California Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 23 – Oct 1
Centered on Sep 27 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
Bishop Creek and the high Eastern Sierra peak late September; Yosemite Valley in late October into November.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
In a typical season, California’s overall peak falls around Sep 27, within the Sep 23–Oct 1 window. High ground near 11,400 feet typically peaks around Sep 17, while valleys near 4,150 feet peak around Oct 12. Bishop Creek and the high Eastern Sierra typically peak in late September; Yosemite Valley typically colors in late October into November.
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.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 6.
California by county
41 days from Mono County to Imperial County.
6 of 58 counties are typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026. 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 on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 534 ft | 3 days |
| Alpine County | Sep 24 – Oct 2 | Bare | 7,410 ft | 9 days |
| Amador County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 1,619 ft | 14 days |
| Butte County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | Past peak | 486 ft | 14 days |
| Calaveras County | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | Bare | 2,455 ft | 14 days |
| Colusa County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 432 ft | 8 days |
| Contra Costa County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 177 ft | 5 days |
| Del Norte County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 1,848 ft | 13 days |
| El Dorado County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 3,732 ft | 22 days |
| Fresno County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 1,074 ft | 32 days |
| Glenn County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 905 ft | 14 days |
| Humboldt County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | Bare | 1,350 ft | 8 days |
| Imperial County | Oct 31 – Nov 8 | Peak | 658 ft | 5 days |
| Inyo County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 5,059 ft | 22 days |
| Kern County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 2,186 ft | 13 days |
| Kings County | Oct 25 – Nov 2 | Peak | 211 ft | 2 days |
| Lake County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | Bare | 2,380 ft | 10 days |
| Lassen County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Bare | 5,559 ft | 5 days |
| Los Angeles County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 2,493 ft | 15 days |
| Madera County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 1,631 ft | 27 days |
| Marin County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 318 ft | 4 days |
| Mariposa County | Oct 11 – Oct 19 | Bare | 3,109 ft | 24 days |
| Mendocino County | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | Bare | 1,961 ft | 7 days |
| Merced County | Oct 22 – Oct 30 | Past peak | 166 ft | 2 days |
| Modoc County | Sep 25 – Oct 3 | Bare | 4,948 ft | 5 days |
| Mono County | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | Bare | 8,983 ft | 14 days |
| Monterey County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 1,288 ft | 9 days |
| Napa County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 849 ft | 4 days |
| Nevada County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 3,170 ft | 17 days |
| Orange County | Oct 30 – Nov 7 | Peak | 409 ft | 3 days |
| Placer County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 3,299 ft | 21 days |
| Plumas County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | Bare | 5,465 ft | 6 days |
| Riverside County | Oct 25 – Nov 2 | Peak | 1,959 ft | 10 days |
| Sacramento County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 60 ft | 1 days |
| San Benito County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 2,191 ft | 6 days |
| San Bernardino County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 2,444 ft | 11 days |
| San Diego County | Oct 28 – Nov 5 | Peak | 1,430 ft | 12 days |
| San Francisco County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 133 ft | 1 days |
| San Joaquin County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 60 ft | 0 days |
| San Luis Obispo County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 1,848 ft | 7 days |
| San Mateo County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 742 ft | 4 days |
| Santa Barbara County | Oct 24 – Nov 1 | Peak | 1,539 ft | 16 days |
| Santa Clara County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 448 ft | 7 days |
| Santa Cruz County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 917 ft | 8 days |
| Shasta County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 2,713 ft | 10 days |
| Sierra County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | Bare | 5,921 ft | 13 days |
| Siskiyou County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | Bare | 4,103 ft | 12 days |
| Solano County | Oct 20 – Oct 28 | Past peak | 92 ft | 4 days |
| Sonoma County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | Past peak | 538 ft | 3 days |
| Stanislaus County | Oct 21 – Oct 29 | Past peak | 226 ft | 5 days |
| Sutter County | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | Past peak | 41 ft | 0 days |
| Tehama County | Oct 9 – Oct 17 | Bare | 1,851 ft | 14 days |
| Trinity County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | Bare | 3,158 ft | 13 days |
| Tulare County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | Past peak | 3,149 ft | 33 days |
| Tuolumne County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | Bare | 5,669 ft | 22 days |
| Ventura County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 3,703 ft | 18 days |
| Yolo County | Oct 19 – Oct 27 | Past peak | 124 ft | 3 days |
| Yuba County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 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 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 8,500 ft | Sep 27 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 4,150 ft | Oct 12 | Bare |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Plan the light
California on September 27, 2026, 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.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Where to shoot in California
5 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- North Lake Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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.