How to View Fall Foliage in California

California seasonal changes can be subtle, but the brilliant fall foliage displayed in the Klamath Range along the northern border or through the high points and valleys of the Sierra Nevada will convince even the most skeptical that autumn has arrived in the Golden State.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hiking Boots
• Maps Of California
• Picnic Basket
• Picnic Blankets
• Scrapbooks
• Wine Bottles
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film
• Day Packs
• Cameras

1. Find out when the color season arrives - it usually lasts from early October to early November, though leaves will start changing color earlier at the highest elevations (above 7,000 feet). For updated information about color in national forests, call [phone].

2. For good half-day drives, consider heading out from Lake Tahoe, traveling through Hope Valley out of Markleeville and along Highway 88. Or loop through the Trinity Mountains from Redding through Weaverville to Yreka, then back again on Interstate 5.

3. For weekend drives, either choose one spot as a base for day trips or do a circle tour through an area. For the central Sierra, either North or South Lake Tahoe can serve as a good base. Yosemite National Park puts on a show of aspens at higher elevations and oaks and dogwood in the valley. In the north, Redding offers a wide range of accommodations with easy access to the Trinity Mountains and the Lake Shasta/Mount Lassen region, and smaller towns also have lodging. Explore Highway 299 to Eureka, or travel through Shasta National Forest on Highway 89.

Tips & Warnings

• This is not peak tourist season, so advance reservations usually are not necessary. The exception is Yosemite National Park, which offers lodging both inside the park and at the boundaries; call at least a couple of weeks in advance if you wish to stay in park lodgings.
• Be prepared for traffic, especially on weekends. Still, it probably won't hit summer congestion levels.
• Fall weather is usually warm, but not hot, during the day, with cool to cold temperatures at night. Bring layers, and be prepared for rain or even snow in the high Sierras. Many secondary passes close once the first snow flies, so check weather conditions before planning a trip in the high country.

on 11/22/2005 Just north of Bishop California are canyons leading into the Sierra that have beautiful fall colors.