Leaf peeping

Fall colors in California

Places in California ranked by their typical peak window, so you can pick where to be this week or plan the next one.

Photo: Grizzly Gulch Trail

The earliest typical peak we track is at Steer Ridge Trail (around Sep 26) and the latest is at Sinbad Creek Trail (around Oct 13). We track 314 places here.

This week

In typical peak now in California

Places whose usual window includes today.

Plan ahead

Coming up next

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Hikes

Best fall hikes

Trails ranked by how much hardwood forest surrounds them and how consistent the timing is across years.

Camp

Campgrounds in the color

Wake up in it. Check availability and any seasonal closures before you go.

Views

Summits and waterfalls

Overlooks for the big picture, falls for the doubled-up reflection.

Ride

Mountain biking through the color

Singletrack with a canopy overhead.

Everything

Map and full list

Every place we track in California, grouped by where it is in its typical window.

  • In typical peak now (84)
  • Coming up (16)

In typical peak now

Today falls inside the usual peak window for these places.

Coming up

Typical peak starts within the next three weeks.

Questions

Fall colors in California: FAQ

When is peak fall color in California?

Across the places we track in California, typical peaks start as early as Sep 26 and as late as Oct 13, depending on elevation and location. Open any place below to see its own window.

Where do leaves change first in California?

Among the places we track in California, Steer Ridge Trail has the earliest typical peak, around Sep 26. The latest is Sinbad Creek Trail, around Oct 13.

What are the best fall hikes in California?

Hikes with strong typical color in California include Grizzly Gulch Trail, Sinbad Creek Trail, Meridian Point Trail, Timm Trail, and Anza Trail. They are ranked by how much of the surrounding forest is hardwood and how consistent the timing has been across years.

Is this a forecast?

No. These dates are typical timing: when leaves have usually reached peak in past years, from NASA satellite vegetation data from 2017 to 2024 and USGS forest cover. A warm, dry or very wet year can shift them by a week or more, so treat them as a planning window, not a prediction for this year.

Typical timing from NASA MODIS vegetation data (2017–2024) and USGS NLCD 2021 forest cover. Not a forecast. Timing is typical, not a forecast. How we time it.