California Fall Foliage 2026
Typical timing places 11,400-foot high ground near peak on September 17, with California’s peak window running September 23 through October 1 and centered on September 27, 2026. Bishop Creek and the high Eastern Sierra, led by quaking aspen, typically peak in late September, while valleys near 4,150 feet peak around October 12. Yosemite Valley typically holds color from late October into November, extending the 25day
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
When California peaks
Sep 23 – Oct 1
Centered on Sep 27. Bishop Creek and the high Eastern Sierra peak late September; Yosemite Valley in late October into November.
moderate confidence. A few weeks out. Expect this to move by several days.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- bigleaf maple
- cottonwood
- black oak
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 27Typical color progression for California. No change from Aug 20 to Sep 6. First color from Sep 6 to Sep 15. Approaching peak from Sep 15 to Sep 23. Peak from Sep 23 to Oct 1. Past peak from Oct 1 to Oct 11. Bare from Oct 11 to Oct 25.
California is typically at approaching peak on this date.
California by county
41 days from Mono County to Imperial County.
Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method
A county is still an average. Tulare County spans 33 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage today | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 534 ft | 3 days |
| Alpine County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Approaching peak | 7,410 ft | 9 days |
| Amador County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 1,619 ft | 14 days |
| Butte County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 486 ft | 14 days |
| Calaveras County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | No change | 2,455 ft | 14 days |
| Colusa County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 432 ft | 8 days |
| Contra Costa County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 177 ft | 5 days |
| Del Norte County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | No change | 1,848 ft | 13 days |
| El Dorado County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | No change | 3,732 ft | 22 days |
| Fresno County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 1,074 ft | 32 days |
| Glenn County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | No change | 905 ft | 14 days |
| Humboldt County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 1,350 ft | 8 days |
| Imperial County | Oct 31 – Nov 8 | No change | 658 ft | 5 days |
| Inyo County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | No change | 5,059 ft | 22 days |
| Kern County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 2,186 ft | 13 days |
| Kings County | Oct 25 – Nov 2 | No change | 211 ft | 2 days |
| Lake County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 2,380 ft | 10 days |
| Lassen County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Approaching peak | 5,559 ft | 5 days |
| Los Angeles County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 2,493 ft | 15 days |
| Madera County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 1,631 ft | 27 days |
| Marin County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 318 ft | 4 days |
| Mariposa County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | No change | 3,109 ft | 24 days |
| Mendocino County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | No change | 1,961 ft | 7 days |
| Merced County | Oct 22 – Oct 30 | No change | 166 ft | 2 days |
| Modoc County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Approaching peak | 4,948 ft | 5 days |
| Mono County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Approaching peak | 8,983 ft | 14 days |
| Monterey County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 1,288 ft | 9 days |
| Napa County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 849 ft | 4 days |
| Nevada County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | No change | 3,170 ft | 17 days |
| Orange County | Oct 30 – Nov 7 | No change | 409 ft | 3 days |
| Placer County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | No change | 3,299 ft | 21 days |
| Plumas County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | First color | 5,465 ft | 6 days |
| Riverside County | Oct 25 – Nov 2 | No change | 1,959 ft | 10 days |
| Sacramento County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 60 ft | 1 days |
| San Benito County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 2,191 ft | 6 days |
| San Bernardino County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 2,444 ft | 11 days |
| San Diego County | Oct 28 – Nov 5 | No change | 1,430 ft | 12 days |
| San Francisco County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 133 ft | 1 days |
| San Joaquin County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 60 ft | 0 days |
| San Luis Obispo County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 1,848 ft | 7 days |
| San Mateo County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 742 ft | 4 days |
| Santa Barbara County | Oct 24 – Nov 1 | No change | 1,539 ft | 16 days |
| Santa Clara County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 448 ft | 7 days |
| Santa Cruz County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 917 ft | 8 days |
| Shasta County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | No change | 2,713 ft | 10 days |
| Sierra County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | First color | 5,921 ft | 13 days |
| Siskiyou County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | First color | 4,103 ft | 12 days |
| Solano County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | No change | 92 ft | 4 days |
| Sonoma County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 538 ft | 3 days |
| Stanislaus County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | No change | 226 ft | 5 days |
| Sutter County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | No change | 41 ft | 0 days |
| Tehama County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | No change | 1,851 ft | 14 days |
| Trinity County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | First color | 3,158 ft | 13 days |
| Tulare County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | No change | 3,149 ft | 33 days |
| Tuolumne County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | First color | 5,669 ft | 22 days |
| Ventura County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 3,703 ft | 18 days |
| Yolo County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | No change | 124 ft | 3 days |
| Yuba County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | No change | 169 ft | 8 days |
Peak by elevation
25 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 11,400 ft | Sep 17 | Peak |
| Mid elevation | 8,500 ft | Sep 27 | Approaching peak |
| Valleys & lowlands | 4,150 ft | Oct 12 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
California on September 27, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:20 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 91° | 6:46 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 7:21 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:45 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset | 6:10 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 268° | 6:44 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:10 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 11h 58m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in California
5 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- North Lake Approaching peak
Bishop Creek Canyon · 9,252 ft · peaks Sep 25
Aspen groves ring a shallow lake directly under the Piute Crags, and on a windless morning the whole rock wall reflects. Peak gold usually lands in the first week of October.
- Lundy Canyon Approaching peak
Eastern Sierra · 8,133 ft · peaks Sep 26
Beaver ponds stair-step through an aspen canyon below Mount Scowden, mixed with dead standing trunks and old mine debris. The first mile past the trailhead holds the densest color.
- Convict Lake Approaching peak
Eastern Sierra · 7,588 ft · peaks Sep 29
Aspen stands on the north shore turn orange against the banded metamorphic rock of Laurel Mountain and Mount Morrison. Shooting from the northeast end puts the full length of the lake between you and the peaks.
- Silver Lake, June Lake Loop First color
June Lake Loop · 7,221 ft · peaks Sep 30
Aspen and cottonwood line the Rush Creek benches along CA-158, with Carson Peak closing the view south down Silver Lake. The old boat dock and split-rail fences give the foreground something to hold.
- Valley View No change
Yosemite Valley · 3,979 ft · peaks Oct 12
Black oak and bigleaf maple turn along the Merced River with El Capitan on the left and Bridalveil Fall on the right. By late October the river runs low enough to work the boulders in the foreground.
Recent reports from California
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in California?
- California typically peaks Sep 23 – Oct 1, centered on Sep 27. Bishop Creek and the high Eastern Sierra peak late September; Yosemite Valley in late October into November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in California?
- Yes, by about 25 days. High ground around 11,400 ft peaks near Sep 17, while valleys near 4,150 ft wait until Oct 12. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in California?
- The guide includes 5 researched locations in California, including North Lake, Lundy Canyon, Convict Lake. North Lake turns first, around Sep 25, and Valley View is last, around Oct 12. Each includes coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in California?
- Mainly quaking aspen, bigleaf maple, cottonwood, black oak. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.