Enjoying Outside - Leaf Peeping in California

Kristie Ehrhardt • October 3, 2024

Leaf peeping - a less than scientific term for enjoying the seasonal color change. As summer fades into fall, the shortening days trigger the trees and shrubs to prepare for winter. Part of that process includes the leaves halting the production of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what makes the leaves green and when production is decreased the other colors that were always present become visible. Watching the leaves turn from green to red, orange and yellow seems to be the epitome of fall no matter where you live. Typically, Northern California isn’t at the top of the list for destinations to view fall foliage. But, thanks to California’s mild Mediterranean climate which supports a whopping variety of deciduous trees, shrubs and plants and our incredible range of elevations, California actually has one of the most varied and lengthy seasonal foliage changes in North America. Bright fall colors can be seen from October through December from about sea level all the way up to about 14,000 feet! If you miss the spectacle at one elevation, just go on to the next. Keep reading for some up-to-date resources on how and where to find stunning fall foliage throughout California!

 

For everything leafy and fall related in California from where to find outstanding fall foliage, to how to plan a trip, to trail etiquette; check out California Fall Color. As it is stated on the webpage, California Fall Color is a seasonal news site that reports on autumn’s show throughout California. You might want to have a couple of hours free before you sit down to browse the website though because there is so much here to explore! The website offers locations throughout California to view fall color as well as hike of the week, drive of the week and peak of the week. But wait, there’s more - there’s also a California Fall Color MAP!! And be sure to bring your camera when you head out to explore because you can submit your own color report. I didn’t see any existing reports for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region so you can be the first! The website gives you all the information you need to submit your own color report.

 

California State Parks also has a website that highlights state parks in Northern and Southern California that have impressive color displays. The Park Services invites you to schedule a day trip or a weekend getaway and enjoy the cooler weather and stunning backdrops full of fall color. They do recommend calling before to head out to check on the conditions of the park though. The parks are less crowded this time of the year making fall a great time to visit.

 

California.com also highlights many areas throughout California that parade fall colors for you to take in from Plumas County to Mono County and places in between including Lake Tahoe and Nevada City and Yosemite.

 

If you’re interested in traveling outside of California, The Foliage Report is also a seasonal weekly report that tracks fall foliage changes throughout the United States. It includes maps made through collaborations with different sources and are published by the Washington Post, multiple other websites and The Fall Color Guy’s blog. For the western states color report, (also with a MAP!) check out the west region report.

 

Closer to home, The Railyards has a great article outlining where to see fall colors near Sacramento which includes Folsom, Apple Hill and June Lake among others. And, the SFGATE just published a fabulous article detailing where color is beginning to peak in California and also refers to the californiafallcolor.com website linked above.

 

If your calendar doesn’t allow for a weekend trip or a lengthy drive you can view fantastic fall foliage right near where you are. Nearby agriculture such as vineyards and orchards have striking color changes. Riparian vegetation along the Sacramento and American Rivers and suburban creeks and streams as well as urban trees such as those found in residential areas or city parks offer elegant color shows. Even poison oak can be lovely as it turns a stunning crimson and winds its way around tree trunks.

 

As the California Fall Color website proudly boasts, “Autumn happens here, too.”


-Kristie Ehrhardt (kehrhardt@tuleyome.org)

Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager

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By Bryan Pride May 9, 2025
Across the country wildfires are increasingly more catastrophic; growing larger, spreading faster and burning longer than before. Nationwide, the total acres burned rose dramatically from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024 . California is averaging more than 7,500 wildfires annually . Not including the recent Los Angeles fires, six of the top ten most destructive fires, three of the five deadliest fires, and all of the state's nine largest fires have occurred since 2017. It is unsustainable for both California and the country to continue burning at this magnitude. This leaves us with the question: "What can be done to solve the wildfire problem?" In response to this growing crisis, lawmakers are taking action. Congress is advancing different versions of the Fix Our Forests Act ( FOFA ) in the Senate and House of Representatives. How these bills progress and the opportunities to amend, change or improve these bills are constrained by the different processes in the House and the Senate. The House of Representatives The House of Representatives version of FOFA, (H.R. 471) , was introduced by Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) in January 2025 with 43 bipartisan cosponsors, including several from California. With a stated goal to expedite forest management activities under NEPA. H.R. 471, it significantly reflects Executive Order 14225, "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production" (March 1, 2025). While the legislation takes some important steps, there are also significant concerns regarding rollbacks of environmental protections and judicial review. FOFA , H.R. 471, establishes an interagency Fireshed Center overseen by the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service comprised of 15 agencies, administrations, departments and bureaus to gather data, provide guidance and work with states and tribes. It sets up a process to designate “fireshed management areas” and expands projects exempt from full reviews from 3,000 – 10,000 acres. The bill heavily favors logging as a form of fire management, but also embraces prescribed burns and prioritizes reforestation and restoration projects. H.R. 471 grants numerous “categorical exclusions”, exempting areas and projects from review under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act. H.R. 471 also fast-tracks environmental review and consultation. At the same time, the Administration is significantly gutting personnel and expertise through DOGE and its budget. H.R. 471 alters the judicial process. 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May 9, 2025
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By Kristie Ehrhardt May 9, 2025
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