place.
- A free fall outing close to downtown.
Maybe Skip If
- You only have a weekend in September. Most trees have not turned yet.
Fall Colors at Hoyt Arboretum FAQ
When is peak fall color at Hoyt Arboretum?
Usually November. Color starts in October, and Hoyt Arboretum Friends posts a weekly Fall Color Watch with where to look.
Where are the best fall colors at Hoyt Arboretum?
On the ¾-mile Maple Trail on the south side, with more than 90 kinds of maples, and in the broadleaf trees east of SW Fairview Blvd.
Is Hoyt Arboretum free in the fall?
Yes. Hoyt Arboretum is free every day. Parking costs $2.52 an hour from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.