How to Plan a California Autumn Trip
Because 80% of Californians live along the Pacific coast – where there is very little fall color – most Californians don’t think of their state as having much fall color to go out and see.
In actuality, however, California has the longest and most varied seasonal change of fall color in North America.
It occurs because of California’s extreme range of elevations (from sea level to over 14,000′) and because of California’s Mediterranean climate, which permits propagation of an extraordinary variety of deciduous trees and plants.
Fall color first appears in the Eastern Sierra along the state’s eastern border (US 395) at high elevations near 10,000′ in September. It often peaks at the highest elevations around the autumnal equinox.
Color then descends by elevation at a rate of 500 to 1,000′ a week, continuing to December. Whereas, in most of the rest of North America, fall color descends by latitude, starting in Canada and descending through the Northeast and Midwest.
Go when? Go now!
We report GO NOW! when fall color is reported to be Near Peak (50 – 75%) or Peaking (75 – 100%). From the date we report GO NOW! at any given elevation/location, peak color will be gone from a day to – at most – two weeks later. When we report the color is Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT!
This is your first step for planning your trip. Watch the reports to see what’s Near Peak for when you want to travel.
See the MapPredicting California Fall Color
No matter where it appears in North America, peak color takes about two weeks to evolve from Near Peak to Past Peak, unless weather cuts it short. However in California, because of our extreme range of elevations, peak color can be seen in September, October, November and December. In California, if you miss peak at one elevation, just go to a lower elevation and see it there.
California’s fall color is often set in contrast to grand landscapes. Whereas, in New England, it is set in contrast to architectural charm. Though, even in California, white steepled churches, old cabins and Victorian structures can be seen surrounded by bright autumn color.
Fall color has even been reported on islands off the Pacific coast and in The Deserts. Though, the lower the elevation, the less likely it is that fall color will appear, and the less spectacular it will be.
Prime areas to see fall color (listed generally first to last to peak) are:
- The Eastern Sierra (Inyo and Mono counties, US-395),
- The Northern Sierra (Hope Valley/Carson Pass, Lake Tahoe, CA-89),
- Southern California’s mountains (San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto and Laguna mountains, Angeles National Forest),
- The Shasta Cascade (Plumas County, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity Alps, CA-299, Redding, Chico),
- Western & Southern Sierra (Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks)
- The North Coast (Redwood National & State Parks),
- California’s vineyards (they peak by grape variety, Oct. – Nov.),
- Central Coast (wineries and Salinas Valley),
- Gold Country (Calaveras Big Trees SP, Apple Hill, wineries, Nevada City),
- The Central Valley (walnut and pistachio orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes) and
- California’s urban forests (Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Stockton, Modesto and arboreta and botanic gardens).
Using the Map & Fall Color Reports
See the California Fall Color Map to find the location of reported color. We update the leaves on the page every Friday based on reports we have received during the previous week. The map is an imprecise guide and should be used in conjunction with written posts which are accurate to when they are posted.
To choose where to see fall color at peak, refer to Reports by Month/Year (for when you plan to travel) or Reports by Location (for where you plan to travel). Look back at past years to see when color was peaking and where if you want to plan a trip a few weeks out. California fall color peaks very consistently from year to year, usually within a few days of past recorded average peak.
