Nature's Calendar 2026: When to See Natural Wonders | Trailwind

Best times to see every superbloom, foliage peak, migration, aurora and firefly display worth planning a trip around. When each peaks and where to stand: Namaqualand Wildflowers, Great Migration River Crossings, Elk Rut, Rocky Mountain, Colorado Aspen Gold, New England Fall Foliage, and more.Best time to see: January

Ice Caves of Vatnajökull, November 2026 to March 2027

Florida Manatee Gathering, December 2026 to February 2027

Jigokudani Snow Monkeys, December 2026 to February 2027

Northern Elephant Seals, December 2026 to March 2027

Best time to see: February

Monarch Overwintering, Michoacan, January and February 2027

Serengeti Wildebeest Calving, Late January to February 2027

Gray Whales of Baja, January to March 2027

Hawaii Humpback Whales, December 2026 to March 2027

Yosemite Firefall, Mid-to-late February 2027

Taiwan Cherry Blossoms, February to early April 2027

Best time to see: March

Salar de Uyuni Mirror Season, December 2026 to April 2027

Sandhill Cranes on the Platte, March 3 to April 6, 2027

Harp Seal Pupping, Late February to mid-March 2027

California Superbloom, March to April 2027

Japan Cherry Blossoms, Late March to early April 2027

Best time to see: April

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms, Late March to mid-April 2027

South Korea Cherry Blossoms, Late March to mid-April 2027

Firefly Squid, Toyama Bay, March to early May 2027

Texas Hill Country Bluebonnets, Late March to mid-April 2027

Patagonia Autumn Colors, Late March to April 2027

Wild Tulip Bloom, Kazakh Steppe, April to early May 2027

Dutch Tulip Fields, Mid-March to mid-May 2027

Arrowtown & Central Otago Autumn, Mid-April to early May 2027

Best time to see: May

English Bluebell Woods, Late April to mid-May 2027

Japan Wisteria (Fuji), Late April to mid-May 2027

Whale Sharks, Ningaloo Reef, March to July 2027

Mobula Ray Aggregations, Baja, April to July 2027 (second season late November to January)

Blue Tears of Matsu, April to September 2027

Horseshoe Crabs & Red Knots, Mid-May to mid-June 2027

Iceberg Season, Newfoundland, Late May to early June 2027

Best time to see: June

Synchronous Fireflies, Smokies, Late May to early June 2027

Giant Cuttlefish Aggregation, May to August 2027

Atlantic Puffins of Iceland, Mid-May to early August 2027

The Midnight Sun, Mid-May to late July 2027

The Sardine Run, May to July 2027

Best time to see: July

Provence Lavender Bloom, Late June to July 2027

Swiss Alpine Wildflower Peak, Mid-June through July 2027

Hokkaido Lavender, Late June to late July 2027

Brown Bears at Brooks Falls, July 2027

Mount Bromo Sunrise Season, May to September 2027

Orcas of the Salish Sea, May to September 2027

Lençóis Maranhenses Lagoons, June to September 2027

Logan Pass Wildflowers, July to mid-August 2027

Whale Sharks of the Yucatán, Mid-May to mid-September 2027

Central Texas Bat Emergence, June to August 2027

Churchill Beluga Whales, July to August 2027

Best time to see: August

Namaqualand Wildflowers, August to September 2026

Mount Fuji Climbing Season, Early July to September 10, 2027

Bison Rut, Yellowstone, Mid-July to August 2027

Flamingos of the Rift Valley, June to October 2027

Pantanal Jaguar Season, July to October 2027

Best time to see: September

Great Migration River Crossings, August to October 2026

Elk Rut, Rocky Mountain, September to mid-October 2026

Colorado Aspen Gold, Mid-to-late September 2026

Manta Rays, Hanifaru Bay, June to November 2027

Sea Turtle Hatchling Season, Tortuguero, August to November 2027, peak September-October

Best time to see: October

New England Fall Foliage, Late September to late October 2026

Dolomites Golden Larches, Late September to late October 2026

Patagonia Spring, September to November 2026

Adams River Sockeye Run, Mid-to-late October 2026

Pretoria Jacaranda Bloom, Mid-October to mid-November 2026

Great Smoky Mountains Foliage, October to early November 2026

Olive Ridley Arribada, August to November 2027

Best time to see: November

Polar Bears of Churchill, Mid-October to late November 2026

Chilkat Bald Eagle Gathering, November 2026

Japan Autumn Colours (Koyo), November to early December 2026

Kyoto Autumn, November 2026

Sandhill Crane Migration, November 2026 to late January 2027

Lupin Bloom, Mackenzie Basin, Mid-November to December 2026

Christmas Island Red Crab Migration, November to December 2026

Great Barrier Reef Coral Spawning, November to December 2026

Best time to see: December

Kasanka Fruit Bat Migration, November to December 2026

Nazaré Big-Wave Season, October 2026 to March 2027

Starling Murmurations, November 2026 to February 2027

Blue Whales of Sri Lanka, December 2026 to April 2027

Polar Night: The Blue Hours, Late November 2026 to mid-January 2027

Northern Lights, Arctic Norway, November 2026 to February 2027

Trailwind finds the moment a trip is unusually possible: the right season, a cheap fare, your open dates, and rare skies. Browse by calendar:

Cosmic calendar — meteor showers, eclipses and aurora, and the best time to see each

Nature's calendar — wildlife migrations, blooms and seasonal wonders, and when to go

World culture calendar — festivals, celebrations and rituals, and when they happen (Holi, Diwali, Day of the Dead and more)

Browse all city guides, national parks and collections