It’s the first day of fall and while we wait for the colors to really kick off throughout the state, we thought we’d give our answer to the million dollar question: When and where will fall color peak in California?
- 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.
