As summer is fading into fall, you might be interested in taking in some of the beautiful sights of the colors of the fall season but you aren’t sure where to head in California to see the fall leaves or when to head out, we have you covered. Here is a list of several places to go to see the best fall colors throughout California. Though, fall color season changes slightly year from year, October is usually the best time to view the changing color of the leaves in California.
Note: Please note that fall colors are dependent on weather conditions.
Fall Colors in Northern California
Yosemite National Park
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Wang Xin
Tree Variety: Big-Leaf Maples, Black Oaks, Pacific Dogwoods, Quaking Aspen, Deer Brush
Best Time to See: Mid-Late October
Best Places to View: Valley, Glacier Point, Wawona, Tuolumne, Certain Meadows, El Portal
Eastern Sierra
Colors: Golden, Crimson, Orange
Tree Variety: Aspen, Cottonwood, Willow
Best Time to See: Mid-September, October
Best Places to View: Rock Creek Lake, Convict Lake, Sotcher Lake, Lake George, Silver Lake
Lake Tahoe
Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow
Tree Variety: Aspen
Best Time to See: October
Best Places to View: Hope Valley, Marlette Lake, Markleeville, Ebbetts Pass, Taylor Creek Visitor Center, Luther Pass, Fallen Leaf Lake, Zephyr Cove, Apple Hill, Mount Rose Highway Summit
Fall Colors in Southern California
Julian
Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow
Tree Variety: Black Oaks
Best Time to See: October
Best Places to View: Volcan Mountain Preserve, Three Sisters Fall, William Heise County Park, Mount Laguna Campground, Palomar Mountain State Park, Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds, Sweetwater River Bridge, Hellhole Canyon Trail, El Cajon Mountain Hiking Trail, Lake Jennings, Iron Mountain, La Jolla Indian Campground
Big Bear
Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow
Tree Variety: Oaks, Maple, Cottonwoods, Aspens
Best Time to See: October
Best Places to View: Pine Knot Trail, Castle Rock Trail, San Gorgonio Wilderness, Aspen Grove Trail, Big Bear Lake
For additional information and current conditions on where to see fall leaves in California, visit California Department of Parks & Recreation Fall Colors here or California Fall Color here.
Leave a Reply