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The Million Dollar Question

Hot car + Hot color at Bishop Creek Canyon (10/2/16) A hot photo by Daniel Stas

When will fall color peak? That’s the million dollar question.

Here’s the two dollar answer:

  • Late September to late October – the Eastern Sierra (Inyo and Mono Counties, US-395);
  • October – the Northern Sierra (Hope Valley/Carson Pass, Lake Tahoe, CA-89);
  • October – Southern California’s mountains (San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto and Laguna mountains, Angeles National Forest);
  • Mid October to early November – the Shasta Cascade (Plumas County, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity Alps, CA-299, Redding, Chico);
  • Mid October to early November – the North Coast (Redwood National & State Parks), Elk rut late September to mid October;
  • Late October to early November – California’s vineyards (peaking by grape variety);
  • Mid October to mid November – Central Coast (wineries,  Salinas Valley, Monarch butterflies);
  • Late October to mid November – Gold Country (Calaveras Big Trees SP, Apple Hill, wineries, Hwy 49 and its chain of 1850s Gold Rush towns);
  • Mid October to Thanksgiving Day – Western & Southern Sierra (Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks);
  • November – the Central Valley (walnut and pistachio orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, wildlife refuges);
  • November to early December – California’s urban forests (Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Stockton, Modesto and arboreta and botanic gardens); and
  • December – The Deserts and Coastal Islands.
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