Leaf peepers need to get their trip plans in order, as peak fall color season has arrived early this year in California’s Eastern Sierra.
The 8,100-foot Sagehen Summit in Mono County, traditionally one of the first spots in California for the leaves to turn color, is already at peak fall foliage conditions. Another popular spot, Bishop Creek, is quickly nearing peak conditions.
“We’re off to a fast start in the Eastern Sierra,” said Lara Kaylor, the editor and publisher of California Fall Color, noting that the aspen leaves at Sagehen Summit transitioned within a week from a patchy lime green to a brilliant orange color. “I’m seeing that all around the state. It seems like things are getting going a little bit faster than usual. I’d say just about a week ahead of normal.”
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Her website provides the most up-to-date information on fall foliage conditions throughout the state, thanks to a network of more than 100 volunteers who share reports and photograph the leaves changing colors.
“It’s such a beautiful time of year,” noted Kaylor about fall in the Sierra. “I live in the mountains where winter gets pretty harsh. It’s like one last grasp of colorful beauty before everything turns white.”
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This year’s fall colors are arriving early due to a couple of factors: the most recent average-to-below-average rainy season and especially the drier-than-normal conditions throughout spring in most of California, according to Kaylor.
“If the leaves have less water, the changing in the colors is them starting to die and fall off. So they’re just running out of food sooner,” she explained.
Kaylor noted that the lack of water will most likely lead to a more typical fall color season throughout California compared with last year’s banner season, which was buoyed by a series of above-average years of rainfall, allowing the leaves to hang on to trees much longer than normal.
California’s fall color season is a different experience compared with leaf peeping on the East Coast, Kaylor noted. On the East Coast, you can view entire hillsides of fall color relatively easily, while in California, you have to search out pockets of foliage to find fall colors, often set against dramatic mountain backdrops.
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One benefit to seeking out fall colors in California is that the peak conditions are more predictable, as the colors change based on elevation, whereas on the East Coast, they are dependent on the weather.
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“In California, [fall foliage season] starts in the mountains and then slowly makes its way down to the Bay Area,” Kaylor said. The peak color line throughout California descends from the highest to the lowest elevations at a rate of around 500 to 1,000 feet each week.
With an early start of fall color in the Eastern Sierra, many of the prime fall foliage locations will likely peak during the first two weeks of October.
In the Eastern Sierra, Mono, Plumas and Inyo counties are your best bets for seeing the changing fall colors of native California trees, mostly aspens, which turn a brilliant yellow, orange or red shade.
In Inyo County, Bishop Creek Canyon is easily accessible and a top location to view the fall foliage despite an elevation above 9,000 feet. Bishop Creek has three forks (Upper, Middle and Lower). It’s possible to drive to each of them on paved roads and lose yourself in groves of aspen trees. Another beautiful Inyo County location is around Lake Sabrina.
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In Mono County, the leaves are turning at Virginia Lakes and should be at peak condition by the first weekend of October. Other locations, such as Rock Creek Canyon and McGee Creek, are quickly approaching peak conditions.
Next on the list in Mono County is the area around June Lake near Mammoth. It’s a pleasant drive through a chain of lakes surrounded by rugged granite canyons that contrast beautifully with golden and crimson leaves.
If you want to get out of your car and be surrounded by fall colors, hike into Lundy Canyon in Mono County, where trees turn color as they climb the mountainside. The canyon is expected to reach peak conditions within the next two weeks.
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If you plan to do a fall foliage trip in the Eastern Sierra a few weeks into the future, Kaylor recommends using the trip-planning feature on California Fall Color. Review specific location reports from previous years, keeping in mind that this year’s colors are running about a week ahead of normal.
With leaf peepers in awe of the fall colors, Kaylor reminds them to be careful to pay attention to traffic and not wander onto the highway in search of the best views. She recommends parking safely off the road and being mindful when crossing any streets. Also, if you can travel to the area midweek, the crowds should be smaller.
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After mid-October, the next mountain destinations are a possible day trip from the San Francisco Bay Area. The most spectacular display is along state Route 88, south of Tahoe, through Carson Pass and Hope Valley. There you can see the maples and aspens that should be at peak in the middle of October.
Kaylor notes that the Red Lake Creek cabin in Hope Valley, commonly used as a backdrop in photos of the fall colors, is on private property. She recommends staying on public roads to avoid trespassing.
If you want to get off the beaten path, Kaylor recommends the Shasta Cascade around Quincy in southern Plumas County. There are beautiful fall colors that come from Darmera plants, bigleaf maple trees and black oaks, which turn orange throughout the forests. Nearby, Lassen Volcanic National Park has cottonwood and aspen trees that turn color.
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An unexpected choice for viewing fall foliage, particularly from late October onward, is Yosemite Valley. The valley is less crowded at this time of year as the sugar maples change color. There are also pink dogwood trees, bright-yellow bigleaf maple trees, black oaks with orange and red leaves, and cottonwood trees turning golden.
After the leaves have fallen in the mountains, other opportunities to see fall colors abound in Northern California.
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One of Kaylor’s top suggestions is a wine-tasting trip to the vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma, in mid-to-late October and early November.
“Not everybody thinks of fall color in California, but we do have it, and we have it paired with very California-esque experiences,” explained Kaylor.
Another fun experience is visiting Apple Hill, where you can combine apple-picking with leaf-peeping. A short distance away is the Sierra foothills town of Nevada City, which has many sugar maples and liquidambar trees throughout its walkable, historic downtown. The leaves should be turning color in late October this year.
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The Sacramento Valley also offers good places to catch a glimpse of the fall colors. California’s orchards — particularly walnut, pistachio and almond trees — can be beautiful as they change. Fall colors can also be viewed in forests along the American River.
Farther north, Ukiah has tree-lined neighborhoods that change color. Mount Shasta’s foothills contain bigleaf maple, aspen, oak and dogwood trees. The North Coast, including Redwood National and State Parks, also has some color change from late October into early November
In Southern California, the mountain colors often peak at the end of October into November. Big Bear in the San Bernardino National Forest is a top destination, as are pockets of foliage in the San Jacinto and Laguna mountains. Another top fall color location is the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, even though many of the plants are nonnative.
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By early November, the fall foliage season arrives in the Bay Area. Although there is minimal natural fall color, one Bay Area town has caught Kaylor’s eye thanks to a California Fall Color photographer.
“One of my contributors has been sending photos from Los Altos every year and the Chinese pistache trees there,” she said. “It looks beautiful, and it makes me want to go into the little downtown and go shopping and check out the fall colors and have a cup of coffee.”