When Will Fall Be Most Colorful In New Mexico?

Most of West Texas doesn't  get to enjoy all the beautiful fall colors. Here in El Paso though, they're just a short drive away. Here's the best time to go see them.

West Texas is desert and doesn't really get a "fall". As I've said before, around here, the seasons are spring, summer, summer light and then spring again. No beautiful fall color changes for us.

In El Paso though, it's just a short drive to see the fall beauty happen and the best time to go is a tad early this year.

Northern New Mexico is already starting to see some color splashes here and there and fall color changes, overall, are a little early this year because of the insanely hot summer.

This earlier onset could be a result of the hot summer we had in New Mexico. The state experienced the second hottest summer on record (with records going back to 1896). 2011 was the hottest summer on record in New Mexico, and that year leaves began changing around this same time. - krqe

Colors will peak in the areas closest to El Paso, mainly the Gila and Lincoln National Forests, from October to early November. Silver City, located in the Gila National Forest, is 165 miles southwest of El Paso via I-10 west/US 180 west.

Ruidoso, in the Lincoln National Forest, is about the same distance north of El Paso via US 54/Highway 70. You can see a "fall foliage map" of how fall will play out across the USA here.