California Fall Foliage 2026
The Eastern Sierra aspen canyons peak late September, with Bishop Creek and the high country around 11,000 feet turning first around September 18. Yosemite Valley holds its black oak and bigleaf maple show until late October and into November. California's elevation spread delivers a long season across 4,500 vertical feet.
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.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
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.
Color starts around Sep 6.
Peak by elevation
16 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 11,000 ft | Sep 18 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 8,500 ft | Sep 27 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 6,500 ft | Oct 4 | 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 day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| 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 No change
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 No change
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 No change
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 No change
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, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in California?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 11,000 ft peaks near Sep 18, while valleys near 6,500 ft wait until Oct 4. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in California?
- We track 5 verified 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 has real 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.