Peak Dates for 2016 Wisconsin Fall Foliage: Interactive Map

WISCONSIN -- Don't kid yourselves, fellow Wisconsinites. Despite unseasonably warm temperatures over the last few weeks, the days are getting shorter and autumn is on its way.

On the bright side, the fall colors are on their way! Golden poplar trees, bright red and yellow maple trees, are just a couple of prominent Wisconsin sights, but how can you know when the leaves will change?

You can’t know precisely, but an interactive map can help you predict when to take your fall foliage tours and see the leaves at their vibrant peaks.

The Fall Foliage Prediction Map is found on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, but it includes all 50 states. If you're planning a trip to some other area with great fall color, such as New England, the map can remove some of the guesswork.

Some change is already occurring in Northern Wisconsin, and you may see some patchy color there by Sept. 16. Leaves will have partially peaked on the first day of autumn — Sept. 22 — and will near their peak by Sept. 30.

So, if the map is accurate, you should plan your trip to Door County no later than Oct. 7. Leaves elsewhere in the state should be approaching their peak by then, so you’ll have a nice, scenic drive.

In the Milwaukee area, leaves will peak around Oct. 14, and will be past peak statewide by Oct. 21.

Photo by Beth Dalbey/Patch

Image via Great Smoky Mountains National Park